Poker may be one of the popular casino games out there, with casino tournaments for it being all-the-rage. But there are times where things can get extremely heated. Or, the desperation to grab a win takes a toll on one’s morality and players have to resort to cheating. Whatever the case, when you’re playing the game, it’s important to apply proper poker etiquette.
In this guide, we’ll tackle every basic etiquette in playing poker to date. Regardless if you’re dealing with an online game or a land-based one, these rules are made to make the game fair and still fun to play. If you’re ready to learn how to play poker with class, keep on reading our guide below!
Live Poker Etiquette
1. Don’t Do Angle Shooting
Perhaps one of the most unethical poker etiquette is the angle shoot. It comes in many forms, but basically: it’s any move that tries to deceive other players by bending or breaking the rules.
Angle shooting is frowned upon whether it breaks an official poker room rule or just an unwritten etiquette rule. A player attempting an angle shoot is typically looking to gain an unfair advantage. Thus, only making the game even more nerve-wracking than it already is.
Some examples of angle shooting include:
- Acting out of turn
- Hiding large denomination chips
- Pump fake betting
- Verbally declaring an action, then denying it
Sure, it’s normal to have players bluffing. And, deception is part of the game to make it extra thrilling. But angle shooting crosses the line set by both written rules and unwritten poker etiquette. Thus, making it an unacceptable tactic that we highly recommend you avoid if you don’t wanna get kicked out of the table.
Learn how not only men can dominate the tables by reading our guide on the 7 of the Best Female Poker Players That Shatter Stereotypes.
2. No Slow-Rolling
An offensive poker etiquette as any, slow-rolling is bound to get you some bad looks at the table.
“Slow-rolling” is when a player pretends to have a tough decision while holding an unbeatable hand. Only after a long time will they reveal it slowly and dramatically. This includes taking your time to show the winning cards or making an opponent reveal their losing hand first.
As the name suggests, slow-rolling drags the game out. Additionally, it tricks other players into thinking they’ve won, only for them to find out they’ve lost in the most annoying way possible. It’s generally bad poker etiquette, and you should never do it.
3. Avoid String Betting
Yes, there are times where you’re breaking poker etiquette rule, and you don’t even realize it! This is where string betting comes along. It’s a sort of angle shooting, and while seasoned players are aware, newcomers might not know they’re doing it.
In a land-based poker game, the general rule it to push your entire bet forward in one motion. For example, if you’re in a $2/$5 No-Limit Texas Hold’em game and want to raise to $25, you must push $25 worth of chips forward in one go. If you push a $5 chip first and then add the rest, that’s a string bet. The dealer would then count only the first $5, turning your $25 raise into a $5 call.
Always check the betting rules of the poker room you’re playing in. Some places strictly enforce the betting line, where only chips that cross the line in one motion count toward your bet. Though in general, it’s just proper poker etiquette to bring your exact bets out in one go to avoid confusion.
4. Keep Your High-Value Chips in Plain Sight
This particular poker etiquette rule is enforced in almost all poker rooms.
Here’s why:
Transparency. It’s important to place your largest-denomination chips at the front or on top of your stack. This rule applies everywhere—home games, card clubs, or casinos.
And the logic is simple: if you can’t see an opponent’s big chips, you can’t know how much you’re up against.
For example, in a $1/$3 NLHE cash game, if you have $1000 in chips—$500 in $5 chips, $300 in $25 chips, and $200 in $100 chips—the $100 and $25 chips must be visible. Don’t hide them behind the $5 chips.
If you can’t see another player’s stack clearly, ask for a count or if they have hidden big chips. A lot of cheaters get away with this sleuth move, and is generally terrible poker etiquette frowned upon at the tables. So for your own stack, make sure to show your large-denomination chips prominently.
5. Don’t Discuss the Hand While Playing
Sometimes, you try your best to cultivate a positive gambling habit. And sure, playing mind games in poker doesn’t hurt anyone… but only after the hand.
Always know that your words can affect the action in a hand. Because of this, it’s a rule of thumb never to speak about the hand while it’s ongoing.
Imagine the player to your left folds preflop in a $1/$3 game, and you raise from the cutoff with A♠ T♥. Three spades hit the flop, and your fellow player says, “I would have flopped a flush!” Well, now you know your chances of hitting another spade are lower.
Players often overlook this poker etiquette and talk about hands as they’re happening. Some may even comment during big pots even if they’re not involved. Don’t be one of those commentators!
If you’re heads-up and someone is making a final decision, some speech play might be okay. But overall, it’s best not to talk about hands while they’re still in play.
Online Poker Etiquette
1. Keep a Stable Connection
Just like in land-based poker, online players hate wasting time. Because unlike live poker, online poker players tend to juggle multiple games at once. That’s why having a stable internet connection is a crucial poker etiquette to keep the game flowing smoothly.
It’s super frustrating for others if they have to wait for you to reconnect every time it’s your turn. Not forgetting to mention how it’s bad for you too. Why? Well, for one, you could miss out on a big pot if your connection drops and your winning hand gets snatched away. With that, make sure your internet is reliable every time you start playing. It avoids disrupting the game and keeps you from missing out on those solid wins!
2. Pay Attention to the Table
When it’s your turn, you get a set amount of time to make your move. Most online casinos and top poker sites give you plenty of time to think things over. But that doesn’t mean you should abuse it by slow-rolling like we discussed on land-based rules.
Good poker etiquette means acting promptly and only taking as long as you need. You don’t have to rush, of course. After all, you’re playing for real money, plus every decision counts. But make sure to stay focused on the game so your clock doesn’t run down unnecessarily. This is especially crucial when you’re playing multiple tables at a time in your favorite online casino.
3. Respect Others in the Chat Box
The beauty of online poker games is that you have a chat box to keep things socially fun! It’s great for light conversation about poker and other topics, just like in a live poker game. But in proper poker etiquette fashion, it’s not the place to berate other players or brag about your skills. No one cares how good you think you are or how bad you thought their play was.
Remember, your opponents are real people too, something often forgotten online.
Being offensive or annoying in the chat box does no good and will only make others target you. The chat box is a privilege, not a right, and moderators can easily mute you if you misuse it. So make sure to keep your chats clean, be a good sport, and make it stress-free from the game already in hand.
4. Keep Quiet About Hands You’ve Folded
A poker etiquette to follow that often goes without saying. When you’re not in a hand, don’t talk about the cards you folded while others are still playing. But why is that?
Sharing what you mucked can give active players an advantage by revealing what won’t come out on the board. This kind of talk can unfairly influence the game and is frowned upon in both live and online play. With that, just keep your folded cards to yourself.
5. Don’t Try to Teach Other Players
No one wants a know-it-all in the chatbox. And while it’s great to be prideful of your wins, you might rub people off the wrong way with this unspoken poker etiquette. The poker table is not the place for coaching.
It’s simply bad form to critique other players’ decisions. And this is especially right after you’ve just won a hand against them. Let everyone play their own game without unsolicited advice!
Wrapping up on Etiquette in Poker
That just about closes out our guide on poker etiquette! We hope you’ve learned a thing or two on these spoken and unspoken rules on how to act while playing live or online poker. Make sure to brush up on these rules every now and then, cause you never know when you’re unknowingly acting some of the no-gos out. Play fair, keep things light, and have fun on your next poker game!
