Section IV: How to Not Look Like an Idiot

Poker Etiquette

One of the largest problems with poker as a whole is the fact that there is no standardized set of rules or etiquette because there is such a wide range of games. Every casino has a slightly different set of rules that its patrons must follow at the tables, and home games have even more discrepancies. Because of this, you should be sure to glance at the rules at every casino in which you play in order to avoid any unnecessary problems. Since there is no universal set of rules that poker players must follow at every table, here are a few generic tips to follow that apply to nearly every type of game:

• Do not pass your cards out of turn, even if you are no longer interested in staying in contest for the pot. It can affect the fortunes of one player over another when the field is shortened and a player has a difficult decision to make. It usually gives an advantage to the players seated beside you who have yet to make their plays. You may see other players fold, or call out of turn, but please don't do it yourself. If you do, be assured that this is a good way to quickly annoy other players.
• 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, preferably on the table in front of you. Holding them against your shirt or showing them to friends behind you is not appropriate behavior. Even when you look at your cards, there is no need to lift the entire card off of the table. Simply lift the edge of the cards off of the table with your thumb while holding the center of the card flat with your remaining fingers.
• Also keep your chips in plain view at all times.
• Refrain from giving other players advice or criticizing the way they play.
• Do not abuse the dealer, verbally or in any other way. Bad behavior, such as throwing cards at the dealer, while mercifully rare, is totally unforgivable. Always keep in mind that it is not the dealer's fault when you are losing.
• Forget post-mortems. It is irritating for other players to have to listen to discussion on what happened in the last hand, or even several hands before.
• Do not pass your cards out of turn, even if you are no longer interested in staying in contest for the pot. It can affect the fortunes of one player over another when the field is shortened and a player has a difficult decision to make. It usually gives an advantage to the players seated beside you who have yet to make their plays. You may see other players fold, or call out of turn, but please don't do it yourself. If you do, be assured that this is a good way to quickly annoy other players.
• 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, preferably on the table in front of you. Holding them against your shirt or showing them to friends behind you is not appropriate behavior. Even when you look at your cards, there is no need to lift the entire card off of the table. Simply lift the edge of the cards off of the table with your thumb while holding the center of the card flat with your remaining fingers.
• Also keep your chips in plain view at all times.
• Refrain from giving other players advice or criticizing the way they play.
• Do not abuse the dealer, verbally or in any other way. Bad behavior, such as throwing cards at the dealer, while mercifully rare, is totally unforgivable. Always keep in mind that it is not the dealer's fault when you are losing.
• Forget post-mortems. It is irritating for other players to have to listen to discussion on what happened in the last hand, or even several hands before.
• If you are plagued by the need to show someone what a good hand you had, when not required to do so at a showdown, make sure all the players enjoy the same experience. The correct guideline often quoted is "show one show all". Keep in mind that your strategy will quickly become public knowledge if you show your opponents your hand whenever it is not necessary.
• Do not 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. When you bet, place your chips directly in front of you. The dealer will then be sure you have bet the right amount and when betting is complete will place them into the pot.
• Soft-play agreements have a negative effect on the game. This is where a player bets less than he normally would or checks good hands when against friends, husbands or wives. Don't enter into these types of agreements. Every player should play in his/her own self interest - it's the essence of poker.
• Do not touch other player's chips or cards for any reason during a hand.
• Do not try to educate players at the table by pointing out what you think are mistakes. It's odd and most players will resent it. Why not let people pay for their education - its how I had to learn.
• Players should speak up and assist the dealer by calling attention to an error in the amount of the bet or the improper reading of the hand etc. Likewise, any player who sees as error about to be made, such as awarding the pot to the wrong person, has a duty to speak up. Do not be afraid to ask even if you're not totally sure if a mistake has been made.