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Playing poker live for the first time can be a nerve racking experience, and also a bit intimidating. The last thing you want to do is upset another player by doing things you shouldn’t, right? The purpose of this column is to offer some hints and tips on good poker etiquette and to make the introduction to live poker as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
I’ll assume that you already know the basic rules of poker and are comfortable with the mechanics of the game. But there are many more rules, regulations, and etiquette issues you should know before embarking on your first foray into live poker.
Don’t let anything in this column put you off playing live poker. Everyone was a novice at one stage and poker players are generally a friendly bunch who are welcoming to new players. If you explain you’re new to the game then nobody will expect you to be perfect, but the following points should help you integrate into the game without any unexpected bumps:
#1 – Keeping Up with the Game
Poker players get frustrated when the game is moving slowly. Pay attention to the game so you know when it’s your turn to act. When it’s your turn to post blinds/antes, then do so without having to be continually prompted. Everyone can forget sometimes, so don’t beat yourself up about this too much – but players will appreciate it if you pay attention and keep up with the flow of the game. Also, only act when it’s your turn – don’t check, call, or fold out of turn. This annoys other players.
#2 – “I See You….And”
Here are a few examples of common live poker angles: The incomplete call This is a really underhanded one that should have you walking away from the table if you come across it. Let’s say you’re playing someplace where a bet is not considered complete until enough chips have been put in for a player to call. We’ll assume you raise by 100. General Rules 2-4 Poker Conduct 5 House Policies 6-7 Operating Procedures 8 The Buy-in/All-in /Table Stakes 8-9 Exposed Cards 9-10 Boxed Cards 10 Misdeals 10-11 Defective Deck 11 Uncalled Bet 11 Betting and Raising 11 Limit Raise Rules 12 Betting Line 12 Hand Protection 12-13 Action Out of Turn 13 Words and Gestures 13 Odd Chips 14.
You’ve probably seen poker in the movies where they all say “I see you…and I’ll raise” – STOP! This is incorrect, and phrases like “I see you” are classed as a call, plain and simple. If you wish to make a raise then just say “raise”. Then make your bet. At some venues you might get away with this kind of sloppy table talk, but it’s a bad habit and one that should be eliminated early on.
#3 – Saying “Raise” When You Mean “Bet”
Another very common verbal error that beginners to poker make is saying “raise”, when they are just making a bet. Don’t say raise when you mean bet. For example, after the flop the first to open the betting should say “bet” rather than “raise”. Even though there is money in the pot, they aren’t raising a new bet – they’re opening the betting. Saying “raise” should only occur when you’re actually increasing the bet and thereby raising someone else’s previous bet. Other players probably won’t say anything because it’s such a common occurrence, but a good one to avoid nonetheless. It won’t get you into trouble but saying raise when it’s just a bet is like holding up a big neon sign saying “I’m a poker novice”.
#4- String Betting
A string bet is when a player entering his chips into the pot as a bet or raise proceeds to move chips in multiple chip movement, such as dropping chips one at a time or going back to their chip stack to pick up more chips. The ruling for string bets varies from region to region, with some places being far stricter than others. Avoiding a habit for string betting is a good idea as it can prove to be a costly mistake. Here’s some advice – when you want to make a bet, put the chips in one smooth movement. Better still; verbally declare your bet amount before even touching your chips.
If you’re wondering why this is even at all important, then let me be clear about why string betting is frowned upon. String betting is not allowed because it opens up the possibility for cheating, by trying to gain a visual tell or response from another player in the pot. Other players will probably pull you up on string betting – so just be extra careful when making bets.
#5 – The One Chip Rule
Here’s another betting situation that beginners to live poker often fail to understand – until it’s too late. If you don’t announce raise or call and throw one chip into the pot then it can be classed as a call. For example if it’s 100 to call and you place one 500 value chip across the line without declaring raise or call it’s usually only classed as a call. This is why it’s good to declare your action verbally before moving your chips. Just like with string betting, verbal declarations help cut out any potential mistakes.
#6 – Verbal Goes
In a few of the points mentioned so far, I’ve recommended making verbal declarations. I even said “verbal declarations help cut out any potential mistakes” – but they can also be costly, if made in error. You’ll often here poker players say “verbal goes”, and what they mean by this is – what you said first and foremost stands. If you say “call” and proceed to muck your cards, then your call stands and you have to put the chips in (you cards will be dead though in this example).
