Home Poker Game Etiquette and Rules

Poker etiquette involves being aware of and complying with norms or customs of behavior. Poker is a social activity as well as a game. Like any game there are rules to be followed. Like any social activity there are behavioral expectations. For the most part, home poker etiquette is simply following the rules and behaving as a decent, respectful person. Observing poker etiquette and poker rules does not make you a better player, but does make you a more respected and desireable player to invite back.

In home poker games you are usually playing with friends, acquaintances, neighbors or relatives. Home poker etiquette is, therefore, often less formal. That does not mean poker etiquette or rules can be ignored. Always keep in mind that you are a guest in someone elses home. You were taught how to behave in that situation when you were a youngster. Just because there is a poker game going on does not give you liberty to behave any differently. Here are some basic expecations for just about any poker game but applied especially to a home game situation. Additional considerations for casino poker etiquette then follow.

Attendance
	When you accept an invitation to play in a home game you should honor it. Other people are expecting you to show up. If something comes up that prevents you from playing you should inform the host or organizer so that they can find another player.

Home poker games typically have desginated starting and ending times. Obviously, you should get there on time. What about leaving? Generally, you will be expected to stay until the end, barring some unforseen emergency that may arise or unless you have made it clear from the start that you must leave early. You certainly have the right to leave whenever you want whether winning, losing or even. Exercising that right is the potentially problematic part. While no one is going to stop you from leaving early you run the risk of not being invited back, especially if you leave as a big winner.

Be Clear About Expectations

This is something that applies to both those who are hosting the game and inviting others to play as well as the players who are attending. It is especially vital for new players to the group. Make sure each side has an understanding about the expectations. Necessary information should include many of the basic topics discussed here. Very important are money matters, including such things as the stakes or limits being played and minimum bankroll or buy in. Be sure you bring enough money to play. Do not rely on playing on credit or borrowing from others unless you have been told it is allowed.

Actions

You should always be paying attention to the action at the table and act only when it is your turn. Do not announce your action before  it is your turn. Prematurely disclosing your intention may give you or another player an unfair advantage. You must never fold unless there has been a bet. No matter how bad your cards are, if you are first to act or it has been checked to you, you must check as well. Folding could give another player an unfair advantage.

There are only four actions you can take during a poker hand: check, bet, raise, fold. When it is time to take your action just verbally announce what you are doing. Bear in mind, you can make only one of these actions per  turn. The classic violation of this rule is called a "string bet" in which a player says something like: "I call your bet and raise you...". You cannot both call and raise in the same turn. Whatever you say first is the only thing that is allowable, so in this example you have called. When you want to raise just say "raise". You may also find yourself in a string bet situation if you move chips into the pot in two separate motions. That is, putting the amount of chips out to call the bet, then returning to your stack and placing a raise out there. Place all the chips out at once. Also keep in mind that your verbal declaration is binding. Once you've said it you've done it. If you say something like "I guess I fold. Oh, wait! I call" you've folded.

As already mentioned, you want to announce verbally each of your actions, that way there is no ambiguity of what you are doing. There are, however, some situations in which a non-verbal action signals your intention: Tapping the table in front of you with your hand/fingers will be taken to mean you "check". If you move chips into the pot without announcing a raise it will be taken to mean you are just calling. Throwing your cards away or turning your hand face down in stud means you have folded. It is still preferable to make a verbal declaration along with these actions.

When a hand is called at the end it is the player who made the bet who must reveal their hand first. But, rather than engage in any bantering back and forth you might as well just show your cards. Never deliberately delay revealing what you think is the best hand, something that is refered to as "slow rolling". In a "slow roll" a player with a powerful hand lets all the other players reveal and announce their hands. Someone thinks they have made the winning hand, then the slow roller reveals the actual winner. Another similar move is to say something like "I have 2 pair...both are aces" when you have four of a kind. You will not win any friends with these kinds of "bush league" moves.

Don't take an excessive amount of time to make your actions. Most of your decisions will be fairly straight forward and they only take a moment to make. There will be times where you will need to think something through and when those situations arise just say you are going to need some extra time. But, if you continually make the other players wait while you ponder your hand it will annoy them. They may also feel you are deliberately trying to get the next player to act prematurely and thus potentially gain an advantage.

