Our Live Poker Peeves

We’ve seen it all in the live and online poker arenas. We’ve seen people make sub-par bets and calls, draw out on others, and berate opponents at the table. However, we can usually brush those aside because they occur constantly. However, what gets us fired up at the tables in a brick and mortar casino?

Standing Up During an All-In

This is fairly common in live poker, but if you think about it, what’s the point? Is your two-outer more likely to hit on the river because you’re standing up screaming “One Time!” at the top of your lungs? Are you closer to the poker gods by standing and, therefore, they’re more likely to hear you? Is it just a way to blow off some energy while sweating a key hand? In any case, it’s inexcusable. Poker is a professional sport. Yes, it’s okay to be emotional at times, but it’s not acceptable to stand up during an all-in like Rocky prior to a boxing match. Just stay seated; the same cards will come regardless of your posture. Yelling “One Time” is also pretty insane and not advised unless you want to be the most hated person at your table.

Folding Out of Turn

If you’re intelligent enough to get seated at a live cash game or tournament, then you should be able to understand when it’s your turn to act in a hand. Folding out of turn not only makes you look like you don’t know how to dress yourself in the morning, but it also gives away key information during a hand. For example, if you fold out of turn, a player contemplating putting in a raise knows he has one less person to contend with, making your misstep a potentially game-changing moment. Even if you peek down at 7-2 offsuit, hold onto your cards until the action makes its way around to you.

Not Tipping the Dealer

A poker dealer is like a waitress in a restaurant: They both make their living off tips. Each is paid a few dollars an hour, but reaps the majority of their financial livelihood off the kindness of strangers. Not tipping a dealer at a poker table is like stiffing the wait staff at your favorite diner. You don’t have to tip the dealer 15%, either. Just toss a dollar or two his way after you win a pot (in the form of white chips, of course) and thank them for your good fortune. If you’re in a tournament, part of your buy-in will go toward a collective pool of tips, so don’t worry about tipping after every hand. However, in cash games, don’t be “that guy” at the table; tip your dealer.

Calling the Clock

Just because a person takes a little bit longer to act is not an open invitation to call the clock. If you’re not familiar with the concept, in many tournament formats, each player has the right to call the clock on another player, forcing action in a hand. The clock is typically two minutes or less and may be counted down by a floor official. A player who is not even involved in a hand, in some formats, can call the clock. Players deserve ample time to make decisions when money is on the line. No good can come from calling the clock, other than the hand being over faster. Allow a player to assess a situation and make the proper decision, just as you would want to be extended the same courtesy. Unless it’s a really egregious length of time, don’t call the clock.

Missed Blinds

Nothing sucks the fun out of a game of poker like a player who constantly misses blinds. You’ve seen these people, too. They’re the ones with a pile of “Missed Big Blind” and “Missed Small Blind” chips in front of their stack. If you sit down at a poker table, play poker. Isn’t that why you’re there in the first place? If you have to get up and go to the bathroom, that’s acceptable. However, going to the buffet and missing two orbits is not. While noshing on Crab Rangoon, everyone else at the table has one less opponent, limiting the amount of money available. Be kind; stay seated.