Make sure you’re up with the game (see #1) before making any verbal declarations. For example, if someone had made a raise before you and you thought there hadn’t been a raise, yet you announced call, then your call will stand. Sometimes this ruling is relaxed, especially for beginners, but it could cost you a lot of chips/money. So use verbal utterances with great care and concentrate on what’s occurred before it’s your turn, so you know exactly what you’re calling or raising.
#7 – Cards on the Table
The cards should remain on the table at all times. Sometimes new players like to hold the cards up towards their chest when sneaking a look – and most people won’t be too strict about this. It’s something beginners tend to do. However, your cards should be visible at all times. Do not hold your cards under the table or away from view. It’s quite obvious why this would be unacceptable, but I’ve seen many new players do this.
When your cards are on the table, avoid covering them with your hands. Other players should be able to see who is involved in the hand, and shouldn’t have to ask “do you still have cards?” If you want to protect your hand then just place a chip onto of them or buy a card protector.
#8 – Mucking Your Cards
When the time comes to fold (muck) your cards, then place them into the muck pile. A lot of new players will barely push their mucked cards forward. This can cause confusion, with other players unsure whether they’ve actually been folded. Avoid any potential confusion and properly muck your cards face down along with the other mucked cards.
Be careful and muck your cards properly. Don’t wildly throw your cards into the muck, because if you cards should miss their intended target and end up on an opponent’s hole cards, then their cards could be declared dead. They won’t be best pleased with you either! This is one reason why it’s a good idea to protect your cards (see previous point), should someone do the same to you.
#9 – Talking / Gesturing During a Hand
When a hand is in progress you should refrain from talking about the hand. General table talk is usually acceptable, but if things get serious then pipe down. If by chance you would have made a great hand, then don’t let the whole table know about it either. For example, you fold 7/2 pre-flop and the flop comes 772. Don’t thump the table, yell “Oh my god!” or shake your head profusely. Do this after the hand if needs be, but never during it. It indicates what you had to the other active players involved in the hand and is considered very poor etiquette.
#10 – Slow Rolling
If a hand enters a showdown (where cards are revealed) then you should show your hole cards as soon as possible, if you’ve been called. If your opponent has shown their cards first and you have a better hand, then reveal it immediately. Don’t let your opponent think they might have won the pot, then slowly turn over the nuts (best possible hand). This is known as “slow rolling” and is one of the main ways to upset people at the poker table. You want to win their chips, not upset them!
Playing poker live is great fun. I hope you’ve found this article useful, particularly if you’re interesting in playing live poker for the first time. If you’re playing in a casino or cardroom and are unsure or confused about any aspect of the game (such as the structure, blinds/antes) then just ask the dealer when you’re not involved in a hand, preferably upon sitting down.
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By Tim Ryerson
Tim is from London, England and has been playing poker since the late 1990’s. He is the ‘Editor-in-Chief’ at Pokerology.com and is responsible for all the content on the website.
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GUIDE TO POKER STRATEGY
Poker is a family of cards games that involve both strategy and chance in order to win big. The general maxim of poker strategy is that it is easy to learn and difficult to master. Various poker games rely on game specific strategies, below is a basic and general guide to poker strategies and psychology that will improve your gameplay and pay out in any variation of poker.
Fundamental Theorem of Poker
The Fundamental Theorem of Poker, first articulated by professional American poker player David Sklansky, rests on the concept that poker is a game of that forces you to make decisions with limited information. Essentially, the theorem states that whenever you play your cards as if you knew what your opponents had in hand, you gain. Or, if they play their hand in a manner that is different than if they could see your cards, you gain. Conversely, if you play your hand as if you do not know your opponent’s hand, they gain, and if they play their hand as if they know your hand they also gain.
Therefore, decisions made in poker are based on their expected payoff, if you gain or if you lose, using the incomplete information you have.
This concept is why bluffing is a valuable tool. If you can trick your opponent’s into playing for your hand, you can increase your chances of winning. Bluffing is discussed in greater detail below.
