Poker etiquette: the unwritten rules
Updated November 2026
Good poker etiquette comes down to a few habits: act in turn, keep the game moving, don't talk about a hand that's still being played, and win and lose politely. None of it is hard, and regulars notice straight away if you know it.
Do
- Wait for your turn
- Keep your cards in view
- Say what you're doing
- Keep your chips stacked
- Tip the dealer when you win, where that's the custom
Don't
- Talk about your hand while others play
- Slow roll a winner
- Splash chips into the pot
- Give advice during a hand
- Blame the dealer
Why does acting in turn matter so much?
Because your action gives information to the players still to act. If you fold before your turn, the player before you knows one fewer person can raise, and that changes his decision. It isn't fair on the others, even when it's an accident.
Watch the action, and don't touch your chips or cards until it gets to you.
Before you act
- Is it your turn?
- How much is the bet?
- Say it, then do it
What can't you say during a hand?
- What you folded"I had a king" changes the odds for the players still in.
- What you think he hasOne player to a hand is the rule. Advice and comments aren't allowed.
- Commentary on the board"That's a flush draw" helps the people who didn't notice.
What is a slow roll?
Taking your time to show a hand you know is the winner, to make the other player think they've won. It's considered about the rudest thing you can do at a table.
When you've got it and you've been called, turn it over.
At the showdown
How should you handle your chips?
- Don't splash the potPut your bet in front of you so the dealer can count it.
- Don't string betOne motion, or say your amount first.
- Keep your bigger chips visibleOther players are entitled to see roughly what you have.
How should you win and lose?
Say "nice hand" and move on. Nobody wants to hear the story of your bad beat, and telling a player how badly they played only teaches them not to play that way any more.
A person who loses with a smile keeps getting invited back. In a casino, weaker players stay longer when the table is friendly, so being polite pays.
Bad beat
Can you show your cards?
After the hand you can usually show, and in most rooms showing one player means showing the whole table. While a hand is still being played, don't show cards to anyone.
Show one, show all
If you show one player your cards, anyone at the table can ask to see them.
Is it rude to leave after a big win?
No. You can leave whenever you like in a cash game, and nobody is owed a chance to win it back. Don't make a show of it. In a home game, tell the host ahead of time if you can.
Would you be welcome back?
Twelve spots in three rounds.
Questions players ask
Do you tip dealers in poker?
In the US, usually a dollar or two when you win a pot. Customs differ elsewhere.
Can you use your phone at the table?
Rules vary by room, and you usually can't use it during a hand.
Is it OK to ask to see someone's cards?
If they were called at the showdown, yes. Doing it all the time will annoy people.
Know someone whose table manners need work?
Send them this page, kindly.