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Have you ever thought about the fact that there is etiquette when it comes to playing poker? By learning what the rules of etiquette are, you’re less likely to annoy the seasoned players and enjoy your time playing poker. There are three main reasons for the etiquette: to keep the game fair, to help the players stay safe, and most importantly to keep the atmosphere of the game fun.

Know the House Rules

Though there are basic rules of poker that every casino follows, each casino will have unique house rules that must be followed when playing the game. Here are some house rules you may run into:

• Checking your firearm at the door.
• Players can, and will, be removed for violating a house rule.
• Some casinos have no smoking sections. If you choose to play in one of these sections, you need to not smoke.
• Don’t place anything on the table besides your drink, poker chips, and cards.
• Don’t dent, mark, or bend the cards in any way.
• Have your cards and poker chips in plain view the entire game.
• Never touch another player’s cards or their chips.
• No talking on a phone during a game.
• Place your chips nicely in the middle of the table. Don’t throw the chips into the middle, which can cause the chips to splay out and possible get the pot chips mixed with players’ chips.
• Be polite and considerate to the other players at the table including speaking only in the language that other players speak (i.e. the language of the casino you’re in).

Follow these rules and you should have fun playing poker.