Proper table etiquette is something that still remains very important in the game of poker. Most players who spend their time playing online lack the knowledge of true table etiquette when they switch over to a real table. All those hours alone, in front of the computer screen can subtract from that right amount of social experience that is often required. There are many do’s and don’ts that exist in the real world of poker that aren’t always evident on the pixel rendered felt of online poker tables.

The ultimate no-no, or boo-boo as some might say, involves asking to see another player’s losing hand. The option to see a called River hand exists merely as a checking strategy in the event a group of players is cheating or collaborating together. Therefore if you ask the dealer, or another player, to show their losing hand you are theoretically accusing them of cheating. Not to mention the fact that it might give away that particular contestant’s preferred strategies; in some cases it may even uncouthly reveal their level of skill. For instance if the player was bluffing and you request the cards are turned over, everyone at the table will then learn exactly what type of player that person is because the cards will reveal he/she was bluffing. There is no doubt about it either, the act is undeniably rude and callous and most players would learn to despise you for it.

The next don’t on the list involves not speaking up when the dealer has made a mistake, just to gain an advantage. For instance if you accidentally catch a glimpse at one of your opponents cards because of a clumsy move the dealer did, then it is practically cheating if you don’t speak up and instead use the knowledge to your advantage. The simple reason being, the card showing was the dealer’s fault alone and the opponent, the cards are going to, has no control over the situation. This type of advantage in any game would be unfair, and unnecessary. If anyone else at the table notices you didn’t speak up when you should have then it would certainly tarnish your reputation. Because, let’s face it, poker players’ talk to each other, and sometimes they talk a lot. This, in turn, means they pass around poker gossip just like the gossip girls in high school. If anyone hears about you cheating in a game or using an unfair advantage such as the one mentioned above, it wouldn’t be long before everyone knew about it.

Always be polite without being too overconfident, keep the comments and praises short and concise and never say sorry for winning a hand. If you win a big hand the correct comment to make to pay tribute to your opponents would be something along the lines of, “good hand”. That would be the only comment needed; saying sorry is like laughing in their face. You just took a big heap of money that belonged to someone else, who in their right mind would be sorry? So don’t lie, and don’t be too overconfident just pay your respect if you feel you need to. Other comments and praises should be kept to a minimum as well. No one likes another person drooling all over their lap, so there’s no reason to tell the Pro sitting beside you that you want to take them out to dinner. Along with that, any insults hidden in your closet should all be tossed to the curb. Being a loud mouth poker player is one thing, but being a loud mouth, disrespectful player is another. No one in a poker game is going to put up with you insulting anyone else at the table, and chances are you may even be thrown from the game for doing so.

When you knock someone out of a poker game or tournament there is no need to speak to them, apologize, or even shake their hand. You should let other players make the approach before doing anything. If they feel the need to shake your hand or tell you that you made a good play, they will most certainly do so. To help paint a better picture, put yourself in their position. When you get knocked out of a poker game there are certainly quite a few things running through your mind, and many different emotions pulsing through your veins but most of the time a lot of it is just plain old anger. Chances are you won’t want to shake a hand or throw out a compliment when you’re angry, therefore the opponents you knock out may be feeling the same way. If you let them approach you, then you are not forcing them to do anything. If you approach your opponent to shake his/her hand and they refuse because they are angry, it will make them look like a jerk when it’s really you being one.

Another more common slate of etiquette involves chips. Never throw down chips to place a bet or shove a pile at another opponent who just knocked you out. In addition to the fact that it is very rude, in most casinos and poker tournaments it is against the rules. In fact, in a lot of casinos the dealers are informed to just take the chips for the house pot if players throw down chips rudely. Opponents certainly wouldn’t enjoy playing pick-up with a huge stack of chips you just threw all over the place during your tantrum. It will most definitely lose you a large amount of respect along with the money, and respect in the poker world is as good as gold.