Most players will occasionally (and possibly unwittingly) break one of the poker etiquette standards. Perhaps by chatting too much, being over-excited or coming across as a little too smug.
We veer off the path from time to time, carried away by the spirit of the whole thing.
Even so, some transgressions of the rules of good poker behaviour are more or less acceptable than others. We’ll look at a few examples from the latter group in this list.
If you commit any of the following offences, no matter how hard you try, it will be challenging to overcome the reputation you have built for yourself:
Playing at Tables Completely Outside of Your League
First of all, none of your fellow players will probably find this annoying. Many will embrace the chance to make the most of the easy pickings you represent. However, playing at tables well beyond your level of expertise is a symptom of naive amateurism. If not, a hint of arrogance.
It’s never an excellent idea to buy into a table where you have a remote chance of being the weakest player. Fix your sights on a table where you can fit in, not necessarily in the best or worst spots, but someplace central.
Even if you aim to push yourself, there are more effective ways to go about it than to set yourself up for a definite loss and a big helping of humility.
Wasting Time Without Justification
The pace of a poker game is frequently what makes it so thrilling. It’s an encounter jam-packed with action, and everything happens quickly. Therefore, it makes sense why people just trying to keep the game going are irritated by those who seem determined to slow things down.
This can occur in several ways, including talking nonstop and failing to recognize when it is your turn, slowly displaying your cards to create drama, delaying decisions for far too long, and so on.
The game is very discouraging whether you are purposefully squandering time or slowing down. Even if you aren’t kicked out of the game, your opponents are much less likely to want to play against you again.
Tricking, lying to or making fun of inexperienced players
Of course, there’s always a chance you’ll have the most experience at the table. You might come up against one or more dreadful amateurs clueless in their field.
The proper and civilized thing to do in these circumstances is to treat them respectfully. If not, adjust your typically aggressive play somewhat, so they have a fair chance to appreciate it. Under no circumstances should your effort take advantage of their inexperience.
A blatant jackass who has no business playing poker with other people shows off berates and insults and takes them to the cleaners.
Cheating
Cheating effectively at a poker table is virtually impossible. By its very nature, poker is a game in which a large group of players closely observe one another. Therefore, you’re barking up a strange tree if you think you can get away with cheating.
Even so, a surprising number of gamblers periodically try to change the odds in their favour. They experiment with some card tricks, make an effort to conspire with one or more other players, mark or fold cards to make them easier to recognize, and so on.
The problem is that even a complete amateur can recognize all of these instances from a mile away. Additionally, attempting to defraud people of their money is a surefire way to lose the trust of others, especially those who have previously trusted you.
Behaving Like a Big Shot After Winning
Poker players who consistently win hands don’t make a big deal. They accept it because it is nothing new to them. You wouldn’t even realize they had won anything from the expressions on their faces.
On the other hand, terrible poker players who hardly ever win are shocked when things go their way. As a result, they celebrate every victory as if it were the grand prize of a powerful international lottery.
All of these serve to reaffirm your status as a lousy poker player and enrage anyone nearby who isn’t currently doing well. Respectful and skilled poker players accept wins and losses with good grace.
It’s OK to feel a little smug after playing the hand of a lifetime.
Showing the Dealer disrespect
Lastly, offending the dealer is even worse than disrespecting your fellow players. A trained and seasoned expert will oversee the action if you play poker in a real-world casino. A player has no control over the game’s outcome and is merely present to deal with the cards.
However, others will always vent their anger on these wholly defenceless people when things don’t go their way. They go on a losing run or make a costly mistake, only to attribute their lousy luck to the dealer.
One of the worst violations of poker etiquette in the entire book is this. However, players who attribute their losses to someone else than themselves probably shouldn’t be playing poker in the first place.
