Nobody expects a new player to know every rule. Regulars do notice when someone acts out of turn, splashes chips or talks about a live hand. Get the basics below right and you'll fit in fine.
Act in turn
Wait until the action reaches you before you fold, check, call or raise. Acting early gives away information and can change what the players before you do. If the player to your right is thinking and you already have your cards in your hand ready to fold, the player before them knows they have one fewer opponent.
Keep your cards on the table until it's your turn. If you're not sure whether it's on you, ask the dealer instead of moving chips or cards.
Make your action clear
Say what you're doing before you move chips. "Raise" or "call," said out loud, is the cleanest way to act. The house rules of each casino decide what counts as a binding bet or raise, so saying it clearly prevents disputes.
- One oversized chip: if someone bets $15 and you toss in a single $100 chip without saying anything, under common poker-room procedure that's a call, not a raise. Say "raise" first if you mean it.
- String bets: putting chips out in more than one motion without announcing a raise, for example sliding in $15, then reaching back for more. Most rooms treat the second move as not counting. Announce the amount or push it all out in one motion.
- Verbal is binding: in most rooms, what you say out loud is what you've done. Don't say "call" as a joke.
Keep chips visible and stacked
Other players should be able to estimate your stack. Keep bigger-denomination chips visible, not hidden behind a wall of $1 or $5 chips. Put bets out in front of you and let the dealer pull them in. Don't throw chips into the pot, which is called splashing, because it makes the amount hard to count.
Protect your cards
Keep control of your hand. Put a chip or card protector on top of your cards if you're still in, and don't push live cards toward the muck. If your cards touch the discards, the hand can be declared dead. Ask the dealer if you're unsure where to put them.
When you look at your cards, lift the corners with your hand cupped over them so the player next to you can't see. That's for your protection, not just theirs.
Don't discuss a live hand
Once you've folded, stay out of it. Don't say what you folded, don't give advice to a player still in, and don't guess out loud what someone might have. "I folded the 7, glad I did" when a 7 is on the board changes how the remaining players think about the hand. Save it for after the pot is pushed.
Showdown
At showdown, the cards speak: turn both cards face up and let the dealer read the hand. Don't slow-roll, which means taking forever to reveal a winning hand when you know you've won. It's the quickest way to annoy a table.
Usually the last player to bet or raise on the river shows first. If you're sure you've lost, you can muck, but to win a pot you need to show both cards.
Respect the dealer and the other players
Bad beats are part of poker. The dealer didn't cause your river. Abuse, threats, harassment and collusion have no place in a professional room. Great Canadian Toronto publishes a player code of conduct that reflects those expectations. See the Great Canadian Toronto room profile for more on that room.
Tipping the dealer after you win a decent pot is customary in North American card rooms. It's a courtesy, not a rule.
Small habits that help
- Stay off your phone while you're in a hand, and check the room's rule on phone use at the table.
- Pay attention so the dealer doesn't have to tell you it's your turn.
- Post your blinds without being asked.
- If you step away, tell the dealer and don't miss so many rounds that your seat is at risk.
Before visiting, read the specific room's house rules. Procedures for things like seat changes, missed blinds and phone use vary between rooms.
Common questions
What happens if I act out of turn in live poker?
The dealer will usually stop the action and back it up. Depending on house rules, your out-of-turn action may be binding if the action to you doesn't change. Wait for your turn to avoid the problem.
What is a string bet?
A string bet is putting chips into the pot in more than one motion without first announcing a raise. Most rooms only count the first motion, so say "raise" and the amount before you move chips.
Does one big chip count as a raise?
Under common poker-room procedure, a single oversized chip put out without saying anything is a call. If you want to raise, say "raise" before the chip goes in.
Do you tip the dealer in live poker?
Tipping the dealer after you win a pot is customary in North American card rooms, but it's voluntary. A small tip on a decent pot is common.
By the TorontoPoker.org editorial team · Updated September 2026 · 19+ · Play responsibly