Poker Etiquette: Even Amateurs Should Act Like Professionals

Poker has caught on. In the last few years, we've seen many new players: people who had never in the past thought about any sort of card game. You might be among this influx of new players. Even if you never shuffled a deck of cards before, you're showing up for games with friends or family members - and you love all the variations and strategies that are part of this card game.

But just because you're an amateur doesn't mean that you should act like one. No matter where you're playing, or who else is playing, you should follow these rules of poker etiquette. Even if you believe the stereotype that weekend poker players are macho men who scratch in public and smoke foul cigars while swearing every other sentence (which is a wrong assumption in many cases), you should carry yourself in a way that will earn the respect of other players.

And who knows? You could become a pro someday. If that happens, you'll have the advantage of not being called out by seasoned experts because you're a slave to long-time, bad habits. But even if you never earn the privilege of playing poker full-time, you can still benefit from basic poker etiquette. These tips will help you be the sort of player that other people enjoy having at the table - even if you consistently win hands and take most of their money every time you get together.

Don't waste time. Sometimes you have to think about what you want to do - but you shouldn't require five minutes every time the bet comes around to you. Its okay to process your options when there's a difficult decision (i.e. when your hand is okay, but not great), but you shouldn't take half an hour to decide what to do when you're sitting on a royal flush.

Stack your chips neatly instead of throwing (or "splashing") them into the pot. A neat stack allows everyone else, including the dealer, to see what you've bet.

Announce everything that you're doing. Poker-wise, at least: nobody wants to hear about your upcoming trip to the restroom. If you're folding, raising, checking, calling, or seeing another bet, make sure that everybody knows.

Bet only on your turn. You shouldn't throw your chips into the pot when there are two other people ahead of you. Another advantage to waiting for your turn is that the people betting in front of you won't know what you're going to do until they've already either gone in or folded.

The same goes for folding. Fold in turn as well so that the players in line to bet after you don't have an unfair advantage over the guys who've already betted.

Keep all of your chips on the table until you're out of the game. Many poker players consider it rude to stick a few of your chips into your pocket for safekeeping. If you're trying to make sure that you don't leave your friend's house without any money, only take as much cash as you're willing to lose that night.

Don't mess up the cards, even if the deck belongs to you. Nobody wants to be dealt a hand of chicken-grease-smeared cards, so either keep your snacking to non-messy foods or wipe your hands off before you handle your cards.

Fold professionally. Don't throw your cards at the dealer's head. Instead, lightly toss them onto the table in front of him, face-down of course.

If you fold, someone else might want to see what you had. If you show one player, you should show everybody. Otherwise, the person who sees your folded hand has an unfair advantage in knowing what isn't in play.

Also: if you fold, don't ask other players what they had after the hand is over. In most cases, you have to pay to see (i.e. stay in the game) - which is exactly what many players will tell you if you ask.

If you think that your best friend should give you advice on your hand, think again. Poker isn't a team sport. Even if your buddy isn't playing in this hand, or at all tonight, make your own decisions. You'll look more professional and be much less likely to annoy the other people at the table.

If you have a winning hand, lay the cards down so that everybody can see them. You should also call out what you have in a matter-of-fact (not snotty or superior) tone. Being a good winner will make the other guys want to keep playing with you after tonight: nobody likes being annoyed on top of losing a hand.

Tip: "Slow rolling" is a term for waiting for half a century before putting down your winning hand. Many players consider this rude, so don't be caught doing this.

Swearing at the dealer or accusing him of dealing you bad cards is a no-go. Unless the dealer has spent a couple of decades or more perfecting his card-rigging shuffle, he's no more capable of dealing specific cards to each player than you are.

You should also treat the other players with respect. If they're friends, you're obviously going to joke with each other, but don't take things too seriously. When you start feeling frustrated - a very common experience when you're having a bad night - keep your temper in check. Focus on your cards so that you have a chance of bettering your game - and being invited to play again next time.

One of the most important aspects of poker etiquette is leaving other players to play as they wish. Criticizing them on how they're playing, or on their collective lack of etiquette, only makes you look bad. Until you have your own advice column, keep your commentary out of the game.

Finally, have fun! These rules won't take away from the enjoyment of the game. Instead, they'll help things go smoothly between you and the other players so that everyone can have a great night, even if you end up losing twenty bucks to your best friend.