ETIQUETTE

It never hurts to study up on the etiquette of playing poker. Poker is a sport, and like all sports it has its own unique rules and practices.

Normally, you donπt want the other players to believe that you are a novice, or that this is your first time playing poker live. Thereπs lots of us internet players out there that have never stepped foot in a brick and mortar casino.

Once you sit down at your first table you will most likely get a quick idea of the texture of the table. Is it a talkative loose table? Are the other players having fun and joking with one another, or is it a serious game with very little chatter. Adjust accordingly, both your manner and more importantly your strategy of play.

There are a few things that we should try to avoid doing as much as possible.

This includes åslow rollingπ. Slow rolling is when you go to the showdown and your opponents have turned their hands over and you have the winner, but instead of showing immediately you pause and pause for ådramatic effectπ. This is highly frowned upon and is disrespectful. TJ Cloutier accidentally slow rolled Phil Helmuth in the Showdown at the sands when he ended up making a flush and not realizing it. As he was about to muck his cards he checked and realized that he actually won the hand. Even more interesting is that he had tried to bluff at that pot and Phil read him beautifully, TJ honestly didnπt know he had the winner, so it wasnπt an intentional slow roll, but you get the idea.

Donπt lose your temper and shout or get physical. Believe me; I know that there are few things more frustrating than the game of poker. Take a horribly bad beat you just want to scream. Do your best to keep your calm, drink some water, relax and continue with your game. Donπt be rude to the dealers and donπt blame them for your bad luck, they really didnπt have anything to do with it.

Play in turn. This is important. Donπt bet or muck your cards before it is your turn to act. Wait until the action gets to you and then make your decision. In higher stakes games and high level tournaments you will see players wait until the action is to them before they even look at their cards, this way they donπt give off anything about their hand and they focus totally on the opposition.

There are a few tips and suggestions you should think about when playing.

Donπt forget the dealers, because they work hard and appreciate when you do the small things to help them out, as well as tokes when you take down a good pot. Itπs appreciated when you make a bet; put your chips far enough in front of you so the dealer can easily reach them without having to stretch across the entire table.

Same applies to your mucked cards. Slide those puppies far enough towards the muck so the dealer doesnπt have to reach all across the table. It keeps the game flowing smoothly, which is good.

Try not to stall too long when it is your turn to play. Think about your situation for sure and donπt make snap judgments, but when it is your turn to act you should be thinking about what your action will be, not checking the scores of the football game or chatting with your friend. The other players at the table will appreciate it also.

Most importantly, have fun and remember to smile every now and then.