Live dealer poker provides a uniquely engaging, interactive and social poker playing experience that online poker lacks. Yet with that increased enjoyment comes greater complexity around proper etiquette and codes of conduct expected from players. Fortunately, following some basic guidelines enables smoothly running games where all players can fully focus on implementing strategy and maximizing enjoyment.
By taking a few moments to understand the most essential elements around etiquette, you will become well prepared to integrate seamlessly into live poker room culture. That ensures minimal disruptions or conflicts arising that detract from gameplay and profitability. Whether brand new to live poker or looking to polish existing understanding of etiquette, study and implement these vital best practices.
Mind Your Punctuality
Showing up on time for the live dealer poker table you reserved a seat at crowngold-casino.com is critically important. Unlike online poker where you can join and leave a table anytime, live dealer poker requires you to fully commit to playing an entire session. Arrive at least a few minutes early so that the game can get started right on schedule. If you know you will be late for some reason, call the poker room ahead of time as a courtesy.
Tip the Hardworking Dealer
In live poker games, the dealers depend heavily on tips from players to supplement their regular wages. You should tip them appropriately whenever you win a sizable pot or have a big payout hand. A general guideline is to tip around 1-5% of any large pot you win. Even small tips are genuinely appreciated. And remember to never berate or unjustly blame dealers for bad luck or bad beats.
Learn the Established Table Rules
Every poker room and casino has specific house rules in place at their tables dictating proper player etiquette, how to handle chips, allowable table talk and more. So when you first sit down to play, take the initiative to clearly understand all the rules in effect at that table. Don’t hesitate to politely ask the dealer to explain or clarify anything you find unclear or confusing. Try not to inadvertently break the rules since they exist to keep games operating fairly and to ensure all players have an orderly, enjoyable poker experience.
Keep Strategy Discussions to Yourself
During a poker hand, you should be very careful discussing anything about your private hole cards, your playing strategy, or any specifics about the action or betting patterns. Doing so essentially involuntarily involves other players at the table in aspects of play they want no part of. Keep completely quiet about details that should remain privileged to you alone. Revealing such details or asking for advice can be seen as attempting to engage in collusion with players who simply want to play their own game independently.
Refrain from Criticizing Others’ Play
No matter how terrible you think a play another poker player at the table has made, resist the urge to openly criticize their move or confront them about it. Unsolicited strategy advice and criticism almost always puts others on tilt. And besides, every player has paid their way into the game and deserves the right to play their own style without scrutiny. Allow them that respect while you concentrate solely on your own hand decisions.
Exercise Patience for Your Turn
Despite feeling eager to act quickly whenever involved in a hand, you must wait properly for your proper turn to act. Jumping in out of turn is not only considered rude and impatient etiquette, but also directly violates game rules. Wait attentively until all players acting before you have completed their action or checked. Impatience can easily lead to damaged hands and angry players when out of turn play causes confusion and disruption.
Keep Non-Essential Activities Away
Potentially distracting activities like phone use, loud music, messy food, side chatter and raucous joking should be kept very minimal or fully away from the live poker table. Even guests just observing who are not actually in the current hand can prove overly distracting to players trying hard to focus. Minimize all disruptions and loud noise while hands are in progress so players and dealers can fully concentrate.
Celebrate Good Forture Respectfully
A great winning hand or well-played bluff certainly entitles you to celebrate your good poker fortune. But be extremely careful that your celebrations are considerate, appropriate and time-efficient. Overly excessive loud celebrations can ruin the experience for more reserved players at the table. And never overtly celebrate a hand where another player loses their entire stack or tournament life through bad luck alone. Keep positive reactions reasonably tasteful and sportsmanlike.
Concede Mucked Cards Their Privacy
When a poker player quickly mucks their hole cards after acting, they clearly want to conceal their holdings. So don’t ask them what they had or openly talk about the mucked cards. Allow those folded cards to remain fully private rather than pressuring the player to expose cards they were not willing to show. Grant them the courtesy and don’t put them in an uncomfortable position.
Know When It’s Time to Leave
Upon completing your allotted time in a live poker game or tournament, make sure to promptly cash out and leave the table as soon as no open seats remain. Lingering around the tables can make new players joining feel rushed or unwelcome. And furthermore, as an active previous player you may feel tempted to continue watching hands and even share unsolicited advice. Once done playing, leave the game completely on a courteous and positive note.
Recapping Vital Etiquette Tips
To quickly recap, here are the most vital proper etiquette tips for live dealer poker players to remember:
- Show up punctually on time
- Generously tip the dealer
- Learn and follow all house rules
- Keep poker strategy discussions quiet
- Never openly criticize others’ play style
- Wait your proper turn calmly
- Minimize disruptions and distractions
- Celebrate respectfully not excessively
- Don’t discuss mucked folded cards
- Leave promptly when finished playing
The dealers and poker room floor staff are always available as well if any confusion arises concerning etiquette or game rules. Now armed with a full understanding of proper etiquette, you can enjoy live poker smoothly, orderly and respectfully next time you hit the tables.
Markmalte is an experienced writer for The Celebrity Niche, specializing in celebrity stories. With a keen eye for detail, he brings the latest updates on celebrity relationships, biographies, and news to his readers.
