In my free time I enjoy playing poker. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when you win a big pot, the satisfaction of a good read, and the relief with a good lay-down. I occasionally play live cash games at the local casino but most of the time I play on-line. I’m no expert, in fact most players other than the very first time players, would consider me to be a novice. I am learning. I’ve read, researched and watched. Even though I’m learning, compared to the micro limit on-line players, I’m not bad.

Anyway the real topic of this post is poker etiquette. I have had it with the whining, bullying, cursing, and just plain awful reactions from poker players. Poker is a mind game, your going to win some days and other days you are going to lose. For example this is a message that a player in a game I was in. “sent zahi1974: ** TILTERS CAN’T YOU ACCEPT THAT SOM GUYS WANA PLAY REAL POKER AT THE MICROS? YOU DESTROY EVERYTHING HERE!!!” First off, the guys he was whining about weren’t tilters, they were just very aggressive players. Zahi1974 should have simply left the game when he felt he couldn’t play against that aggressive of players. The problem however was they were playing at a limit game, betting like a pot limit game, within five minutes of the comment from zahi1974 the table went down.

Now there are hundreds of thousands of poker players on-line and in the casinos. The majority of them understand poker etiquette. To those who know and abide by that standard thank you. For the others, listen up.

Live Poker Etiquette:

1. If the dealer makes a mistake, it is simply human error. The floorperson or the dealer will correct the mistake in the best way. Please don’t throw a fit because you would have had a good hand.
2. Don’t throw the cards at the dealer when you fold or muck. Even if you are angry you will do yourself more harm by exposing your cards on accident.
3. Don’t discuss your cards or the hand in any way when you are in or out of a hand that is still in play!  The worst argument I have ever been in was because someone joking around said the guy was bluffing I called and won the pot because it was a bluff. The player wanted the floorperson to make me give his money back because he insisted that I was going to fold.
4. When betting, raising, or calling leave your chips stacked up just inside the line where the dealer can reach. Don’t splash the pot. If your bet gets mixed up with the pot it can cost you money. This is one of the most common mistakes, especially by new players.
5. Don’t criticize other players. Poker is a very individual game. Each person has different ways of playing. It is also not polite to point out tells that you notice to other players at the table. Keep that valuable knowledge to yourself.
6. Tip the dealers. You will have several different dealers if you play for any length of time. Each one works for their own tips so either tip when you win hands or when you see them changing places tip several dollars then. Don’t forget the cocktail waitress either. Most places they can take chips for tips, but you may have to pay cash for your drink.
7. If you are going to drink, do so responsibly. I had thought I had seen a lot and then it happened. A young guy who had been playing and drinking had become a calling station. He played, bet and raised every hand. We were all enjoying taking his money until he couldn’t handle his alcohol anymore and puked on the table. Talk about disgusting. Most pros will advise against drinking while playing poker in the first place. It greatly affects your decision making.

On-line Poker Etiquette:

1. Leave the trash talk between you and your computer. As a player I usually have my chat off but when it is on I don’t want to see you swearing or calling people names. In micro limit cash games a lot of the players are new to the game. Give them a chance to learn before you start making fun of them.
2. Don’t accuse someone of cheating. It is a very serious issue that is very rare but happens. You have no way of knowing if someone is cheating. If you believe it is happening you should notify the site.
3. Don’t blame the site for you losing a hand. Sometimes you are going to catch great cards and sometimes someone else is going to catch great cards too.
4. Don’t criticize players, same as a live game poker strategy varies. Allow players to learn from their mistakes on their own and use their weakness to your advantage.

I know there are many other things that would be considered poker etiquette. For example most of these are not rules strictly enforced at the casino, but common courtesy to other players. Following these rules make for a pleasant, speedy, and profitable game. See you at the table!