What is a poker nit?

A poker nit is a term used to describe a player who plays a very tight and conservative style of poker. Nits are often known for being extremely selective with the hands they choose to play, preferring to only play premium hands such as high pocket pairs (e.g., Aces, Kings), and strong combinations (e.g., Ace-King, Ace-Queen).

Nits tend to avoid risky or speculative plays and focus on waiting for strong hands before committing their chips to the pot. They place emphasis on the strength of their own cards rather than relying on bluffing or making aggressive moves.

The main advantage of playing like a nit is that it reduces the risk of losing big pots or making costly mistakes. Nits tend to be patient and disciplined players who are less likely to get involved in confrontations unless they have a strong hand.

However, being a nit can have drawbacks. Nits are often predictable to more experienced players, who may take advantage of their tight playing style by exploiting their reluctance to play weaker hands. Consequently, nits can struggle to build big pots or maximize their profits when they do have strong hands.

In summary, a poker nit is a player who plays a conservative and tight style, only getting involved in pots with premium hands. While it provides some advantages, such as minimizing losses, being too tight can limit a player's ability to exploit opportunities and may leave them vulnerable to more aggressive opponents.