Keep good form at the table
Small courtesies that make a game of cards pleasant for everyone, whether you're a veteran or have never touched a chip.
The small courtesies
- Say hello to the people either side of you when you sit down. A friendly nod makes every hand feel better.
- Keep your chips in tidy stacks where the dealer can see them, and don't touch anyone else's.
- Wait until the hand is finished before talking about it. Explaining what you should have done spoils it for everyone.
- Hold your cards low and don't peek at your neighbour's. Hold them close and nobody can accuse you of anything.
- If you're not sure whose turn it is, ask the dealer. Guessing slows everyone down.
- Congratulate a good hand sincerely, and take a bad one with a smile. It's only chips.
- Don't coach other players unless they ask. Nothing flattens a beginner quicker than a stranger's advice.
- Leave the table tidy: cups on the tray, cards in the middle and chairs pushed in.
- Keep your voice at the level of the table next to you. A lively laugh is welcome; a shouted conversation across the room is not.
- Let the dealer collect and tidy the chips. Reaching across the baize to help usually causes more bother than it saves.
Courtesy is the real house edge
Playing for the table, not against it
Games at Gidgee House are played for the company. A poker table where everybody is smiling is a better table than one where somebody is winning, and the best croupiers will tell you the same. Courtesy is how a room of strangers becomes a good evening.
Looking after beginners
Every regular here was a beginner once and remembers being corrected badly. We ask veterans to be gentle, to offer help only when it is wanted and to resist the urge to explain probabilities. If you're new, a dealer is always happy to slow the game down for you.
When things go wrong
If a mistake is made, such as a card dealt out of turn or a chip pushed into the wrong place, the dealer will fix it calmly. Please don't argue; simply say what you saw. Disagreements that cannot be resolved at the table are passed to Todd, whose word is final and usually kind.
A word on celebrations
Birthdays, anniversaries and good news are always welcome upstairs. Tell the dealer, and they will happily announce it to the table. We only ask that celebrations stay at the volume of the room, so that the next table can still hear its own wheel.