Five Bad Poker Etiquettes
Poker is a game for grown ups, and as such if you can't observe and obey the basic niceties you really shouldn't be mixing it at the grown ups' table, plus it might harm your winning potential.
1 – Verbosity
Too much talk is no good thing, we don't need narration to heighten the tension and we don't need the action spelt out. Talking about the board while others are still in the hand won't win you any friends and could get you kicked off (losing your buy-in). Don't say anything that can influence the table action.
2 – Generosity
If you think you're going to fold, but you have the option of checking…CHECK!
Some players do this everyday, they fold when they could have checked; it's a real bad strategic move because you might miss out free cards. Especially when you’ve got three players and somebody folds out of turn. Suddenly it’s heads-up instead of three-way.
3– Abusive/Constructive Critisim
Don't berate the bad player for making the bad play. The last thing you want to do is educate them, as it'll only help them keep their money of take yours. "SHOUTING" and calling names may actually cause THEM to start playing better. Especially if you tell him what he's doing wrong. What's the quote about shearing a sheep many times….
No matter what try to not to be abusive or use f*#cking profanities at the table.
4 – Divulgence
DON'T under ANY circumstances talk about your hand, even when you've folded, in fact especially when you've folded. Doing so can influence the way the hand plays out and is utterly unfair on the other players. How would you feel if you were bluffing as if you had pocket Aces and some nimrod who just folded says (types) "That Ace Seven I just folded would have been great in the last hand." It sounds ridiculous but it happens.
5 – Slowrolling
We are not in the movies or the Wild West. Slowrolling is an ugly habit. When know you have the best hand and are going to call, just do it! We're here to play not act as extras in your Cincinnati Kid fantasy The caveat being if it is part of your play, for example if you want to appear like a bit of a rube to swell the pot, but please don't do it randomly!
Remember
You may think that because you are behind a computer screen you don't have to "play nice". Online you're not going get a slap across the chops for bad etiquette this doesn't mean you can forget your manners.
