Euro21

Online Poker Etiquette: Play Promptly

Playing poker online allows a poker player many leniencies. An online poker player need not wear the required attire of land-based casinos. An online poker player need not think about where to place his water and food since there is no physical poker table. And an online poker player need not carry on a pleasant conversation with his opponents. With all these "freedoms", the online poker player must still observe one basic poker etiquette: "play promptly".

In land-based casinos, a poker player should promptly decide what he should do when his turn to act arrives. That is, the poker player should spend a certain length of time deliberating his decision, which is approximately the same as the time spent by his opponents when they make their decisions. If majority of the poker players at the table spend about 30 seconds in making up their minds, then one should also make a decision in about 30 seconds.

The same courtesy is extended when one is playing online poker. Thus, a way to do this is to check the boxes that state "muck losing hands" and "auto-post blinds". The former will facilitate the dealing of more hands. And the latter will provide an automatic and prompt action from a player.

There are instances, however, that the "auto-post blinds" should be unchecked. One reason is when one receives an important phone call. Another reason is when one intends to quit this particular poker game. And if one has to spend a considerable time away from the computer, one should check a button marked "sit out the next hand". This will inform the other opponents, and signal the computer-dealer that they should not wait for one's decision. If one does not check this particular button, the rest of the players will be waiting in vain and in irritation until one's turn has "timed out".

From one point of view, not playing promptly or slowing down a poker game may make the opponents tilt. And such is considered a distinct advantage. But there is a corresponding and equal disadvantage of not playing promptly. That is, one will have the reputation of being such a slow player that other poker players will not want to play in the same virtual poker table.

On the other hand, playing promptly has a better advantage, especially if one seems to have a winning streak. The more hands played in each hour, the more chances of playing a profitable game. And most poker players agree with this: a fast poker game is a profitable one.