Poker Etiquette: Tips to Help You Succeed

One of the most important aspects of a poker game is player etiquette. Those who don’t know how to get along with other players or who make rude and uncalled for comments can sour the atmosphere for everyone. Want to know how to be successful at poker both online and in a card room or casino. Here are some tips to help you along.

• Avoid coarse, sexist lewd language. Don’t swear, use profanity or abuse other players. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say in front of your mother, grandmother or preacher.
• Never belittle, heckle or razz other players. Treat everyone equally and like you would like to be treated. In poker, the old adage, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is a golden rule. Follow it!
• Don’t play slow. Make a decision as quickly and accurately as possible. It’s no fun to sit around a poker table for twenty minutes, waiting for one of the players to decide what he’s going to do. Some players pull this stunt to make their opponents nervous. There is no rhyme or reason to such tactics. All that happens is that the play is drawn out over a long period of time and the game goes on far longer than is necessary.
• Don’t “splash the pot.” Tossing or throwing chips into the current pot is impolite and crude. This behavior makes it very difficult for other players to see how much you are betting. Always stack your chips neatly to make it easy for everyone concerned.
• Act in turn! Never fold until the play comes to your position. This gives the other players too much information before they decide what action they are going to take.
• Never string bets. This is an improper tactic that is often used to create a response in an opponent. Only pick up the chips you are going to bet to avoid freaking out the other players at the table. Picking up a large stack of chips gives others the impression that you are going to bet more than you plan to. Always place chips in one action and never string out your bet.
• Never hit on other players whether you’re playing in a casino, card room or online. It’s entirely possible that you’ve never seen anyone so beautiful or handsome as one of your opponents. However, to serious players, poker is business. There’s no room for flirting or making someone uncomfortable by hitting on them. You may hope it will make more experienced players freak out, but it could result in bodily injury – to your body. If you plan on hitting on another player, wait until the game is over when they have time to fully concentrate on your actions and react accordingly.
• Never make comments of any kind about possible hands. Whether or not you are in the play, such comments are unethical. You could give useful information to someone unknowingly, especially if you are speaking about the cards you hold or the ones that you just threw away.
• Never avoid blinds intentionally. It is not good poker etiquette to leave the table when it’s time for you to pay your blind. Arrogant players often leave the table to avoid a less than perfect betting position.
• Don’t be arrogant or act like a fool. There are times when the stakes are incredibly high and you may think that being crude will better your position at the table. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pull a class act that’s hard for other players to follow and you will get their full respect, as well as turn your win into a personal victory.

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