When you step into the world of poker, you will find all kinds of players who think their methods are the best to play the game. However, all professionals agree to some etiquettes that allow everyone to play together without disturbing the vibe of the game. Apart from the rules, there are etiquettes in poker that are easy to break, but you should pay attention to them to avoid getting a bad reputation among professionals. Here are the top poker etiquettes you should know and follow.
Pay attention
Always be present in the game and avoid all distractions that can make you skip your turn. Do not be busy talking on the phone or chatting up with the waitresses. Know that the rest of the table is waiting for your move and you cannot stay busy a lot.
Be polite
Be a professional athlete and pay respect to your opponents. Even if you act smart while talking trash to your opponent, you will develop a bad reputation at the tables. You may not even get invited back to the games again.
Protect your hand
Always keep your hand and chips safe from the personality gamblers who are just there to cheat and steal your money. It is your own responsibility to take care of your property during the games. You also need to pay attention to other playing cards and chips to make sure everyone is playing fair and safe.
Call your action
Always let the table know what you are doing. Even if you are calling with a single chip, it is a call. Make sure you are loud and clear to the dealer about your actions. Making hang gestures is good, but it can confuse players and the dealer.
Accept your defeat
A good player has no problem in accepting that they lost and moved on to leave the game for the day. They do not take it to their ego to bring more money from the ATM machine, just to make a point. Be a graceful loser instead of becoming an aggressive compulsive gambler.
Do not play out of turn
When more people are playing at the tables, you are more likely to get confused to act on your turn. This can be forgiven at times, but you must make sure that you are entirely focused on the game. Make sure you know what is going on in the game you are playing.
Respect the dealer
One of the most important etiquettes at poker tables is to respect the dealer at all costs. You cannot blame the dealer for your losses or getting bad cards. No matter how bad your hands get, you need to know that going against the dealer is not the best way to recover. Also, tip them whenever you win, and they might feel like paying you back in some way.