While poker is played for money, it's also a fun and social game, and all of us should do our best to keep it that way.  Behavior at the poker table is one of the most talked about and written about subjects in poker. How many times have you read that you shouldn't berate a novice player for his bad play or give him advice, that you shouldn't throw cards at the dealer and blame him for your bad luck, that you shouldn't slow-roll, etc., etc. These are obvious examples of ill manners.  But there are many other misdeeds a player can commit, so let's look at some of them.

One of the most annoying things a player can do is slow down the game with overly deliberate play. Picture some geezer who, when it's his turn to act, will first shuffle his cards (as if that will make a difference). He'll finally look at them, one card at a time, and then sit there in deep thought for an eternity before finally doing something. This boring behavior is rude and inconsiderate to the other players Lets keep the game going and not take the fun out of it by slowing things to a crawl whenever it's your turn to act.

Here's another example of slowing the game down. It's a tournament or a no-limit cash game. Someone bets and another player makes a sizeable bet or raise. The original bettor will go into the tank, trying to show that he or she has a tough decision, before finally folding an eternity later. That player was obviously going to fold, and he or she knew it, and so did everyone else at the table, but the first bettor didn't want to show weakness, and so put on a big act. Save the acting for a Hollywood audition, please.

Then there's the player who isn't paying attention and lets the action get by him either because he does nothing when it's his turn or because he made a faint movement with his hand which was interpreted as a check. Then, after several players behind him check, he will suddenly wake up, insist he didn't do or say anything, and a big argument will break out. A floorman will usually have to be called to make a decision, and the game will be delayed for several minutes. Of course, there have been instances where a player with a big hand will act like he's asleep or move his fingers slightly (drying his fingernail polish?) hoping for a check-raise, then protesting when the players behind him fail to bet. This, of course, is angle-shooting and goes way beyond simple bad manners. Players who do that deliberately should be barred, though intent is not always easy to prove.   

Another instance of halting the action used to come in tournaments when players were one away from the money or from the final table. Oftentimes one player would look at the other table and stall as long as possible, hoping somebody would get knocked out first there. This of course eventually led to the hand-for-hand rule, which is pretty universal now and has fortunately done away with this annoying example of angle-shooting.  

On the other hand, acting too quickly, by acting out of turn, is as bad, or even worse, than acting too slowly. Sometimes a player with a good hand will get excited and call or put in a raise before it's his turn, thus giving information to any players before him yet to act. It's far more serious when a player does this to represent a good hand and prevent other players yet to act from raising. Taking a shot like this is out and out cheating.

Here's another example of inconsiderate -- or thoughtless -- behavior, and how many times have we all seen this happen?  Three fours hit the flop and a player who has folded jumps up and lets out a little curse. Or maybe he  smacks his head and groans. Or even just leans back in his seat and rolls his eyes skyward. Either by voice or body language he's giving out obvious and important information by telling the table that he had the fourth four. It's all happened to us and it's no big deal. So just control yourself and don't make a fuss. And don't even bother telling the player next to you that you would have made quads, because he couldn't care less. In general, just keep your mouth shut when a hand is in progress.

Never, never, make any comments about what you have or what anybody might have, because that could affect the decision of remaining players. For that matter, avoid any kind of loud, distracting conversations with another player or a friend who came by. Be considerate because money is involved.       

Sometimes, just trying to be considerate and helpful can actually be very improper behavior at a poker table. For example, let's say the player next to you is holding his cards up at the showdown and about to throw them away. You glance at his hand and advise him that he has a flush. That's the quickest way to get into a fistfight. Or, let's say you're playing Omaha hi-lo. A player is looking at the board and shaking his head. Don't even think of being helpful and asking him if he has a low. Even telling a player who is uncertain about his hand to turn up his cards is a no-no.

Never show your hand to another player either while you're in a hand or after you've folded while there is still action. The show one, show all rule is a primary rule in every card room. For that matter, don't even discuss it with another player who is also not in that hand. Someone who is playing might overhear you. 

You have to go to the bathroom? Please, don't just leave your cards on the table or throw them in and get up before it's your turn to act. Don't give information to players yet to act. Hold it in a few seconds. And so what if waiting until it's your turn before folding causes you to miss a hand? Act in a manner you would like other players to act toward you.

Unfortunately, it isn't always the players who show ill manners. Sometimes a dealer will act less than professionally, and when one does, I feel a player has a right to call his or her attention to it -- in a polite manner, of course. Examples: a dealer might be watching a ball game on TV instead of paying attention to the game, or engaging in long conversation with a player at the table, or saying "good luck" to a player who is all in.

But my biggest gripe is the dealer -- and for some reason it seems to be women dealers who are usually at fault --  who will try to rush you by impatiently pointing at you or rapping the table in front of you the second it's your turn to act. Sometimes you haven't even had a chance to look at your cards yet or study the board cards when the flop comes. I don't think you'd be out of line to tell such a dealer that you know when it's your turn to act, and don't like being rushed. And if the dealer gives you lip, call the floorman. It is the dealer's job to remind you that it's your turn if you seem unaware of it, and you should pay attention, but a good dealer will know when a player needs to be told to act.