Poker Etiquette

Sitting down at a poker table can be an intimidating experience for a beginning player.

A good way to calm first time jitters and avoid unnecessary embarrassment is to understand poker etiquette.

As with many subcultures, poker carries its own set of unwritten standards of behavior.

These standards collectively make up what is known as the game’s etiquette. It exists to keep card games running smoothly and with minimal personal conflict.

Seasoned players can be especially prickly about breaches of poker etiquette.

This sensitivity is understandable given what can be at stake, and there is an expectation that any player who sits down to play a game will do his best to follow these rules.

I recommend that you do your best to understand both the written and unwritten rules of poker before sitting down to play.

Here are a few tips that should help you to maintain a friendly relationship between other poker players while avoiding unnecessary trouble.

1. Paying Attention

Nothing is more aggravating to poker players than a player who holds up play due to lack of attention.

Players who need repeated reminders that it is their turn to act are disruptive to the game.

Many poker players earn a living from their time spent at the poker tables.

Unnecessarily holding up play cuts into their hourly wage. This is highly discourteous.

Players should always be aware of when they are required to ante, what has previously been bet, and whose turn it is to act.

By paying close attention to the game you will not only display proper poker etiquette, but increase your chances of winning as well.

2. Splashing the Pot

While it may look cool in movies, tossing your chips into the pot in a haphazard fashion (known as splashing the pot) is considered poor poker manners.

Splashing the makes it difficult for other players to follow bets and prevents the dealer from getting an accurate count of what is in the pot.

When betting, simply slide your chips neatly toward the pot and let the dealer take care of the rest.

3. Deliberately Acting Out Of Turn

While accidents occasionally happen, you should never deliberately act out of turn in an attempt to influence the game.

An example of this would be to announce a big bet while the person yet to act in front of you is still contemplating his move.

Acting out of turn can unfairly influence another player’s decision making and is a pain in the buttocks.

4. Commenting On Other Players’ Hands

It is considered poor poker etiquette for those who are not actively involved in a hand to discuss the play of those who are.

This includes offering commentary or opinion on the action as it unfolds or attempting in any way to influence the outcome of the hand.

If you are not involved in the hand you should also take care not to disrupt the action with loud conversation or other distracting activity.

5. Reacting To Community Cards

If you are no involved in a hand you should never react to shared or community cards in such a way that may allow active players to guess what you may have folded.

For instance, grimacing or groaning during a game of Texas Hold’em as two 6’s appear on a flop after you’ve folded could conceivably alert an active player to the fact that you were holding a 6 and unfairly affect his decision making for the rest of the hand.

6. Rabbit Hunting

Asking the dealer to show you the next card from a deck after a hand has concluded is called rabbit hunting.

This is usually done by players who have folded and would like to know what would have happened had they stayed.

Asking for such information is a breach of poker etiquette and marks you as an amateur – something you definitely want to avoid.

If you think about it, most poker etiquette is little more than common sense and good manners. Players who are careful to exercise courtesy and respect at the table will usually find their experience to be better for it. If you do slip up, quickly apologize for offense and move on.

Most poker players will forgive you as long as it is clear that you simply made a mistake, if not then they are probably just stuck (i.e. losing money) ;-).

And remember, these are rules that 99% of the time apply, but sometimes you're just sitting in a game where people are doing wild crazy annoying things and having fun.

In this case, you should have fun too! That is, if you are into that :)

Done with Poker Etiquette?


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