Those of you who have been around TripleJack for a while are probably aware of the unspoken rules of poker—be it online poker, a friend’s house game, or tournament poker—but some of the newer members may not be as well-versed. Since TripleJack is a community, we thought it would be a good idea to throw out some basic poker etiquette. If you already know a particular rule, then feel good about your game. If a post highlights something you were unaware of, ask questions if you need clarification!
The first “unspoken rule” we’re covering is revealing cards after a fold. Whatever the context, it’s best to avoid showing your cards until the showdown; you might be wondering, “but if I’ve folded, then what does it matter what my cards were? They’re not in play anymore.” But here’s the thing—they are.
Even if you’ve folded, the other players don’t know what your cards are, and so they have to take them into consideration in their overall strategy. If your cards would complete someone’s straight or quad, you could mess up someone’s game by showing them. Even if they seem like worthless cards to you, if you make it definite that they won’t be showing up, you change the character of the game and you force the other players to adjust to the information you’ve given them; you’re even giving at least one player an edge.
A big part of the thrill of poker is to develop the ability to read people, to figure out if they’re bluffing you. If someone came along and threw your game off by making you take something else into consideration—either making you do more complicated stats in your mind, or ruining your bluff—you’d probably find it pretty annoying, too. So it’s safest to extend that courtesy to everyone.
What are some of your poker pet-peeves? Have any particularly good stories about this one? Let us know in the comments!
Edit: We’re having a bit of trouble with the comments section; in the meantime, feel free to post your stories and comments on the TripleJack Facebook Page.












