Etiquette in a public cardroom is fairly simple.
-
A simple faux pas is to not act in accordance
with the cardroom's rules. For example, to raise, one typically places all the
chips, those to call (if any) and the raise in one motion; you cannot do two
hand gestures, unless you state your intentions prior to placing chips.
-
Cards are to be face-down to other players
until showdown. If you fold, you hand in your cards face-down. If you are in
the hand until showdown, you turn up your cards if either you are first to
show (last person to raise shows first) or if your hand is superior to the
hands previously exposed. Do not expose cards prior to showdown; depending on
local rules, this may mean a comittment to check all raises or you may forfeit
the hand.
-
If you are requested to cease an activity by a
dealer or any other representative of the cardroom, cease that activity.
-
Damaging cards is both fairly difficult
(because most places use cellulose-acetate cards which are hard to mark,
scratch, and bend, and last approximately five years in daily play) and
forbidden.
-
Don't blame the dealer for a string of bad
hands. Don't ask the dealer to "switch decks". This will inflame players on
the table, most likely the dealer won't do it, and if s/he does it will slow
down gameplay. More likely, your bad play has lead to your losses.
-
Speak only English in an American cardroom. If
they can't understand you, they may assume you are in collusion with someone.
The exception to this is for profanity if you've lost either a great many
hands or a wicked good one (think losing with a full house to a quartet of
deuces.)
-
Turn off your cell phone, or set it to vibrate
mode. Do not pick it up during game play. If you pick it up, there's the
possibility you are receiving information that may provide a clue to the other
players' hands, and are therefore cheating.
-
Keep your food and drinks off the table. The
table is for playing cards and poker chips, not soda pop and potato chips. You
have small stands around the tables to hold beverages and food. Food at the
table, though, is not recommended if it leaves a residue on your hands.
Sandwiches OK, BBQ ribs and fried chicken, no.
-
Cheating is right out. Having said that, do not
accuse other players of being cheaters. If you are wrong (most likely), you
will make an unnecessary scene and end up tossed from the room. If you're
right, the cameras above you will catch the guy in the act for you.
-
You cannot buy more chips while a round is in
progress.
-
Failing to call out, "all-in" when you are is a
minor issue.
-
All your chips must remain on the table during
play. You may not remove chips from the table to your pockets, or vice versa.
-
In
stud games, on the first round, low card brings in, or must place a wager
to stimulate betting.
-
Missing blinds in
Texas Hold 'em and
Omaha Hold 'em.
-
Holding up game play. By the time the bet comes
round to you, you should know what your course of action is.
-
Remember, the cards speak for themselves. The
dealer is the adjudicator of each round.
-
Knocking the table is a check, tossing your
cards is a fold. Saying "Check" or knocking the table is the same thing.
Placing your chips down without a spoken amount commits you to the full value
of the laid chips or the table maximum, whichever applies. Calling a raise
means following through.
-
The most important thing: NEVER EVER PLAY WITH
MONEY YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE.
