The Importance of Good Poker Etiquette
The rules of decency and good behavior when engaging in any activity with other people are automatically practiced by most people as they are in any social gathering. Activities involving software are another matter and the well-designed application will not take offense at the occasional outburst of pent up emotion and aggression. So, if you play poker to get rid of your Neanderthal instincts and redirect your frustration, stick with the bot opponents. Unfortunately not everyone follows this advice and thinks that bluffing while playing poker with humans requires behaving like the schoolyard bully.
Behavior is a very telling part of any human being. The polite but brisk behavior of a focused, resolute poker player is at the table to play a quality, honest game.. The novice who is just learning the game will exhibit the same type of behavior if he is also a focused, purposeful player. Both are sure to take common everyday etiquette into consideration in whatever their endeavor.
Professionals are known for both being masters at their craft and masters of manners. A pleasant atmosphere is the result of good manners which makes a focused, professional game a reality. Common sense dictates that insulting your opponents is always a mistake, they are responsible for your game being profitable.
It may seem odd, but etiquette is also required in on line games when playing with live opponents. Above all, keep chat to a minimum. Every message you send or respond to may reveal unintended information. Every message you receive may mislead you. The more chat going on, the more distracting it becomes. Keep the chat to a minimum or do without it altogether.
Just as it is considered impolite to discuss your income with outsiders, it is equally so to discuss your level of mastery of the game or of any acquaintances’ game. So if you are indulging in a chatfest, you may be revealing way more than you intend.
If you must, greet friends and answer questions with polite reserve. Save the juicy chit-chat for ICQ: you will be doing your friends, and the rest of the table, as much a favor as yourselves. Games do not happen in chat rooms, but in Time – a realm beyond the control of your laser-pad mouse – and wasted time is wasted opportunity. Avoid using negative language: it will not achieve as much as you perhaps think it might and will unnecessarily pollute the atmosphere with repulsion. A few nice words to anybody may help, or will simply keep the atmosphere adequately neutral.
Attempting to raise the ire of your opponents by insulting their technique is not going to increase your odds of winning and again, may reveal more than you intended about you and your level of mastery. Out and out rudeness is officially not allowed in most online rooms.
Don’t type messages in upper case, this denotes loudness and that you are screaming at the recipient, which makes you seem overly emotional and out of control. Not good in a poker game. You want to be the cool cat, the one with poise and grace under pressure. A veritable Cool Hand Luke.
The author is a successful limit cash game player. He plays poker and receives Rakeback at Full Tilt from Rakeback Solution.