Whether you are new to poker or an experienced player, we ask that you extend the same courtesies to fellow players that you would wish to be extended to yourself. Like many games, poker involves a variety of rules of etiquette. We hope the notes below will help you have a more enjoyable experience in the World Poker Exchange card rooms.

Depending on your comfort level, you may want to start out in the lower-limit games to get used to the software. If you wish to enter a full table, place your name on the waiting list; the software will alert you when a seat becomes available. If a table is empty for the game and limit you wish to play, feel free to have a seat—chances are you won’t have to wait long for others to join you.

Our software will not allow you to sit at a table with less than 10 times the lowest betting limit. For example, at a $5/$10 table, the minimum buy-in would be $50. However, many players choose to start with a larger amount, as it provides more freedom to bet aggressively with a strong hand, and also reduces the number of times a player has to buy more chips.

Though many decisions are clear-cut, occasionally you will find yourself needing a bit of time to decide what action to take. This is allowed, and does not violate the rules of poker etiquette. When your decision is clear-cut, however, you can pre-select your action by clicking the appropriate box near the bottom of the table window (this is particularly advisable in the case of folding a weak hand). This will enable the game to be played at a pace that is enjoyable for everyone at the table.

World Poker Exchange allows you to play at multiple tables simultaneously—try that in your local cardroom. This practice helps reduce the downtime between folding and being dealt the next hand, which can be particularly significant for tight players who play few hands. When playing at multiple tables, however, you should keep the following in mind:

• You must have enough money in your account to purchase chips at your chosen tables. Once you are seated at a table, you cannot transfer funds to another table.
• Before buying in at more than one table, make sure you are comfortable with the software, as there will be times when it is necessary for you to act on more than one hand at a time. If you are slowing the pace of a game or games by playing at multiple tables, the dealer may ask you to leave one or more of the tables.

Chatting while playing can make the game more enjoyable, but can also be a distraction to others. On occasion, you may find yourself frustrated by a bad beat, the play of another player, or even personal issues unrelated to the game. Regardless, it is important not to be verbally abusive to other players or to use inappropriate language at the table. Should your chat be reported to or viewed by management as abusive or offensive, your chat function will be disabled and your playing privileges may be revoked. We ask that all chat be in English only and that the use of excessive capitalization be avoided, as such use tends to give the impression that you are shouting. It is perfectly acceptable to pop in and say hello while watching a game in which you are not involved, though you are requested to keep your chat to a minimum in order to avoid distracting the players at the table.

Never give any indication of the contents of your hand until that hand is complete, even if you have folded. By expressing frustration at having folded a hand that would have taken the pot, for example, you may be giving others at the table knowledge that key cards are no longer in play, thereby possibly altering the outcome of the hand. Encouraging others to act in a certain way that could change the outcome of a hand should also be avoided.

You may find it necessary to attend to other things while playing in a game. It is completely acceptable to sit out one or more hands, reserving your seat for when you return. However, you will be removed from the table after missing three big blinds or 30 hands. If you suspect that you will be away from the table for this length of time, it is considerate to leave the table in order to make your seat available to another player. If you simply get up from your computer in the middle of a hand, your hand will be folded.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our support team at support@worldpx.com