When playing Poker for
first time , consider following elements of poker etiquette: Acting in Turn Although you may see others fold or call out of turn, don't do it yourself. It is considered rude because it gives an unfair advantage to players before you who have yet to act. This is especially important at showdown when only three players are left. If players after you are acting out of turn while you decide what to do, say "Time!" to make it clear that you have not yet acted.
Handling Cards You may find it awkward at first to peek at your own cards without exposing them to others. Note that other players have no formal obligation to alert you to your clumsiness, although some will. Watch how other players manage it and emulate them. Leave your cards in sight at all times; holding them in your lap or passing them to your kibitzing friend is grounds for killing your hand. Finally, if you intentionally show your cards to another player during hand, both your hands may be declared dead. Your neighbor might want to see *you* declared dead :) if this happens!
Protecting Cards In a game with "pocket cards" like Hold'em or Omaha, it is your responsibility to "protect your own cards". This confusing phrase really means "put a chip on your cards". If your cards are just sitting out in open, you are subject to two possible disasters. First, dealer may scoop them up in a blink because to leave one's cards unprotected is a signal that you are folding. Second, another player's cards may happen to touch yours as they fold, disqualifying your hand and your interest in pot. Along same lines, when you turn your cards face up at showdown, be careful not to lose control of your cards. If one of them falls off table or lands face-down among discards your hand will be dead, even if that card is not used to make your hand.
Accidentally Checking In some fast-paced games, a moment of inaction when it is your turn to act may be interpreted as a check. Usually, a verbal declaration or rapping one's hand on table is required, but many players are impatient and will assume your pause is a check. If you need more than a second to decide what to do, call "Time!" to stop action. While you decide, don't tap your fingers nervously; that is a clear check signal and will be considered binding.
String Bets A "string bet" is a bet that initially looks like a call, but then turns out to be a raise. Once your hand has put some chips out, you may not go back to your stack to get more chips and increase size of your bet, unless you verbally declared size of your bet at beginning. If you always declare "call" or "raise" as you bet, you will be immune to this problem. Note that a verbal declaration in turn is binding, so a verbal string bet is possible and also prohibited. That means you cannot say "I call your $5, and raise you another $5!" Once you have said you call, that's it. The rest of sentence is irrelevant. You can't raise.
Splashing Pot In some home games, it is customary to throw chips directly into pot. In a public card room., this is cause for dirty looks, a reprimand from dealer, and possibly stopping game to count down pot. When you bet, place your chips directly in front of you. The dealer will make sure that you have right number and sweep them into pot.
One Chip Rule In some card rooms., chip denominations and game stakes are incommensurate. For example, a $3-$6 game might use $1 and $5 chips, instead of more sensible $3 chip. The one-chip rule says that using a large-denomination chip is just a call, even though chip may be big enough to cover a raise. If you don't have exact change, it is best to verbally state your action when throwing that large chip into pot. For example, suppose you are playing in a $1-$5 spread-limit game, bet is $2 to you, and you have only $5 chips. Silently tossing a $5 chip out means you call $2 bet. If you want to raise to $4 or $5, you must say so *before* your chip hits felt. Whatever your action, dealer will make any required change at end of betting round. Don't make change for yourself out of pot.
Raising Forever In a game like Hold'em, it is possible to know that you hold "the nuts" and cannot be beaten. If this happens when all cards are out and you get in a raising war with someone, don't stop! Raise until one of you runs out of chips. If there is possibility of a tie, rest of table may clamor for you to call, since you "obviously" both have same hand. Ignore rabble. You'll be surprised how many of your opponents turn out to be bona fide idiots.
The Showdown Hands end in one of three ways: one person bets and everyone else folds, one person bets on final round and at least one person calls, or everybody checks on final round. If everybody folds to a bet, bettor need not show winning cards and will usually toss them to dealer face down. If somebody calls on end, person who bet or raised most recently is *supposed* to immediately show, or "open", their cards. They may delay doing so in a rude attempt to induce another player to show their hand in impatience, and then muck their own hand if it is not a winner. Don't do this yourself. Show your hand immediately if you get called. If you have called a bet, wait for bettor to show, then show your own hand if it's better. If final round is checked down, in most card rooms. everyone is supposed to open their hands immediately. Sometimes everyone will wait for someone else to show first, resulting in a time-wasting deadlock. Break chain and show your cards.