Pot Odds & Probability
This is one of the most central concepts of developing poker strategy. Pot odds is defined as the ratio of pot size to bet size needed to remain in the game. For example, the pot is $50 and a player must call $10 to stay in. Their pot odds are 5 to 1, their winning odds must be greater than the pot odds for a positive expectation. So, if there are four players their odds are 4 to 1 (basically), therefore their odds of winning is greater than the pot odds and they should call the $10.
Implied odds, however, are different than pot odds. They do not rely on the size of the pot for that hand, but rather the expected pot size at the end of the hand.
Bluffing & Slow-playing
Bluffing and Slow-playing are forms of deception to encourage a player to play their hand differently than they would if they could see the deceiver’s hand. Sklansky believes that winning at poker rests more on how successfully you can get your opponent to change their style of playing than the cards you hold.
Bluffing is used by players with weak hands in attempts to get other players. with potentially stronger hands, to fold. There is also the semi-bluff, which is used in poker games where players have the chance to improve their hands. Players may bet high on their hand to force players with weak hands to fold while they improve the strength of their hand (and odds of winning the pot).
Slow-playing is essentially the opposite of bluffing. If a player has a strong hand, they may choose to check or place small bets, to increase the pot by forcing players with weak hands to raise.
Psychology Basics
The most effective way to develop poker intuition is to play actively, meaning play the game and pay attention to all your opponents. This is the best way to develop intuition and pick up on various “tells.” There are a couple of standard tells that demonstrate the opponent is feeling stressed, this could be looking up or looking at something random around the room, like fixing your gaze at a chair ahead of you. Typical signs of nervousness, for example twitching, tapping feet, looking around or at a watch, are possible tells an opponent is bluffing. Tells are most often displayed during betting.
Tells are most often displayed during betting. Examine your opponents for their personal tells. However, you cannot play with a stranger and automatically acknowledge when they bet with a certain hand they are bluffing, or something of the like. This is a sense that is sharpened with practice or background knowledge of the opponent(s).
Players with strong hands tend to be more focused in the game and readily examine their opponents and their hand. They also will make attempts to blend into the game and not draw attention to themselves. This can be done by staying still and making safe bets.
Players with weak hands tend to be more outgoing during play; they are talking, moving, smiling, or laughing. Weak raises can also be a tell, especially if conjunction with the previously listed behavior, that a player has a weak hand. Generally, these tells will apply to new and amateur poker players. Professionals tend to have balanced play or employ tells in reverse.
Position
The position is in reference to where players are seated around the poker table and the outcome of this arrangement strategically.
Players that are forced to bet first or second typically need stronger hands so they can match the bets of later players. Being sat later in the betting rotation allows players to respond to the earlier players, giving them an automatic advantage.
Reasons to Call
- Conceal hand strength
- Set-up a bluff or long-ball bluff
- Change pot odds
- Avoid another player re-raising or being forced to re-raise
Reasons to Raise
- Increase value of pot if you have a strong hand
- Force other players out with weaker or stronger hands
- Bluff or Semi-bluff
- Earn a free card (applies only to poker games that allow you to improve your hand)
- Learn about opponent’s hands by their reactions (calling, folding, and re-raising)
Types of Play
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Loose players stick with their hands, even if they are weaker, and tend to play more hands. Tight players play fewer hands because they fold more often if their hand is weak or somewhat weak. Bluffing in loose games or with loose players is less effective because they generally will not fold. Bets in loose games are typically lower and the payout is less. The reverse applies to tight games or players.
Play can also be aggressive, meaning the player is actively raising and betting, whereas passive play is generally reliant on calling and checking.
Hand Reading & Leveling
Hand Reading is a process of narrowing down the possible hand your opponent has based on their actions throughout the game and the order in which they happened. You are not trying to literally determine what their hand is, but rather a range of what it could be. This can also be done in reverse, thinking of the anti-range, as in what cards they don’t have.
Leveling, as referred to as multi-level thinking, is a strategy that focuses on considering what other player’s think about all the hands. If thinking about what your opponent has in hand is level one, thinking about what they think about other hands is level two. This includes thinking about what opponents think about another opponent’s hand and their own.
REFERENCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_poker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poker_strategy
http://www.pokerlistings.com/zach-elwood-explains-why-psych-experts-get-poker-tells-wrong
https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/strategy/
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https://www.pokernews.com/strategy/other-hand-reading-tools-considering-an-opponents-anti-range-28642.htm