Poker Rules and Online Etiquette

There is an undeniable allure to the anonymity of playing poker online. None of the interpersonal pressures that can sometimes be too much for certain fragile types to handle at a live table come into play here. You are sitting at your desk in the safety and privacy of your own residence, and free to behave however you please. If you happen to be a 450-lb. man who prefers to play online poker wearing only sheer underwear and bunny slippers, more power to you. Fortunately, none of us will have to see it, and we’ll be too busy taking advantage of our own privacy to care much, anyway.  

But when it comes to interacting with your fellow players, it’s imperative to employ the same type of manners that would be expected of you when sitting across the table from flesh and blood opponents. What follows is an outline of a few things to bear in mind when attempting to maintain a proper display of online poker etiquette. This is by no means intended to be taken as a comprehensive book on poker rules to guide you through every possible interaction. Rather, it’s an introduction to some principles which can serve as useful reference points.  

First of all, you should really put a tight lid on any temptation to talk - or, rather, type - trash with your fellow players. This may be a hard rule to adapt, especially if you’re used to playing with a group of close friends where it’s only normal to verbally abuse each other a bit during the course of game play. Nonetheless, you must not let any ill-considered remarks fly in the chat room, even if you feel provoked. It’s just not appropriate behavior, and you can take some satisfaction from knowing you don’t stoop to that level when others do.  

Now, there are a few select situations when you have no choice but to insert yourself intentionally into the dialogue. The most common example of this is when a player at the table is consistently lagging. Most online poker rooms have time limits for each player to make a move, but even then you might come across an individual who always uses the maximum time and slows the game to a crawl. There’s nothing wrong with vocalizing your desire that this person accelerate his or her rate of play to match that of the table. Just make sure you do it politely. There’s no reason to be a jerk or a loudmouth. More often than not, the lag is caused by a slow Internet connection (though sometimes it’s simply the result of a novice player’s confusion). If the issue is technical in nature, many sites offer online support teams that can be helpful.  

Another major no-no when it comes to online etiquette is to give out your email, or ask for someone else’s. The whole point of these sites is to offer an anonymous way to enjoy poker, and there’s no reason for two people to exchange personal information. Log off and go to a dating website if you’re looking to hook up with strangers. It’s utterly ridiculous to use online poker rooms as a place to make new acquaintances.  

Finally, always show respect to the floor managers. They are there to provide assistance whenever it’s needed, and often a single floor manager will have a dozen or more tables to deal with. So if you put in a request for help and don’t get a response within 2.5 seconds, refrain from being pushy or downright rude. Rest assured your query will be dealt with accordingly.  

The vast majority of people who play poker online do it for the same reason: to relax and enjoy themselves with a diverting pastime. Always conduct yourself in that spirit, and don’t hide behind a cloak of anonymity to act like a tough guy or a big shot. That’s a pretty surefire way to get blacklisted from most online poker rooms, and then you’ll really be out of luck.