Basic poker etiquette is simple and mostly common sense, but it’s easy to commit mistakes when you’re a new player. Bad table manners upset the other players and, in certain circumstances, can get you kicked out of the game. More importantly, if you do not follow these unspoken rules, your opponents will label you as a rookie and start attacking you at every turn.
Whether you’re playing online or at a home game, start practicing good table etiquette.
Do Not Speak a Foreign Language
Speaking a foreign language is not only a breach of etiquette, but in some poker rooms it is considered grounds for removing you from the table. Besides foreign languages, it is also rude to speak in slang, pig latin, ebonics, etc. Basically you don’t want anyone at the table thinking you are secretly communicating with an accomplice.
Do Not Slowplay
There are legitimate reasons to slow play a hand; players sometimes slow down their play to consider a tough call or to give the impression of having a weak hand. However, there is no excuse to slowplay every hand. Players who slowplay every hand are either not paying attention or do not understand how to play.
Do Not Splash the Pot
You should stack your chips in a neat pile and push it towards the middle of the table. Haphazardly throwing your chips into the pot makes it hard for others to see what your bet is. More importantly, throwing chips is also considered a rude way of taunting your opponents (sort of like throwing the gauntlet).
Do Not Act Out of Turn
Acting out of turn is bad strategy as well as bad etiquette. When you fold or bet before your turn, you are giving away free information about your hand. Moreover, acting out of turn is also a sign of inexperience that other players will definitely notice.
Do Not Make String Bets
A string bet is a bet that initially looks like a call but turns out to be a raise. String betting is prohibited because it gives the bettor the advantage of being able to augment his betting strategy based on his opponent’s reactions.
For example, you cannot say “I call your $5, and raise you another $5.” Once you said the word call, your bet is completed and the subsequent raise is nullified.
Another form of string betting is when a player brings out his chips in installments. Remember that once you have put some chips out, you are not allowed to increase your bet with additional chips, unless you had verbally declared the size of your bet in the beginning.
Do Not Make Statements that May Influence the Hand
Never discuss folded cards while a hand is still in play. For example, if there are two Kings on the flop, and you are trying to represent that you had the third King, it will really hurt you if someone who already folded shouts out, “Damn, I had a king!”
Other comments like “you should call him, he’s been bluffing all day!” or “there’s a possible flush on the table, don’t you see it?” are equally inappropriate.
Moreover, you should probably keep quiet even if your comments will not influence a hand. No one likes a smart aleck commentator.
Be Nice to the Dealer
It is not the dealer’s fault that you are getting bad cards. If you feel your dealer is incompetent, you should discreetly notify the pit boss or move to another table.
Handle Cards and Chips Correctly
You should keep your cards in sight of the dealer at all times. Bringing cards down to your lap or dropping a card to the floor are grounds for killing your hand.
You should always put a chip on top of your cards if you want to stay in the hand. Placing the chip is called “protecting your hand” and it tells the dealer that you do not intend to fold.
You cannot let your cards touch the mucked cards or your neighbor’s cards. Doing so may result in the nullification of your hand.
Finally, never show your cards to other players at the table. If the dealer sees this, he may nullify both your hand and your neighbor’s hand.
Tip the Dealer
While tipping is not required, it is customary for the winner of each pot to tip the dealer between 50 cents to a dollar per pot. The tip should be bigger if you won an unusually large pot or got an extremely lucky draw on the river.
Do Not Accuse Other Players of Cheating
Never utter the C word unless you have proof. Cheating is a very sensitive subject. I have seen fights break out over cheating allegations and the end result is that both the alleged cheater and the accuser are tossed out of the casino.
The correct way to deal with cheating is to catch the cheater in the act. If you only suspect cheating but cannot prove it, you should simply move to another table or discreetly inform the pit boss that something funny is going on. Never, ever confront the cheater head on.
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