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Poker etiquette
As you all probably know too well, being able to read someone at the poker table is the key to success in this game. Not an issue in online poker rooms where nobody sees how someone acts and reading this or that or the other player is based solely on how he/she acts in the game, in a brick and mortar poker room reading a person takes on a whole new dimension. Besides the information deducted from the target-opponent's actual play there's a wealth of clues hidden in each player's poker-table behaviour.
Poker etiquette might prove to be something that has an importance far greater anyone would assume at first glance.
I'm not only talking about how one should dress for poker ( though that is kind of important as well) but about the conduct one should adopt at he poker table.
Acting all hyped up will not only disturb other players and possibly break their concentration but it'll also clue them in about the fact that you're a rookie. In order to better illustrate the psychological tension around a poker table try to draw a paralell with the animal kingdom. Picture that the table is surrounded by a bunch of hungry sharks eager to single someone out and begin the feeding frenzy.
Any sign of weakness is sure to be pounced upon and exploited to the max.
Taking on the role of the victim at the table is never a good idea.
The wounded doesn't stand a chance against the rest of the pack. As soon as blood is drawn even the weakest opponent will try to nab a bite. Don't ever whine at the poker table. Even if you play a good hand and realize that someone else has a better one that can beat yours, simply fold it and don't show it off to anyone.
Showing your folded hand is valuable feedback to the opposition as they can analize your moves in hindsight and deduct information regarding your playing-style.
Another – possibly worse than acting victimised – poker-table behaviour is getting pissed and not being able to control the outbursts.
A player who finds it hard to control these bursts of anger probably shouldn't turn to poker in the firstplace.
If you had played poker long enough you probably ran into this type of character and you know what I'm talking about. When this guys gets a hand he assumes is enought to secure him the pot, he'll act extra aggresively as if trying to make a point of how good a poker player he is. This reckless attitude often lands him with an opponent who has a marginally stronger hand not only stealing the pot from him but making him stuff it full too. A person like the one I'm talking about can have none of this humiliation, even though he brought it upon himself in the firstplace by acting the way he did.
At the receiving end of such a bitter loss they usually lose it and burst out. Throw their cards on the table, start swearing loudly, often times lunge out toward the person who won the hand calling him all types of names and generally becoming very hostile towards everyone at the table.
Such a behaviour has no place in a poker room, and even if it takes place in a simple friendly get-together poker party it will still ruin the day not only for thew guy in question but for the rest of the table as well. Believe it or not, such people can be found in online casinos as well. Fortunately in this case they can be kicked or banned at a moment's notice thus the psychological impact they have on the rest of the players is very limited.
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