Like anything in life there are a set of rules of conduct or etiquette that should be adhered to. The same is true of poker. The following list of do’s and don’ts will make the game that much more enjoyable for all players. Please note that these are merely guidelines and may vary according to the atmosphere/style of the game.

Don’t...

• swear or be verbally abusive to other players or the dealer
• criticize another players style or offer assistance
• hit on another player, regardless of how attractive you find him/her
• touch another players' chips or cards
• use a cellphone at the table
• deliberately hold up play
• act out of turn
• splash the pot
• hide your cards or chips. Both should be visible at all times
• stack chips in a way that interferes with the dealing of cards
• make comments that could influence the course of play. i.e. “wonder who’s got the flush”
• ask for assistance during a hand
• string bets to gauge your opponents reaction. You must state clearly exactly what you are doing. i.e I raise 100
• expose your cards until the showdown
• slow-roll your winning hand in a showdown. In other words don’t allow your opponent to think he’s won the hand when he hasn’t
• mis-declare your hand
• ask to see what the next card would have been had you stayed in
• comment about the cards you just threw away

Do...

• be polite to everybody at the table, especially the dealer
• be a gracious winner… nobody likes a sore looser but a loud-mouthed winner is just as bad - see the Poker Videos for some examples of BAD winners and losers!
• respect the table, cards and chips, don’t make a mess with food and drink
• play at a reasonable speed at all times ensure nobody else can see what you’ve got
• discard your cards carefully, again so no other players can see what you have
• let all players and the dealer know if you need to leave the table
• follow the flow of the game so as not to play out of turn or unnecessarily hold the game up
• limit the table talk so as not to disturb other players, especially if you’re out of the hand
• play for yourself. Even if your partner is playing and is perhaps a beginner, don’t change your style of play or ‘soft play’ towards them
• be fair when showing your cards in an uncontested pot. In other words if don’t have to show your hand but want to show the person next to you, you must show all the players

Help keep the Beautiful Game fun and friendly by following these simple guidelines!

Just as you have to mind your manners at a live poker table there are certain rules to abide by when playing online. It's a slightly different scenario as you could be playing with people from all over the world with different cultures and ideas of etiquette to your own, but most of the Live Poker Etiquette guidelines still apply. Here are a couple more that are more relevant when playing online poker.

Don’t ...

• be rude, harass or intimidate other players at the table and remember swearing will generally get you kicked out
• speak in a foreign language, it could be seen as cheating as players may think you’re scheming with another player (foreign is probably considered the language not in the majority to the table, where possible of course)
• be a sore loser or ramble on about a past hand… let it go
• be patient if a player is experiencing connection issues, it happens to the best of us
• make comments about hands in progress or offer advice to other players. Similarly don’t ask other players for advice
• discuss your cards with other players, even if you’ve already folded
• hold the game up unnecessarily
• occupy a seat if you have no intention of playing

Do...

• be a modest winner
• stay focused on the game, even if you’re multitasking
• keep chat to a minimum
• use the auto-post blind feature, it keeps the game moving at a decent pace
• use the ‘sitting out’ feature if you need to take a break
• be patient with new players, you were a beginner once too
• always be polite

Following these guidelines (depending on the type of game and atmosphere) can help make the poker cyber world a better place!