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Top 7 Signs you are a TAGfish

• 30.06.2025 7:13 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

Everybody knows very well that online poker games today are densely populated with what's known as tight-aggressive players (also known as TAGs)

Among these good and money-making TAGs, there is another growing group of break-even or simply slightly losing poker regulars called TAGfish.

On the outside, distinguishing a TAGfish from the winning regulars might prove an uphill task. This player buys in full, he tops up each hand, he has stats that are decent enough, and he plays what he views is good poker. But he can not seem to win.

This is simply because poker is not all about having good stats. It is singularly a game for the thinking man; you can not simply imitate what you have read and instantly become a money-printing robot.

You have to be capable of applying what you have learned, and then make outstanding decisions every time the action happens to be on you.

A TAGfish does not. He literally plays the same type of game each day regardless of the situation. And he breaks even/loses, thinking he is the unluckiest poker player in the universe.

Below are the signs that make you that guy:

1)     You think about the range of your rival but never yours

Everybody knows that it's obvious trying to put your rival on a range. This is one of the most basic poker skills.

A TAGfish however never thinks about the range they have in doing this. A rival simply plays the hand in a number of diverse ways, in line with what he anticipates you have.

You will never have the ability to put your rival on a range accurately without carefully thinking about the perceived range you have.

2)     You misapply the skills you have learned

A TAGfish tries hard to learn playing better poker. He spends time watching videos, reading articles and studying extensively the game. But he literally misapplies the information he has learned.

He will learn well continuation betting plus giving up is inadvisable, so he will literally fire each second barrel.

He learns that it's possible to float the flop to exploit those players who c-bet excessively, then take the pot away on the turn, however, he simply floats with pure air compared to gutshots or the hands that have backdoor capabilities.

He will learn that it is profitable three-betting light, but he simply does it irrespective of the frequency of his rival's three-bet calling. On top, he does it using the wrong hands.

He learns only half the skills. He knows exactly what to do, but he simply misapplies when the moment comes. It's best doing what he knows is good.

3)     You just call the same range regarding cut-off, just like you end up doing on the button

A TAGfish handles the cut-off plus the button as simply the same position. If a rival happens to raise from early position, he will call with in the cut-off, thinking it is perfectly okay because he will be playing in position the pot.

However, that is simply not the case. You still have one more opponent behind you, and in-case he happens to be good, he has the ability of making your life miserable.

This player can literally three-bet with impunity each moment you happen to call using your speculative weak hand. This player can call and then steal your after flop position, and punishing you post flop is something he can do.

Where commendably good TAGs happen to abuse the button, the TAGfish literally allows himself abuse by the button.

4)     You always overestimate the implied odds you have

A TAGFish always thinks that each time he happens to make the nuts, he is going to end up winning a stack. He thinks that calling with nails a set and a pocket pair from the blinds, he is going to win his rival's whole stack each time.

So he simply calls post-flop using his speculative hands, when he misses, he check-folds, and when in the end he makes a huge hand, he ends up making the rival fold.

He bleeds every penny of his money in a bid to hit the hand and the moment he hits, he seldom makes this money back.

5)     You have leaks after flop

A TAGfish plays commendably pre-flop. He always approaches this part of the game well to an extent. He understands that he can not limp upfront Q9o and expect to gain. He understands that AK has to be value raised etc. However, the moment flop comes, all of his mistakes start piling up.

Knowing exactly when to fold before flop is not difficult. However, he might know the exact time to ditch bad kicker or top pair. Knowing the moment to double and triple barrel is difficult too.

A TAGfish usually plays too often his cards and not nearly enough his opponents and the situation.

6)     You never link decisions

A TAGfish usually gets stuck in a given tough decision and thinks it's the end of the world for him.

To be precise, it's not what he happened to have done that puts him in this spot; it is what he had done in the hand earlier.

He does not have any plan regarding the hand in mind. He simply figures and acts out from there. This player plays what is known as reactive poker instead of playing proactive poker.

7)     You tilt a little too much

A TAGfish does not tilt in line with the appropriate "five-bet ship 58o" world sense.

When he is losing however, he never plays his best. He literally rushes decisions; he ends up slipping into auto pilot. Worst of all, this player plays way too long.

A TAGfish in most cases loves to try to get unstuck and usually plays all day, trying to simply get unstuck- all this time playing the C-game poker. When he is on a winning streak, he quits early and starts playing small sessions, only to book a small win.

If this player sounds like you, do not worry, the TAGfish syndrome can be cured.

The solution: Focus on making a quality decision each single time the game action happens to be on you, and most importantly take your time. The best play possible will never come right away to you sometimes.