In life, there are written rules that make it clear what people can and can’t do. There are also unwritten rules that define what they should and shouldn’t do. The same applies to poker, which has written rules that define how the game is played, as well as unwritten rules that define how people should play the game to keep it civil, respectful, and fair. 

If you’re new to the game of poker, you may not be familiar with these unwritten rules. But don’t worry. These are not valuable secrets that are only shared among the poker elite—though Darren Elias shared his poker etiquette tips recently.  In fact, you can learn all about the unwritten rules of poker concerning live play, online poker play, and poker etiquette in this article. 

Why Poker Etiquette Matters at the Table

Poker is a social game, especially when played live. Whether players gather at casinos, private poker rooms, tournament tables, or kitchen tables, there are written and unwritten rules that govern behavior and keep the games as fair and fun as possible.

The official rules of poker involve gameplay, such as betting limits, button and blind movements, burn cards, and dealer actions. Most of these rules are written only by official poker rooms, casinos, and organizations like the TDA (Tournament Directors Association), and they are widely accepted worldwide. 

But there are just as many rules that are unwritten but commonplace, accepted by most members of the poker community, and used in most games. This poker etiquette is shared by word of mouth, today more so through social media and online poker forums, and it keeps the games as fair as possible. When everyone knows the rules, the focus of the games can be on the cards and wagers, as well as camaraderie and a shared passion for poker.

Common Poker Etiquette Rules for Beginners

When much poker etiquette is not in any official rulebook, it can be difficult for poker beginners to know the standards and how they are applied. There are some primary and important ones listed as follows that will increase awareness and avoid awkward moments.

Keep Your Chips Visible and in Order

When you play a game of poker at a casino, it’s good poker table etiquette to have your poker chips stacked so that other players can see how much you have. If your chips are loosely scattered in front of you, or you intentionally obscure some of them, you may get a warning from the dealer or even be excluded from the game since it’s against poker rules. You must also keep your higher-denomination chips in front of the other chips so everyone can clearly see your approximate stack size.

Don’t “Splash the Pot” When Placing Your Bet

“Splashing the pot” means throwing the chips you want to wager into the pot. This is highly discouraged as it makes it hard for the dealer and other players to see if you have actually wagered what you said you would. And even if it’s clear which chips are yours, that still means that the dealer has to collect them and place them neatly into the pot.

Don’t Show Your Cards While Playing or After You’ve Folded

Most players keep their hole cards on the table and raise them slightly so only they can see them. However, a more dubious individual might “accidentally” show their cards to either see how other players react or to bully them off the pot. This may be followed by a warning or the hand being declared dead. In some cases, a player may be required to remain in the game but may not make any additional plays until a new hand starts.

Similarly, if you’ve decided to fold, you shouldn’t let other players see your cards. Those who are still playing will take your cards into account, even if they’re no longer in play.

Other Points of Importance

There are some issues that may seem obvious to some, but should be reiterated for certainty.

• Announce actions, including betting amounts, clearly in live poker to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.
• Pay attention to the action. Don’t get distracted in ways that cause delays in the game or inadvertently prompt errors on your part.
• Act when it is your turn. By paying attention, you can avoid acting out of turn, giving away tells, or causing other players to also act out of turn.
• Be respectful of other players, dealers, and staff. Remember that dealers do not control your luck, and poker room staff are simply doing their jobs. As for them and players, too, people do make mistakes, and a little understanding and grace go a long way toward a positive environment and good karma.
• Avoid unnecessary chatter when other players are in a serious hand. If there is a big decision at hand, it’s respectful to give them the silence they may need to concentrate.

Unspoken Rules of Live Poker Etiquette

 The following rules are often unspoken because experienced players and staff assume that everyone is aware of them. This is not always the case, and a few reminders never hurt.

Don’t Take Too Long To Play

While it’s important to make the right decision, you shouldn’t take too long to make up your mind. Just because there isn’t a countdown for each player’s turn, there’s still an expectation that each player will act reasonably quickly, as this is considered good offline and online poker etiquette. Of course, there are times when you are calculating odds in your head or making a big decision for a huge pot, in which case, most players will show some patience and understanding.

