Poker Etiquette and Behavior Codes
Playing poker is fun. Whether you play with friends at home or at a poker table in a casino, there is a poker etiquette that you must accept and follow. These are not strict rules but manners that help the civility among the players and the maintenance of the game itself.
If you are hosting a poker game or a tournament, it's your responsibility to make sure that the etiquette is being kept and the no player violates it. Obviously, you don't have to be some sort of a poker police, but it's well-advised to be responsible and to know how to deal with players who cannot understand the importance of such etiquette themselves.
Here are some actions that considered to be improper according to the poker etiquette, so don't do or accept it while playing :
- Don't read the hand of another player before it was placed on the table during the showdown. It's regarded as impolite.
- Don't reveal the contents of a live hand before the betting round is complete, during a multi-handed pot.
- Don't act out of turn deliberately, even not as a joke, and if you do it in mistake- apologize to the other players.
- Don't stack your chips in a blatant way. Don't stack them in a manner that blokes the table, interferes with the dealing or prevents viewing the cards.
- Don't "help" other players or make statements that influence the course of the game.
- Don't use your cell phone in the middle of the game. If you are waiting for important call, ask the other players to forgive you and leave the table until you finish your phone call.
- Don't cheat. Bluff, because it's part of the game, but don't cheat.
- Don't curse or use profanity or any obscene language. Don't threat on the dealer or the other players.
- Respect the property. Don't tear, bend or throw the cards; don't deface the table or the chips.