Poker glossary
Shark
A shark is a highly skilled and experienced player, often a professional, who wins money from weaker players, called fish.
The simple explanation
A shark is good at poker and uses his skill to beat others. He is quiet, studies the game and picks his games well.
A closer look
Sharks avoid tables with other sharks and look for soft games. They manage their bankroll and use data to improve. It is the opposite of a fish. The word is also used for card sharps, who are cheats, so context matters.
A practical example
A player says, 'Don't play at that table. It is full of sharks.'
Full explanation
A shark is a highly skilled and experienced player, often a professional, who wins money from weaker players, called fish.
A shark is a skilled player.
He earns from weak players.
Sharks pick soft games.
Card sharp means a cheat.