In situations where you’re too slow or seemingly slowing the game unnecessarily, another player may call the clock on you, forcing you to act within a certain amount of time. If you don’t act before time runs out, your hand is dead and will be added to the discard pile.

Avoid Slow Rolling

It’s also poor etiquette to slow roll. When it’s the final showdown, and you intentionally take a long time to reveal your winning hand, it’s a slow roll. It can also refer to calling a bet or raise just before the showdown when you have a very strong hand. It’s considered rude by many players and should be avoided. 

Avoid Angle Shooting

If you’re new to in-person or online poker, then you might not know what angle shooting is, exactly. To angle-shoot is to make an intentional, unethical move to take advantage of less experienced players or a situation at the table.

While many of the moves considered as angle shooting are not strictly cheating, they are incredibly poor etiquette and should be avoided at all times. Here are just a few examples:

• Looking at another player’s hole cards. 
• Acting out of turn on purpose to gather information from the other players.
• Creating an illusion of a shorter stack by obscuring your high-value chips, either with your body or, most commonly, using other stacks of lower-value chips.
• Proclaiming that you have a winning hand at a showdown when you don’t.
• Stating the value of a bet verbally using the wrong denomination compared to chips you placed in the pot for a raise, but then trying to backtrack when the dealer confirms your bet.
• “Accidentally” placing an incorrect bet and then trying to undo the wager after you have placed the chips down. 
• Picking up chips for a wager, moving them forward, and announcing your bet, but then withdrawing your bet by not placing it beyond the betting line, and placing another bet.
• Placing your total bet using multiple smaller stacks. This can be used to see how your opponents will react once you place the first part of your bet.

No matter how you try to “work the system,” you should never intentionally trick other players with these kinds of plays.

String Betting

A string bet is when you don’t place your bet in one go, but instead place a few chips at a time. This can be considered angle shooting, as you can do it to try to see how other players will react.

Avoid a Hit and Run

A “hit and run” generally refers to a player winning a large amount of money in a single or a few games and then leaving shortly after. This is generally considered bad sportsmanship since you’re not giving the other players a chance to get their money back. Yes, you may be a good player, but it’s also possible that you had an exceptionally lucky run. This is why it’s considered good etiquette to stay and play a while longer to prove that your winning was more than just luck.

Don’t Call the Clock Too Soon

When an opponent is slow to act, that doesn’t mean that you should call the clock one hand into the game. Ensure you give other players enough time to think about their decisions before alerting the dealer to call the clock. Calling the clock too soon on another player is extremely rude and indicates to the other players that you are impatient. Save the clock for unnecessary pauses or players who repeatedly take a long time to act.

Avoid Excessive Celebrations at the Table

It’s always fun to win, but it’s important to remember that the other players have just lost. No one likes a poor sportsman who gloats too much when they win. Yes, you can celebrate, but you should always keep it to a polite level to avoid rubbing your success in other players’ faces.

How Etiquette Considerations Differ in Online Poker

As mentioned in some of the rules above, they are clearly only applicable in a live poker game. Announcing your action and keeping chips visible are obviously not factors in online poker. It makes sense that there is more etiquette required in live poker, as players are close together and real life is happening around them. Real life often requires more social skills and consideration than online situations.

As for online poker, one of the perks of playing online is that many rules are built into the poker software. Your chips are always visible to other players, your actions are clearly shown to them, and time banks are automatic to avoid excessive delays. There are also no decisions about calling the clock on opponents, splashing the pot, acting out of turn, or misrepresenting your hand. Some of the rules can be applied to being respectful in the chat box, if you choose to use it, but an online poker site can easily revoke chat privileges if you abuse it. 

Play Poker Online at BetMGM

While all of these etiquette guidelines may not apply to both casino and online poker, it’s important to know how to play fairly so that you and everyone you play poker with has a good time. It’s also important to know that you’ll be treated fairly when you play at an online casino or poker site. 

BetMGM is a U.S. online poker site, casino, and sportsbook that is legally licensed to operate in multiple states across the country and is regulated by each state’s relevant gambling body. This ensures that the games and platform offer a fair experience for all players. 

BetMGM also has 24/7 customer support, a wide variety of poker bonuses and promotions, an excellent range of payment options, and, of course, a wonderful library of games and betting options so that you can enjoy fair and legal poker and gambling action. 

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