Poker Etiquette
One of the most overlooked thing by some
poker players are good poker table manners also
commonly referred to as poker etiquette - how a
poker player should act when at the table. Good
poker etiquette should be whether you're playing
at a home game or in a casino. Some of them even
apply to online poker play as well. These basic
poker rules or "poker etiquette" helps make the
game more enjoyable for everyone.
1) Don't Play Out of Turn
Playing out of turn is one of the most annoying
things a player can do.
Wait your turn to
raise or to fold. Don't go grabbing chips or
throwing
your cards down on the table before
it is your turn to act. It is unfair
to give
away information to other players before they
make their own decisions.
2) Don't Talk About Your Cards While
the Hand is Still Going On
Once you
fold, do not talk about what you had, could of
had make faces, grunts, groans etc... Again,
this gives other players a good idea of what you
had before you folded and can unfairly impact
the current hand.
3) Don't Show Your Cards to anyone
until the showdown
Again, if players
know what you fold, it'll give them information
that may change how the rest of the hand plays
out. Unless you are all-in and heads up, there
is no reason to show or expose your cards until
the showdown.
4) Don't Splash the Pot
Splashing the Pot is when a player tosses his
bet in a big mess in the center of the pot. It
makes it hard to tell how much you've bet. Just
stack your chips neatly in front of you to bet.
5) Don't Make String Bets
A String Bet is when a player goes "I'll call
your 50.... and raise another 100!" You have to
declare whether you're simply calling or raising
right away -- once you say "call," that's all
you can do. If you're going to raise, say raise
and the amount right away. This is especially
important in casinos.
6) Don't Be Rude
Even if
you are in the middle of a really bad losing
streak it does not give you the right to curse,
be obnoxious and rude to the dealer or other
players at the table. Acts like this can really
ruin a game.
7) One Player To a Hand
You don't get to receive advice during a hand,
and you don't get to give it. Play your own hand
and let everyone else play their own hand.
8) Pay Attention
This
rule is self-explanatory: Few things are more
aggravating than a player who says, "Whose turn
is it?" when it's been their turn for several
minutes -- keep up with the action so the game
keeps moving. Talking on cell phones is a bad
idea.
Following these simple rules of poker
etiquette can help keep the game fair and
enjoyable for everyone.
