Poker etiquette is a very important asset in your poker toolbelt. In a casino, you are required to have etiquette or else you may be kicked out. At your home game, it is much harder to pratice poker etiquette. It is your job as the house owner to enforce poker etiquette rules upon the other players. You can either tell the players what is expected of them or you can print off a page with poker etiquette and hand them out to players.

As a player, poker etiquette can make you better. Poker etiquette will earn you respect from the other players at the table and may earn you some vital hands in the game. Also, etiquette will increase your confindence by making you feel as if you own the table. Poker etiquette is more than just morals, it's an edge.

As the director of the tournament or table in progress, it is your job to make the game fair. You cannot let the game get out of hand with players continuously acting out. Remember, poker involves money, and money will change the emotions of many people; so enforce the rules and make sure all of the players are on the same page. Below is a list of poker etiquette I use at my house games. You do not have to enforce all of these rules, but it keeps my games in order, so read it and see what you think.

Before the Game
• Everybody draws a card in an orderly manner
• Everybody takes their assigned seat and places the buy-in money in front of them
• Tournament holder collects the money and places it into a safebox

During the game
• Be polite
• Refrain from criticizing other players
• Do not talk unless you are in the hand
• Announce your bets/raises and do not string bet
• Always keep your cards in front of you
• Always keep your chips on the table stacked neatly
• Be nice to the dealer
• Never touch another players chips/cards
• Obey all dealers requests
• Never show anyone your cards
• Never obtain an unfair advantage by any means
• If you show your cards or if they flip over, every player at the table must see them
• If you step away from the table, advise the dealer
• Never act out of turn
• Do not purposely slow down the game
• Never announce the cards you folded
• Never ask the dealer to play out the hand (Rabbit Hunting)

After the game
• If you are knocked out, you may leave, you may sit and watch quietly, or you may offer to become another dealer
• When the game is over, the money should be awarded immediately to the corresponding winners

Copyright EverythingPoker.com
Emil Erhart & Walt Impellicceiri
2006