The Riviera Hotel and Casino is renowned for its fabulous Poker Room. One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is about poker etiquette, so here are a few guidelines to follow, no matter where your game takes you.
Silence is golden.
Chatting about your hand, or what you wished you’d played, or how others are playing, etc., is not only distracting, but it can actually hurt your chances of winning.
No vest? Keep those cards close, anyway.
Not only do you not want others around you to see what you have for your own good, you also don’t want to unwittingly influence how the game plays out. If you toss your cards into the muck side-up, other players might not be able to bluff about their hands. This creates discord.
Be nice. Even when you’re mad. Especially to the dealer.
If a play doesn’t go your way, or if you’re running a losing streak, cursing or being rude to those around you isn’t going to enhance your profile or turn things around.
Don’t splash the pot. It gets messy.
You know how, in movies, poker players always toss their bets into a big mess in the pot? Don’t do that. People need to know how much you’ve bet. Keep your chips stacked neatly in front of you.
Raise it right.
If you’re going to raise on someone’s bet, say so immediately, and then quickly and clearly state the amount of money you’re raising. If you’re going to call someone’s bet, that’s a totally separate thing. Say, “Call.” Keep it simple. Once you say, “Call,” you can’t then say, “Raise.” In other words, the movies get it wrong again when the character says, “I’ll call your 100…and raise you 300.” Do one or the other, keep it simple, and do it immediately.
Don’t take that call.
If you can’t leave the cell phone in your room, do turn it off or to silent.
Have fun.
Poker players can mean business when they play. But it’s also just a fun game to get into! The Riviera Poker Room is expansive enough to have room for all kinds of players, with multiple games, daily tournaments, the largest bad beat progressive on the strip, food comps, high hand bonuses and more. Come to have a good time, and if you have any questions, the Riviera staff will be happy to help you out.
