Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
Blog > Poker Etiquette
There are certain rules and basic etiquette that players should follow either in the casino or in a home game. All players, whether new to the game or professional players, should know these rules in order that the game is played smoothly and professionally.
This is one of the most important rules of etiquette in the game – never show your cards before the hand has played out. This is poor etiquette, and in some casinos you can even be fined for doing this. If you do reveal your cards when you hold a great hand, it will be your loss, as this may be viewed as you folding.
If you fold, make sure you do so without revealing the hand that you held. If you do, it may change the course of action that other players might take in the game.
Always wait till it’s your turn to either raise or fold. Do not jump in before it’s your turn – doing so can give other players too much information and again, change how the game plays out.
Once you’ve folded your hand, you might feel like chatting about it, but in doing so, other players who are still in the game might overhear and make inferences based on what you’re saying.
Similarly, if you fold before the flop and then realize that you could have hit a great hand once you’ve seen the flop, don’t exclaim or react in a way that would allow the other players to realize it too. This gives an unfair advantage to some players and makes the game harder for others.
Splashing the pot is when a player tosses his bet into the pot in such a way that his/her chips cannot be distinguished from the rest of the pot. This slows down the game and is very bad etiquette. Make sure you stack your chips neatly in front of you, before you slide them over to the pot.
Never make string bets – there is certainly no need to call someone’s bet and then raise it another amount. This is a rule in casinos. If you would like to raise, then raise directly. Do not call first, as this usually means that all you can do is ‘call’ and that you cannot consecutively raise too.
There is never any excuse for anyone in any game to be rude or mean to other players. You may be outraged by your losing streak or a bad hand, but that is certainly no reason for cursing or snapping at your opponents at the table. Be polite and composed. If you seem to be the victim of verbal abuse, do not retaliate. Maintain a civilized, respectful attitude and it can only do you good.
Likewise, do not get angry at the dealer for a bad hand or blame them for the outcome. They do not control the way the cards are dealt.
Don’t be a nuisance and have people keep reminding you when it’s your turn because you’re too distracted talking on your phone or day dreaming to pay attention to the game. Stay on top of the game and don’t lose focus.
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