Poker is one of the more complex games out there and takes a bit more practice to get the hang of. This means that there are a few more social graces that are needed when playing this game too.
Most of these are common sense, but it helps to give them a once over just in case. You don’t want to make a misstep when you’re playing this game - especially if you want to come back!
Etiquette rules for poker
Keep it calm
Poker can be a pretty intense game to play, but you’re not going to have an enjoyable time playing it if you don’t keep a cool head. Being into the game is one thing but getting overly irate or aggressive is not the way to go.
You’re not going to be making good decisions within the game unless you keep your cool either. You need to take a measured approach to play poker, otherwise you could make some bad moves that could impact your chances of winning.
Respect other players at the table
Being respectful to other players in the game is imperative while playing poker. This is one of the only casino games where you have to interact with other people that aren’t the dealer and being cordial is the only way you’re going to have a good time.
Even if you’re planning to play poker online, being respectful of other players is imperative. Not everyone you play with is going to have the same experience level as you or be as confident so you should treat people with the grace that you would expect to be treated with.
If the other players are well seasoned, there are people who make mistakes so there’s no need to be a bad sport. Everyone is there to have a good time, so make sure you’re contributing to a positive atmosphere so everyone can enjoy themselves.
Good sportsmanship is important no matter what you’re playing to be kind to others and feel free to call out any inappropriate behaviour as you see it.
Don’t show your hand to anyone
This should go without saying but make sure you’re not making any rookie errors like showing your hand to anyone else on the table. This applies even if you’re no longer in the game. You might be sitting next to your friend who has also already folded but neither of you should reveal your holding. This is because doing this can unintentionally give away the strength of another person’s hand or other players might be able to use it to gauge what other players might be holding.
It’s bad sportsmanship to impact the game that is still going on so keep quiet until the game is over. It might be difficult when you’re around friends, but it ruins the fun for everyone else.
Be nice to the dealer
Disrespectful players are the worst to be around, especially when these players don’t respect the dealers. The dealer is just trying to do their job, and it can be a tough one to do at the best of times.
The dealers have no control over the outcome of the hand or the game so there’s no blame on them if one of your opponent’s wins a big prize. Arguing with the dealer will not help you and only adds to the discomfort of the other players there.
Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but that’s not a reason to berate them and make a bad situation worse. If you notice an error then you can simply and politely explain it and suggest a way for them to fix it.
If you’re at an in person casino, you can involve the floorman if necessary or ask for help if you’re playing online. But doing this in an impolite manner only makes the other players uncomfortable and ruins the fun.
Don’t be a sore loser
No one likes a sore loser, and it can ruin the fun for the person who won. It’s all well and good to be a little bit down spirited after a loss - especially if it’s a big one - but don’t let it ruin it for everyone else.
We all have to lose from time to time, that’s just how the game goes. But don’t take it to heart or make others feel bad about their wins.
It pays not to be a sore winner too! No one likes a winner who gloats over everyone else’s loss as it makes it worse for the losers. It will also give people a reason to try harder to beat you next time!
Now you know all about how to play poker properly, the only thing left to do is get a game in!
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