In a poker game you must respect the other players. That way you will also be respected. Poker etiquette is important for you because, first of all, it gives you confidence. The poker etiquette is comprised by a set of manners that insure the game is and remains civil and friendly.
The poker etiquette:
- Politeness is required
- Swearing or verbal abuse is wrong
- When winning be modest
- Please do not criticize the way others play
- Please limit unnecessary chatter
- Be kind to players and dealer
- It is best if you keep your chips on the table
- Don't handle other players cards or chips
- Chips will not be transferred from one player to another
- Your cards should be held on the table, not in your lap or in your pocket
- If you leave the table advise the dealer of your intentions
- Do not play out of turn
- Try to maintain a reasonable play speed
- Try not to make any comments about the possible hands
- Also try not to make any comments about the cards you just threw away
- Don't splash the pot
- Don't string bet
- Announce your actions verbally
- Chips and discards should be placed so that the dealer can easily handle them
- When you discard your hand do so that other players can not see what you have discarded
- The only time your cards can be exposed is at the showdown
- At the showdown you must not mis–declare your hand
- When you have a winning hand show it quickly, do not allow your opponent to think he has won when he has not
- Asking to see what your cards would have been had you bet is not correct
- Players must play in their own interest
- It is not allowed to agree to check – down a hand after a player has gone all – in
- If you don't have a good reason do not ask to see called hands.
The following actions are improper and can be grounds for warning, suspending, barring a violator:
- Acting out of turn deliberately
- Splashing chips into the pot deliberately
- Stalling the game needlessly
- Discarding hands in an inappropriate manner
- Chips staked so that they interfere with dealing or viewing cards
- Using a cell phone at the table
Knowing poker etiquette will give you the upper hand. These basic conduct rules will make you be a calm and relaxed player, a player that demands and gets respect.
Up next we will learn what happens when, during a poker game, cards are accidentaly exposed.