Handling Cards

The cards that have been dealt to you should remain on the table. In a game such as draw poker you can pick them up to look at them, but the cards should always remain in sight of the other players. Don't show your cards to other players during the hand, even if you have dropped out. It is your obligation to protect your cards from being accidentally mixed with "mucked" or discarded cards. Should that happen, your hand is declared dead. When you fold, discard in way that does not expose any of your cards. If you accidentally expose any of your cards, that is just too bad, you are not entitled to replacement cards.

When you are dealing the cards you must do so in a manner that protects the identity of the cards. Hold the deck in your hand close to the table surface and slightly tilted away from you so no one can see the bottom card. Deal the cards close to the table surface as well, so that no one can see a card as it is dealt. Never play with the deck in the midst of a hand or do anything that others might think is intended as trying to peek at upcoming cards. As dealer it is your obligation to pay attention and deal the cards properly since your mistakes can end up costing other players money.

If the dealer exposes a player's card that card is ruled "dead" and a replacement card is provided. The player is not entitled to decide if he wants to keep the card or not. Any card exposed in this situation must be displayed to the other players so that everyone is aware of it. If a replacement card is needed it is usually provided after all the other cards are dealt in their usual order. For example, if dealing holdem the dealer exposes the second card dealt to player 6, the original sequence of dealing should be observed. That is, the very next card is dealt to player 7 and likewise to the other players in order. Once all the other players cards have been dealt player 6 gets his exposed card replaced.

Do not bend, fold, cut or mark the cards in any way. You may be suspected of cheating. Don't take out your anger of losing by ripping up the cards. I've seen people do it. Even if they are your cards you'll look like a jerk. If they are not yours you have no right to destroy someone's property. You risk either never being invited back, or getting your deck ripped up when it's your turn to host the game.

Table Talk

During the play of a hand keep the talk focused on the game and avoid social conversation. If you are not involved in the hand you should keep quiet. Never discuss anything that could reveal information about your hand or other players' hands. A particularly serious violation would be to blurt out something like "darn, I folded a pair of deuces!" when favorable cards hit the table. Other inappropriate comments would be to encourage a player to call or raise another or to indicate what cards you think another player is holding.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell
	Although this point of etiquette is commonly ignored in a friendly home game, it is generally improper to ask the winning player what his hand was in an uncalled hand. In poker you are supposed to pay to see the other players' cards. If it is another player asking you what you had in that situation, you are under no obligation to tell.

Whining and Bragging
	Everyone who plays poker has had losing sessions and received their share of bad beats. Quite frankly, no one is interested in hearing about yours, so you might as well keep it to yourself. You might hear some seemingly sympathetic responses, but no one really cares, they are just trying to be polite.

You are going to lose some hands with excellent cards that you felt had no possibility of being beaten. Other players are going to suck out on you every so often. It is part of poker and you have to take it in stride. No yelling, cursing or other childish behavior. No one wants to play with a jerk. Don't be one.

Just as no one is interested in hearing you whine, others especially do not want to listen to you brag. People are going to take offense to you saying something like "Thank you boys and girls. I won $100 tonight". There are a couple of reasons for this: One is that they have been playing with you and already know you won. Another is that the money you are stuffing into your pocket used to belong to them. If someone asks you how much you won, just give a simple answer, but otherwise, don't volunteer the information.

There can actually be a practical reason not to brag about your winnings: You'd like to have people think you are an average player, not a consistantly winning one.

Giving Lessons

Appointing yourself a poker instructor and giving lessons at the table is not something you want to do. Most people will consider it to be a form of bragging about how good a player you are or criticism of how poorly they play. Assuming you actually know what you are talking about a few people may actually listen to what you say and learn something. If you're a good player why give away your secrets?

If a new or novice player is attending your home game, you should certainly give him instructions regarding the rules and play of each game. And, as a new player it is okay to ask questions if you are unsure about something. But, the information provided should be restricted to rule or procedural issues, not strategy or decision making. As examples, it would be fine to state that in Omaha the player must use exactly 2 cards from their hand and 3 from the board. It would not be okay to give advice on what hand you think he will need to win.

Sorry?

Occasionally you will hear a player say "sorry" to another after beating him out of a pot. Never appologize for winning. Most people will consider your "sorry" to be an insult. You couldn't be more obviously insincere. You know you're not really sorry, the player you beat knows it and so does everyone else at the table. Those in your friendly home game may let your comment slide. But in a serious game you are likely to get a decidedly angry response.

