[sham]

This should normally be a no-brainer, but still I struggle with etiquette rules at our home games. I started a home game three years ago and have pretty much introduced poker to more than 80 percent of the players.

The core of the problem is that most of the players are or have gotten ignorant of the rules and they sort of make up their own mind about what is acceptable at the table. If they were only a couple of players each time that did not know about poker etiquette, there wouldn't be a problem, but when I'm the only one that have ever even read a rule book and numerous articles about poker etiquette, it actually has turned into a bit of a problem. Everytime someone clearly break the rules, and I politely point that out and ask that they stop doing it, I'm turned into the bad guy for being too picky. We are talking about basic etiquette here, and I don't comment it everytime either. I wan't to keep the game friendly.

This is what a mean by basic that I struggle with getting through to them.
- Splashing the pot.
- Betting out of turn (often with a strong hand that don't want to see many opponents. Oops, I'm sorry! (again))
- Talking about the hand in all-in situations when not involved in the hand

There are many more examples, but those I do not normally comment around the table.
The worst one is splashing the pot I think, especially in higher limit games. The main reason why I think it is the worst is that many of the players frequently and surely unintentially, bet the wrong amonts as well. It has gotten to a point were I have almost stopped bother about it because I don't want an argument every single time around the table. It has reduced the quality of our games in my opinion.

Again, one or two players at the table can be managed and optimally if more players respect the rules themselves and can help out. But what do you do when you are the only one at the table that knows and values the rules and basic etiquette?

[Matthew]

peer pressre

[links_slayer]

i feel your pain. don't be afraid to tell them to head to a casino and see if their shenanigans would fly there. or pull out a copy of robert's rules and tell them by entering your house they agree to play by these rules. it's damn frustrating, i know.

some people just honestly don't know they're doing anything wrong. calmly explaining a) what they did wrong, b) why it was wrong, and c) what they can do to correct the problem helps a great deal. "oh, i didn't know that was wrong" or "thanks for explaining that to me" are responses i've gotten when explaining string betting, splashing the pot, etc.

good luck.

[mirageII]

Add this to your house rules...

"All bets must be placed neatly in front of the player. Any missing chips (or one's mingled with the pot, even if accidentally) must be made up."

First instance of acting out of turn = verbal warning.

Second and subsequent instances = forfeit the amount of the big blind into the pot.

Get strict on string betting too... remember to tell them it's in their own interest to play to the etiquette rules and that if they ever play in a casino the dealers will be less forgiving

just a thought

mirageII

[NoFear]

This is what a mean by basic that I struggle with getting through to them.
- Splashing the pot.
- Betting out of turn (often with a strong hand that don't want to see many opponents. Oops, I'm sorry! (again))
- Talking about the hand in all-in situations when not involved in the hand


Simple solution. Print it out and post them on the wall....On the top it should state house rules.

On the side note, I used to make people pay one smell blind if they act out of turn or splash the pot. We have not use it since.....if you know what I mean.

Good luck

[BassVillan]

I was having the same problems with my homegame until I came across one of these...

[Ragman]

Sorry, Sham, but I don't have an answer because I have the same trouble. You can write it down in the rules, but my guess is many won't read the rules or pay attention anyway. I've pointed out the splashing the pot thing many times, and it might be starting to sink in with some, while others will probably never get it. The worst are the older guys who have played poker (or I should say variations of poker called "kiddie games") who used to bring their jars of change to the games. It took me a year to convince them that chips are the way to go in home games!
Anyway, I feel your pain. Good luck.
--Doug

[sham]

Originally Posted by Matthew

peer pressre

You know, I think you are absolutely right, but that stuff belongs to high-school teenagers.

[abby99]

Your house, your rules. At "away games," good luck.

One way to cure pot splashing is to recount the pot. It takes time and annoys everybody, but if you explain that you're protecting everybody by making certain that the pot is right, the offenders usually start to comply.

BTW, I hate those new Full Tilt commercials showing pros tossing their chips in a huge arc. It sets a horrible example. Sheesh!

[sham]

Originally Posted by BassVillan

I was having the same problems with my homegame until I came across one of these...

hehe, I should get one of those.