Behaviors to Avoid When Playing Live Poker

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Despite having been involved in poker in one fashion or another since 2006, I am still surprised by the actions of some people in live poker rooms. Some of these actions are detrimental to the player and the game in general.

Others are either violations of moral code or poker etiquette. These players generally have bad reputations to start with, and if they are new players, they earn a reputation that’s hard for people to forget. Here are some things you want to try and avoid doing the next time you play in a live card room.

Openly Talk About Bad Beat Jackpot While in a Hand

One of the dumbest things that I see players do while at the poker table is openly discuss the bad beat jackpot while they are in a hand. First, these players forget that any discussion of the jackpot during the play of a hand allows the casino the right to disqualify the jackpot.

Even saying something as innocent as “oh wow, a potential jackpot” could be twisted to make it seem you’re trying to influence action to build the pot to qualify for the jackpot.

Next, if you happen to get into a potential jackpot spot and your player does not have a jackpot hand, you will not get paid off for your big hand. The best thing to do is keep your mouth shut if you have a potential jackpot hand.

Abusing Dealers

This isn’t the 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s. There is no place in a poker room for dealer abuse. If the dealer clearly screws up at the table and will not correct the problem, go to the floor person.

Also, the dealer has no bearing on your crappy luck and taking it out on the dealer will not help you. Here’s a tip. When you abuse dealers at the table, some players are going to play back at you and try and make you lose a big hand just to upset you more.

This also paints you as being a complete jerk. The casino will now start to watch you closely, even to the point of alerting security to keep an eye on you. They will start looking for a reason to 86 you from the property. Why risk getting yourself kicked out for the day or banned from the poker room. It’s not worth it.

Taking Frequent Extended Breaks

One of the worst things about some card rooms are players that sit down with chips and leave almost immediately. Also, some players will take frequent long breaks from the table and hold up a spot for someone that may want to play.

In games where there isn’t a list, this isn’t as huge of an issue, and if the game is having trouble keeping players, most people will tolerate it over having the game break. It is still annoying, but there usually isn’t anything you can do. Otherwise, if a person is taking frequent breaks and there is a list, I will often have their stack picked up by a floor manager.

There are obviously exceptions to this. If the person has to go to the bathroom frequently or have a medical condition that forces them to take breaks, that’s usually not a problem. In my experience, players like this are generally taking frequent but fast breaks. The annoying ones are those that sit down and play for five or ten minutes and disappear for 30.

Live poker is not like online poker. You cannot say or do anything you want. In live poker, you need to show some restraint because not only can you get in trouble with the poker room, but depending on what you are doing, you may even get in trouble with the police. Of course, mess with the wrong person, and you might be gambling with your life. Control your actions in the poker room and focus on the poker.