Ogre's Poker Pages: Poker Etiquette

In social situations, using proper etiquette gives you self-confidence, allows you to concentrate on more important matters, and at times, allows you to dominate a situation against someone who does not use proper etiquette. Poker etiquette not only makes for a better game, but is an acquired skill that can possibly increase a player's odds of success.

Poker etiquette are not rules, but manners that relate to the orderly maintenance of the game and civility among those who participate in the game.

I know you all have seen these people at the tables or even online. They are God's gift to poker. They can do no wrong and if you say any different, refer back to "they can do no wrong." Some people have just a quirk or two that you don't like or maybe even you have been pointed out as the bad guy upon occasion. Too many players out there just don't know and/or understand that poker is a game with a long history and should be played with a certain amount a class.

So, I have compiled the "laundry list" of proper poker etiquette:

Play in turn. Folding your hand or leaving your seat before it is your turn to bet should be avoided as much as possible as it reveals important information to players still in the hand. This also applies to holding your cards out waiting for players in front of you to act so that you can fold. Also wait for your turn to call or raise, although this tends to be less common.
Do not splash the pot. When you are making a bet, place your chips neatly in front of you in easily countable stacks (within the dealer's reach and let the dealer pull them into the pot if you have a dealer). Players who toss chips into the middle run the risk of having to put more in if the other players are unable to tell how many chips were originally thrown into the pot.
Do not "slow roll." Taking your time to reveal a winning hand is just bad sportsmanship. If it is time to reveal your cards and you are fairly sure that you are the winner, show them immediately.
Show one, show all. If you have bet everyone else out of the pot and you decide to show one or more other players your cards, you should show everyone at the table.
The "Commentator." Trust me, you are not Howard Cosell, Norman Chad, or Lon McEachern. In a game like poker, outside commentary is not appreciated. Your opinions, your suggestions, even your body language can affect the decisions of the remaining players considering their options. Watch and learn and you're sure to pick up on a tell you can exploit in a later hand. One of the worst things that a player not in the hand can do is to see a pair or better on a flop and then show immediate frustration for not staying in the hand. This gives the other players information that their opponents most likely did not hit that flop and will change the way the remainder of the hand is played.
Be polite. Not only does exemplary sportsmanship make for an enjoyable poker game, it can actually improve your game. Poker is a game of concentration and emotional restraint. Losing control can put you on tilt in a hurry and is a sure sign to the other players at the table that you're not playing well. Don't be mean by criticizing an opponent's play, being verbally abusive to another player, or by being cocky about how good you are (or think you are). On the flip side, if someone has met those qualifications by talking directly to you, the best thing to do is just smile and agree. "Ya, I got lucky there", "I can see how I might've played that wrong", and "Oh ya, I've heard of you before, I was told to look out" are all acceptable comments that will hopefully end the discussion. Don't let the sarcasm show though.
Pay attention. Few things are more aggravating than a player who says, "Whose turn is it?" when it's been their turn for several minutes.
Keep your cards visible. If you are still in a hand, make sure that your cards in front of you are visible to all other players. If they aren't visible, another player may accidentally act out of turn not realizing you are still in the hand. And never remove the cards from the table; i.e. pulling the cards under the table so that you can "look" at them.
Check it down? This is more common in tournaments than in ring games, however, under no circumstance, should you verbalize to another player that you agree to check a hand down when a third player is all-in (many casinos will have you ejected from the game for this). It is perfectly legal and acceptable to do this as long as it is not said out loud.
String bets. Most games, casino or ring, outright forbid string bets. I know I do. String betting is when a player goes "I'll call your 500.... and raise another 1000!" You have to declare whether you're simply calling or raising right away -- once you say "call," that's all you can do. If you're going to raise, say raise and the amount right away. There are also nonverbal string bets. This happens when a player places some chips in front of his/her cards and then goes back and grabs some more. Either verbalize your bet/raise amount before hand(which is binding) or make sure you have enough chips in your hand(s) before placing the bet out in front of your cards.
Speak ENGLISH! Sorry, but I am an American and the rule at my table as well as all American casinos is this- speak English. It would be very easy for two players from Japan (for example) to be in collusion and discuss everything in Japanese without anyone else knowing what is being said.
Poker table not Dinner Table. If you want to eat, go to the buffet. Nothing’s worse than sitting beside a player who’s scattering sandwich crumbs all over your chips, or getting mayonnaise on the cards. These players also tend to take more time to get to their hands when they are first dealt. Tip: Most people will play alot tighter when they are trying to eat. If an eater gets involved in a hand, they probably have something good.
Don't be a poor winner. Tip the dealer, for sure, and don't keep stacking and restacking your big load of chips like you were Donald Trump building a skyscraper. Lose any way you want, as long as you pay up, but win with class.
Table real estate. Do not take up more space than is reasonable on the table. Your chips, cards, card protector, drinks, cigarettes, lighter, Bible, rabbit's foot, etc. should not be covering half the table.