Rules reference · Conduct
Good poker etiquette comes down to three things: act in turn, keep your chips and cards where everyone can see them, and don't influence a hand you are not in. This document sets out the conduct expected of every player, and what happens when a dispute arises.
This code applies to every game of poker, wherever played, whether or not the participants are aware of it.
"Player" means any person holding cards, or any person who has folded and continues to hold opinions.
"Rob" means Rob.
"Doubt" means any uncertainty, disagreement or difference of opinion, however minor, arising under these Rules.
Where the meaning of any term in these Rules is in doubt, Rob is right.
Action proceeds clockwise. Each player shall wait until it is their turn before checking, betting, calling, raising or folding.
Acting out of turn gives information to players still to act and may be binding. In most venues, a player who acts out of turn is held to that action if the action to them has not changed.
Players shall not fold before it is their turn, even when they intend to fold.
Players shall pay attention to the game. A player who holds up play may have the clock called on them. See tournament rules.
Verbal declarations made in turn are binding. A player who declares "raise" shall make at least a full minimum raise, however few chips they had in mind.
String bets are prohibited. Chips shall be placed in a single forward motion, or the amount declared first. See betting structures.
Chips shall not be thrown into the pot (splashing). Bets shall be placed in front of the player so the dealer can verify the amount.
Chips shall be stacked so that other players can estimate them, with larger denominations visible. Players shall not remove chips from the table during a cash game.
Cards shall remain on the table and in view. Players are responsible for protecting their own hand.
Mobile devices shall remain face down, except for the purpose of displaying a notable hand from a previous year.
A player may make any statement about their own hand. No statement shall be presumed true.
A player who has folded shall not comment on a hand in progress, reveal what they folded, or react to cards as they are dealt. Audible sighing is under review. Gasping is prohibited.
One player to a hand. No player may advise another during a hand, and no one may look at another player's cards and react.
Players shall not berate other players, dealers or staff over how a hand was played.
A player holding the winning hand shall show it promptly. Deliberately delaying to show a winning hand is slow-rolling and is a breach of this code.
Show one, show all. A player who shows their cards to one player shall show them to the whole table on request.
Cards shall be tabled face up and in full so they can be read. The cards speak for themselves; a player's description of their hand has no standing. See hand rankings.
A player shown to be bluffing shall accept the outcome with dignity. The statement "I was just seeing what you'd do" does not meet this standard.
Players shall not handle cards with seasoning residue on their fingers. A player in breach forfeits the hand.
Drinks shall be kept no less than one forearm's length from the playing surface.
Pizza toppings shall be determined by simple majority.
6.3(a) Pineapple requires a two-thirds majority.
Where a vote under 6.3 is tied, or its result is in doubt, Rob is right.
The procedure for resolving disagreements. The process is fair, transparent and fully independent.
Disputes shall first be raised with the dealer. In a cardroom, the dealer calls the floor, whose decision is final.
Where there is no dealer or floor, a dispute shall be put to a vote of all players not involved in the hand.
A tied vote shall be referred to the Board using Form 7-A below. Rulings of the Board are final and may not be appealed.
These Rules may be amended by unanimous resolution of the Board. The Board convenes whenever a player asks, "Is that actually a rule?"
If any provision of these Rules is held to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force.
Nothing in these Rules shall be interpreted to mean that K-A-2-3-4 is a straight.
Where two provisions conflict, the later provision prevails.
Where any doubt remains after applying Articles 1 to 8.4, Rob is right. This clause prevails over all other provisions, including 8.4.
Slow-rolling is deliberately delaying showing a winning hand at showdown, so that an opponent thinks they have won. It is considered one of the worst breaches of poker etiquette.
It gives information to players who have not yet acted and can change how they play. In most cardrooms, an out-of-turn action is binding if the action to that player does not change.
Only the player holding the cards may make decisions about them. Spectators and other players may not give advice or react during a hand.
You can, but under the show one, show all rule, the rest of the table is then entitled to see them too.