Champion of Poker

Think of Tony G, Luke Schwartz or Phil Hellmuth and what does your mind immediately think about? Firstly, they are all excellent and highly profitable poker players. Secondly, their behaviour at the table is less than exemplary. More specific to live poker play then online, there are certain things you should never do at the table. Although Tony, Luke and Phil push the boundaries of what is allowed at the poker table, they rarely break the rules.

These players are under a bit of pressure to perform and people expect fireworks when they play with TV cameras wanting action at the tables. Despite Luke Schwartz having a very bad reputation at the table, when you watch interviews in particular very recent ones, he comes across as an engaging and polite young man. Whether you play Texas Holdem, Stud, Razz, PLO or Draw poker you should be aware of where to draw the line and behave in a way to keep poker fun for everyone.

Relating to live play, you should never pick up the hole cards of an opponent and look to see if they were bluffing when they fold their hand. Annie Duke, a professional poker player from America, was accused of this cash games in Las Vegas and you can expect a very angry reaction from players if you do this. Players have a right to fold and not show their hands and this action is very bad poker etiquette.

Trash talking is more common online in the poker rooms chat box. Due to the nature of the Internet you will encounter banter at the tables that you would not necessarily hear at a live table because players can hide behind their computer screen. You should not take it personally and, within reason, you can reply but do not let things like this distract you from playing your best and observing your opponents. Never use racist, slanderous or threatening chat. You may mean these things partly in jest but apart from the obvious reasons you should refrain from such behaviour, poker rooms are likely to ban your chat and in the worst case scenario, ban you completely from playing at their site.

In live play you should keep your emotions in check and always stay in control. Players like Tony G use table talk to put you under pressure and make you feel uneasy and try to get you to let go of your emotional control. Players getting angry and shouting back at him will not bother players like Tony, but it has succeeded in making you feel angry enough to respond. Whilst you are shouting you are not thinking correctly about how to get his chips so your opponent has the advantage during this exchange.

Things like splashing the pot is not good poker etiquette either. Be professional at all times, remember that a sponsor or potential staker could be watching for quality new players and will not be impressed by your breaking of the unwritten rules. In any community setting, there are rules of behaviour that are expected to be adhered to. A T.V. extra, for example, signs a contract to not talk to the principal actors and distract them prior to filming. It seems irrelevant, but it is important to that profession. Proper behaviour and presentation of yourself in poker is important too.

You will make far more friends in poker and no matter how you behave the cards will be dealt as the poker gods decide. Therefore I find it easier to be pleasant at the table, talk to people and have them open up to you. By acting impersonally, you risk them withdrawing into their shell and becoming even harder to read. There is always going to be one idiot at a poker table, don’t let it be you and be a pleasure to play poker with at all times.

By Malcolm Clarke