Article #4 - Table Etiquette

Table Etiquette

by: Erica R. Nelson (August 2008)

After viewing the videos of Scotty Nguyen in his drunken stooper at the WSOP 2008 HORSE final table, it begs the question(s):

How many people practice proper table etiquette? Moreover, how many people even know what the proper table etiquette should be, and how do you know when you've crossed the line?

Here are a few things I try to keep in mind when playing, to maintain a proper table etiquette, both online and off.

(1) No matter how good you are (or think you are), it's not up to you to educate other players at the table...

If someone plays a hand incorrectly, for goodness sake, DON'T SCOLD THEM! You want them to continue to play in a manner that will eventually pay you off. If you tell them what they are doing wrong and they listen to your "teachings" you may find them taking more from you than they should. Besides that aspect of it, it's just downright rude to assume that you are a better player than someone who may have simply had a bad read on you, or perhaps gotten themselves caught in a bluff attempt.

(2) Don't show all your winning hands...

Many people view this as cocky and will easily get offended. Not to mention, it's bad for you because you are giving your opponents a very precise hand range to put you on. This is something that can cause people to get their monsters cracked by a lesser hand. Also, by showing every winning hand (most especially if you play TAG) , you will get called less when you fire bets, resulting in smaller pots. In an MTT, small pots vs rising blinds/antes = no chance at making the money.

(3) Keep your emotions under control...

If you take a bad beat, roll with it. It's one of many hands. Just let it go. Focusing on the negative is the #1 biggest hurdle for most players to overcome, because anger and frustration are much more powerful emotions than the instant gratification of winning a hand. You may win a hand and say "yes, I won" and think no more of it (unless of course it's the deciding hand in the WSOP ME). But we all know when we lose a hand, especially to a bad beat with a big pot, we can dwell on it for hours, days...even weeks for some people.

(4) Be a good sport...

Even if the guy that beat you was a total lucksack, you must still offer a handshake or at the very least, a simple congratulations. As stated before with tilt, people are geared toward dwelling on the negative, so if you portray yourself in a negative way by poor sportsmanship, that is the way that your fans will view you, as well as other players. You really don't want other players viewing you in this way, because they will tag you as an easy tilt, and bully you to the fullest to achieve that state from you.

(5) Don't be an all-in donk...

Yes, we all know, heads up, it's bound to happen. But when you're at a full ring game or in an MTT, it is completely unacceptable to go all-in every single hand, not to mention it's simply not good poker. This is about THE biggest pet peave in the realm of poker etiquette, and is frowned upon by everyone except those who do it. If you are one of these people, remember the words of Phil Gordon: "All in works every time, but the LAST time..."

These are just a few things, and I know there is much, much more that could and will be added. I just wanted to touch base on a few of these things, because what it boils down to is this:

Table etiquette is not only good for your image, but it's also good for your game. Practicing good table etiquette will get you a long way, while doing the "don'ts" of it will cost you big time.

~LiLady~