Online Poker Etiquette

For new players, poker etiquette is not something that you would specifically learn when playing the game of poker.  It is an important part of online poker and can get you into trouble with the site and other players if you are not careful.

Swearing/Abusing players

Don't swear or abuse other players when you are playing online poker.  It's offensive to all the other players at the table and could earn you a chat ban or even a permanent ban from the site if you are not careful.

Don't criticise your opponents play

This is probably the hardest thing "not" to do.  If you see a bad beat or silly play with terrible cards, try not to comment.  It's so easy to call someone a name or tell them what they are doing wrong but do you really want to give them free poker lessons so they can gain from your experience?

Cheating or colluding with others

Never cheat and never collude at a table with a friend. There are several ways cheating/collusion can occur either by divulging your hole cards to a friend via telephone, chat messenger and so on.  This can lead to prosecution in extreme cases.

Never discuss your folded hand/current hand

Never mention the cards you have thrown or it could given advantage to current players.  Example would be if the betting is heavy and there are say 3 x 9's on the board and someone mentioned they had thrown the other 9 or does the "cry" emote at a table, this gives valuable information to the remaining players and could cost a good bluffer the pot. 

Speak in English

Most poker sites require that you only speak in English.  Chatting in other languages can lead to a long chat ban or even a total ban from the site.

blue

And what's so sad,I see alot of it happen.The english only in chat gets abused all the time.I have often wondered what they are saying to eachother.. as in cheating.Also calling other player certain unflattering names,usually when they have lost a hand to them.I have been tempted to sometimes do it myself but I just do a girl thing and stamp my feet or scream at my puter or some other type of tantrum. :P :-*

You're right about the language problem.  I'm so suspicious, I load up google translate and copy and paste what they are saying in there.  I have actually reported players for their non English in the past because they were discussing hands.  I also know of a player who had an 8 week chat ban on one site because of his bad language.  So glad to hear you're able to stamp your feet and shout at the puter.  ;D

I've seen collusion (chip dumping) which is the most annoying thing in the world above the name calling.  The way to spot it is when one of the 2 players is big blind, the other colluding player will generally be next to and on the right of the best player. Colluding player will make a big raise if hardly anyone is in the hand.  BB calls.  Colluding player bets big after the flop, BB folds. The BB player was the better player of the 2 and would win the chips from other players and share them off to the colluding player with the above move which you will see many times.  It's sickening.

blue

Thanks blue,never realized that one.I'll be on the lookout for it now tho!!!

Oh wow, that chip dumping is some down right dirtiness Blue.. can they stop that some way?

Hi Imagin. 

Not really - the only way it can be stopped is if you actually spot it and then it has to be proven.

Despite proof in many games played by this particular couple I'm talking about (man and woman) and the allegations made ny several players, they found in their favour and did not believe the accusation of collusion.  I watched them at tables for quite a few games - not taking part -  just watching the table as a spectator.  It was there for all to see and yet they still were not stopped. 

blue

Nice post blue, i bet you break rule 2 on occasion and give it to them.

Chip dumping is so hard to prove, i've seen some unbelievably obvious ones like the big stack will have 10 chips left to call the small guys 2,000 all in pre flop and fold it. Then do the same thing a few hands later to the same guy when he gets low again. Still they get away with it.

Yes I've broken rule 2 on many occasions! I bet you have too!

Chip dumping is the hardest to prove - but yes I've seen that move many times.  I've seen it with a 5k pot and all the guy had to call to see was 5 chips.  I broke rule 2 on that occasion.

Nice to see you around again.  When you going to do your blog? (off topic I know but I have to ask)

blue

I remember once playing one time and i beat a guy on a hand and he called me a ...."mofo"! Playing dumb i retorted back at him...."what's a "mofo"? He didn't say a word when i is "that a new slang for three of a kind"!!!

He never said another word at the table!

Lips

Hehehe - nice one Lips.

Have you ever witnessed chip dumping?

blue