Collusion

Player collusion is a form of cheating and must never be allowed. Even if it appears to be unintentional it still must be banned. Collusion occurs when two or more players openly act together to influence the play of a hand. Obvious examples would be when one player says to another something like "I think if you and I keep betting and raising we can get Joe to fold" or "If we all check, Sue won't be able to keep raising us". Of course there are some much less obvious or more subtle methods of collusion. Whenever a player says something that is intended to influence others to play a hand in some type of coordinated fashion you and the other players should speak up and stop it.

In a tournament, when one player is all-in and two or more other players are also in the hand, it is customary for the others to check rather than bet. This is especially the case when you have reached the money. They each know that playing that way will increase the chances of eliminating the all-in player. As long this happens without any prompting or comment it is perfectly alright. However, it would never be permissable for a player to "remind" the others about this tactic.

Other Unethical Behavior
	Occasionally a player will miscall his hand and state he has a better hand than he actually does. It's a mistake that anyone could make once in a while. But deliberately miscalling a hand in order to try to get the other players to fold should never be done. Always make a player who claims to have the best hand show it. Never muck your hand until you see you are beaten.

Additional Considerations for Casino Poker Etiquette

Whatever is expected with home poker etiquette will also be expected when you are playing at a casino only more so. At home you know the people you are playing with and against. They are likely to be more understanding of your behavior. Casino poker etiquette is more formal. In a casino you are playing against strangers. They will have no reservations about pointing it out should you violate a rule or behave poorly. Additionally, a casino is a highly regulated place of business. They are also going to expect you to treat their employees and customers appropriately and follow their rules.

Each casino will post their particular rules of play and standards of behavior somewhere. Make sure you read them, especially if it is your first time playing or its been a while since you where there. Those are the rules you are going to be held to so you need to know them. Some common standards may include banning cell phones, smoking or communicating in a foreign language while at a table.

Your comings and goings in a casino are completely your own business. Sit down to play or get up to leave whenever you want. Just follow the casino's procedure for being placed at a table. There are no attendance expecations like you may find at a home game.

The only things that should be on the table are the cards and chips (or cash). You can also usually have a small object to act as a card "protector". Once placed on the table any cash or chips must remain there. You can not put it back in your pocket until you leave the game. You also are not allowed to put additional money on the table during the play of a hand, though it is perfectly fine to do so between hands. Keep other things like drinks and food off the table.

Your actions at the table are the same as in a home game. It is equally as critical that you make them properly in a casino. In fact, observing proper actions is one of the most important contributions you can make toward observing poker etiquette.

Proper handling of cards is also very important in a casino. Never take your cards off the table. Never touch another players cards or chips. Never mark the cards in any way. Such actions will place you under suspicion of cheating and casinos (as well as their state regulators) do not take kindly to cheating. Never throw the cards at another player or the dealer. It is imperative you protect your hole cards from being accidentally mucked, so place a chip on top of them. Obviously, in a casino you are not going to be dealing.

There is going to be a lot less social conversation in a casino, especially during the play of a hand, so generally keep quiet. If a disagreement develops stay out of it unless you are involved in the hand or you are asked for information. Let the dealer or floor personnel handle it. The usual avoidance of bragging, whinning, gloating, "sorry" or insulting remarks is quite important. Never ask another player what his cards were in an uncalled hand.

String betting is, of course, not allowed. However, interestingly, the dealer typically will not enforce this rule unless one of the players points it out. But remember, if you are not a active participant in the hand it is not your place to point it out either.

When everyone folds pre-flop up to the small blind it is often customary to "chop the pot". Each of the blinds takes back their chips and a new hand is dealt. While this is totally voluntary between the two remaining players, should you be in this position I suggest you ask the other player if they wish to do this or agree to it if they ask you. This practice applies only to ring games. It is not applicable to a tournament.

Tipping or "toking" the dealer is going to be expected of you when you win a decent sized pot in a ring game. You need not go overboard with this, however. Watch the game and see what seems to be the customary tip and use that as your guide. Don't feel obligated to tip at all if the pot is meager. Don't necessarily be impressed by a player who seems especially generous. They might be an off-duty dealer themselves. If you make a payout in tournament play a tip will also be expected. It can vary widely depending upon how much you won, but somewhere between 2-10% is sufficient. In some tournaments part of the entry fee may be designated for tips to the dealers, so it is a good idea to ask about that when registering. If that is the case you can still give an additional tip, but a lesser amount. The waitress or waiter that serves your "free" drink is also going to expect a tip.