Nit
An extremely tight player who only plays premium hands and rarely bluffs. Nits are easy to steal from but should be respected when they bet big. The older term 'rock' means the same thing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a nit in poker?
A player who enters very few pots, rarely bluffs, and folds unless they hold a hand they are comfortable with. The word is mildly insulting — it implies the tightness is fear rather than strategy.
Is being a nit bad?
It is beatable rather than terrible. Nits avoid big mistakes but miss a great deal of value, and once opponents notice, their blinds and continuation bets get attacked relentlessly because folds come cheaply.
How do you play against a nit?
Steal their blinds, bet small and often when they show weakness, and believe them when they finally raise. A nit's big bet is almost always exactly what it looks like.