Poker Etiquette

You would be forgiven for thinking that no etiquette applies in online poker. Many, many times online poker players reach the depths of vulgarity simply because of a perceived 'bad beat' inflicted on them by another player, or even because another player is just playing badly. Or maybe even for no obvious reason. Some players will be abusive and rude to other players simply as a playing 'style'. This type of player seems to think that being rude to others at the tables will put their opponents on 'tilt' and therefore give them an edge.
Well, in that respect, they are correct. Sometimes, anyway. It can be very infuriating to have abuse heaped on you for the way you play, or for your lack of ability or obvious mistakes you may have made. To have a player heap abuse on you after you won a hand from them can be more than annoying; to have your play questioned in front of the whole table can affect your confidence, especially if you are not a very confident player to begin with. Should you catch a winning hand from poor starting cards, and then be abused when you show your winning 7 2 off, it might make you think twice before playing poor cards again. You don't want to be ridiculed in front of the whole table again, after all.
That might sound helpful, but sometimes it's ok to play poor cards. Sometimes you can be in the big blind and get to see the flop simply because no one raised you. More importantly, advanced play would suggest that you play poor cards every now and again just to vary your game and hinder the other players that may be getting a 'read' on you. But if your confidence is dented because you were 'abused' in an earlier hand, you may not play cards, bad cards, that maybe you should play.
Aside from that, it is not, and should never be, acceptable, for anyone to abuse any other player at the table. It just isn't on. If the other player is the absolute worst player in the world, it still isn't ok. Even if you take the worst bad beat in the history of poker, you are not entitled to be abusive to anybody. Ever. Period.
A simple guide would be that you never say anything to another player that you would not say to your Grandmother. If you are the type of person that would be abusive to your Grandmother, then that guide doesn't apply to you. The best thing to say when your temper is rising and you feel that the other player is a complete 'donkey' is ... nothing. If you are on tilt because of a bad beat - say nothing. Just leave the table.
Those players that still think it's ok to abuse other players might someday realise that it doesn't make them look like great players. It just makes them look like what they are - rude abusive people. And some day they may come to see themselves the way the rest of us see them. Hopefully, that day will be soon.
About the Author
Jared Sid writes poker reviews of online poker sites, such as Ultimate Bet Poker and AbsolutePoker.