Poker Etiquette
Whether frequenting an online cardroom or the bricks & mortar version to play poker, there are rules of etiquette and codes of conduct that all players must adhere to. Failure to abide by the rules usually results in the offending player being punished in some way; online, this may mean having your chat privileges withdrawn, disqualification from an event before/after it occurs and in the worst cases being banned from the site. In a bricks & mortar cardroom, offending players may be punished with a penalty where they are dealt out of the action for a predetermined amount of time, or are disqualified during the tournament and in the worst cases asked to leave the premises.
Roberts Rules of Poker
For a comprehensive guide to etiquette and codes of conduct in poker, please consult Roberts Rules of Poker. Roberts Rules of Poker was written by Robert Ciaffone and is regarded by many as the definitive text regarding poker rules and etiquette. He has worked as a rules consultant and drafter for numerous prestigeous cardrooms which still use his rules to this day.
Online Poker Etiquette
Below are a list of rules that are designed to keep you out of trouble and below average poker players in your vicinity:
No Swearing / Abusing
Be courteous to your fellow poker players aswell as the site customer services staff, everyone has the right to play poker without fear of being insulted or abused. From the other side of the coin, displaying such emotions could leave you even more vulnerable at the table, your opponents are more likely to target you as a player who is likely to tilt.
No cheating / collusion
Any form of collusion, whether on a small scale such as telling a friend involved in the game your hole cards via an instant messenger service or telephone, or on a larger scale like playing on a table simultaneously with multiple accounts via separate Internet connections, is against the rules and punished by seizure of money in a players account(s), banning from the site and in some cases, prosecution.
No In Running Comments
It is unfair to anyone involved in a hand to have an inactive player commenting about that hand. Any comment that might provide another player with vital information should not be made until after the hand, if at all.
No Criticising Opponents
Criticising an opponent is counterintuitive; why give away free lessons to the type of player who you hold an informational advantage over? Such criticisms are also likely to scare away lesser opponents through fear of further reprimand, in the long run this could have a negative effect on your bankroll because novice opposition don't like playing against you. Make it a pleasurable experience for them and they might just stay for longer.
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