SMOKING
In all games without exception the two seats to either side of the dealer shall be non-smoking seats. Cigar and pipe smoking shall be prohibited. Smoking by spectators seated behind a player shall be prohibited. (Alternate Rule. The two seats to the right of the dealer shall be non-smoking seats.) Where State or local law prohibits smoking, smoking is of course prohibited.


SPECTATORS
Only players, employees and guests of players shall be permitted on the poker room floor. Spectators who are guests of players shall be permitted, however any player within two seats of a player who has a guest at the table can object to a spectator being seated behind a player. A new player entering a game may not object to a spectator already seated. Objections to spectators must be raised at the time the spectator is seated. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing the house has the right to not allow spectators generally or any particular spectator, regardless of the presence or absence of objections.


COLLUSION
A player shall act only in his own-self interest, and shall make no action for the benefit of another player. The following actions shall be considered collusion, and any player participating in a collusive effort may forfeit all interest in the pot and is subject to ejection from the game and even being barred from the establishment:
  1. Imparting information about one's hand to a player in the pot.
  2. Advising someone how to play or suggesting a particular betting action.
  3. Rendering a verbal opinion about a player's holding when he bets.
  4. Agreeing to check out a hand when a third player is all-in.
  5. Agreeing to save a certain amount of money with another player if either wins the hand, when there is potential betting remaining for one or both of the players and other players are involved in the pot.
  6. Encouraging another player to turn his hand over face-up at the showdown so that he has a claim on the pot.
  7. Soft-play agreements not to bet or raise another player when head's up.
  8. Refunding money won to a player, such as the last bet.

DISCUSSING CARDS IN PLAY
A player shall not make any statement that could unfairly influence the play of the hand, whether or not the offender is involved in the pot. (IE Two queens flop and a player whispers to the person next to him "I had a Queen" or slaps the table in disgust indicating he had a queen.)


READING
Reading at the poker table is prohibited as (a player who is reading will not act in turn, and this slows down the game to the detriment of other players. Notwithstanding this, at establishments that also offer pari-mutuel wagering or sports betting, players may consult such periodicals as racing forms or sports forms, but only when they do not have cards.


ENGLISH ONLY
During the play of a hand all players seated at the table and all spectators shall speak only in the language of the country where the game is being played, regardless of whether or not the player is contesting for the pot. In the United States this means English. During the shuffle and between hands players and spectators may speak in other languages.


RABBIT HUNTING
Rabbit hunting--asking the dealer to show the next card even though an unmatched wager has been made and the hand is over--is prohibited. (Alternate Rule. Rabbit hunting shall be permitted by contributing one minimum betting unit to the next pot, dead money. Second Alternate Rule. Rabbit hunting shall be permitted, however if this permission is abused then the privilege of rabbit hunting shall be revoked. Where rabbit hunting is permitted the card shall not be shown until all live hands have been surrendered to the dealer.)


CARDS REMAIN ON TABLE
All cards must be visible at all times. In button games, a card dealt off the table shall be deemed an exposed card. In Stud games, a card dealt off the table plays, as more fully set forth pursuant to Article 6 of Caro & Cooke's Rules. A player's hand which is removed from sight or has a card dropped on the floor shall be declared dead. If a card falls to the floor for any reason other than being dealt off the table by the dealer, that player's hand is automatically dead.


BACK MAN OUT
Sometimes a game can be spread with the "back man out," meaning that each player in rotation takes a turn sitting out a hand, where there would otherwise not be enough cards to deal the full hand. If the back man out rule is in effect, a table sign indicating this shall be posted, and a dealer button shall be used to indicate the person sitting out the hand, which button shall be advanced one player position each hand. The back man out rule can be used in any poker game where there may not be enough cards to deal all players at the table a hand.


ROVERS
A procedure may be used wherein one player each lap or each pre-determined period of time gives his seat up to the first player on the waiting list. Typically the waiting player replaces one seated player for one lap, then the player to that player's left for the next lap, etc. The point of the rovers rule is to get players into action. It is common in home games, rare in public cardroom games. In public games it is most often used in one or two table cardrooms.




TELEPHONES AT TABLE
Telephone calls at the table, whether on cell-phones or house phones, shall be limited to two minutes. Further no player may speak on the telephone more than six minutes in an hour. If a player is speaking on the phone in violation of this rule the dealer shall deal around him.


PROFANITY, VERBAL ABUSE
Players shall not use profanity or obscenities at the table, or create a disturbance by arguing or shouting.


ANNOUNCING IRREGULARITIES
A player should speak up immediately when he sees an error such as incorrect amount going into the pot or the pot about to be awarded to the wrong person, a card going to the wrong person or a flashed card. A player who knowingly takes advantage of an irregularity to gain an unfair advantage should be disciplined and forfeit any interest in the pot in question.