Poker Etiquette

There seems to be a slightly different set of rules existing across every poker room.

In social situations, appropriate etiquette gives you self-confidence, allows you to concentrate on more important matters, and at times, allows you to dominate a situation against someone who doesn't know the correct etiquette. It's no different at the poker table. One of the great problems of playing poker is that there is not as yet a standardized set of rules, however, if you want to be invited back to play Poker with a group of people, there are two options: lose a lot of money, or stay within the bounds of accepted Poker etiquette. Etiquette's a lot cheaper. Follow these simple tips to make sure you're a welcome opponent.

1. Play in Turn


What "act in turn" usually means is this: Don't fold your cards early. If you look at your cards and know that you're going to fold, wait until it's your turn to do so. It's unfair to the other players if someone gets to know that you're going to fold out of turn


2. Be Polite


Poker can sometimes be frustrating, but swearing at other players or being critical of their play is counterproductive. Do not try to educate players at the table by pointing out what you think are mistakes, don't ruminate about the possibilities whether or not you're still in a hand.


3. Don't Splash the Pot


This is where a player throws his chips into the pot when making a bet. It takes extra time for the dealer to re-stack and count the bet when you splash the pot. In other words, keep your chips in a neat pile in front of you until it's time to move everyone's chips into the middle.


4. 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.


5. Don't expose your cards until the showdown


If you are folding, gently toss your cards to the dealer face down. When discarding your hand, do so at a low level of flight so that no other player can see what you have discarded. Leave your cards in plain view at all time. You should try to protect your cards so when you look at them, no one else can see them. Showing your cards, except at the showdown, even without bad intent is bad etiquette.


6. Play at reasonable speed


On the Internet, playing in two or more games simultaneously creates the potential for slow play if you focus on one hand in one game while the action has reached you in the other. It is probably a good idea to avoid playing two games at once until you are comfortable with the game interface and are able to move relatively quickly while playing one game.