I recently asked a fellow poker dealer if he would be interested in doing some writing about poker. After he admitted he can write, I asked him if he would be interested in writing an article for me about what poker players expect from poker dealers. We recently played on the same poker table (4/8 Limit) at a local casino here in Calgary, and since we both have worked in the casino industry for many years, we are both quick to notice things about poker dealers that others would not generally see. Like any trade, poker dealers will closely watch their counter-parts in the same profession, to see what their habits, their strengths, and their weaknesses are. Not necessarily for any mathematical or strategic edge in the game, but to gauge and compare their own skills and habits, and then to re-analyze there own abilities. I know from experience that past or presently employed poker dealers can be some of the most critical players on the table. On the flip side, there are a lot of players that work in the casino industry and are the exact reverse. They tip better, they will defend you when someone is in your face, and a lot of former poker dealers will quickly take a dealers side and re-assure them that everything is fine and to continue doing a great job.

Now the real reason for writing this article is not to talk about what players expect from dealers, but just the opposite. I've read article after article about what constitutes a good poker dealer. They all generally say the same things, and with any sound reasoning it would not be hard to determine what would make a good dealer from the eyes of a player or the eyes of casino management. But lets talk about players this time. From a poker dealer's perspective, there are a lot of habits of poker players that can be deemed good or bad. I've never read anything on this point of view, and my co-worker suggested it so I will attempt it.

What do poker dealers expect from poker players?

I am talking about basic poker etiquette. There is a lot of material on poker etiquette that can be found on the internet or elsewhere, but I will cut straight to the chase and talk about what a dealer wants or expects from a player. This is an insight that comes from many years of pitching cards in poker rooms and from thousands of conversations with former and present co-workers in the business.

You might be surprised to learn that "tips" are not always the most essential expectation in a standard 7 hour shift. Yes, its always on the mind of a dealer, but unless a dealer is working an over-night shift, they know that the tips they make will be pooled with everyone else. The reason I am engaging this idea first is that it is true that a lot of poker dealers are thinking about the tips constantly. Do we expect tips from players? It think it is fair to say that most of us do, but perhaps for different reasons. Tipping your dealer in the poker room is a standard practice and custom. It is not mandatory, and if players don't tip, they shouldn't be treated any differently. All of us know that players will in fact be treated differently when they don't tip. Human nature will tell you that. Even though this article is about players, I would encourage all poker dealers to avoid the temptation to treat people differently based on tips. It's a simple catch-22. As soon as you treat someone with less respect than the others at the table, that person will remember you forever and is very unlikely to give you a tip in the future. Remaining friendly and courtious will increase your chances of getting a tip later. But this is not where I wanted to go with this. The other reason that dealers expect tips from players is for providing fast, accurate, and friendly service. This is generally how it works in other service industries, and most players will agree that if someone is doing a good job and working hard to provide you with the best experience and treating you well, then it is easier to tip that person versus someone with the opposite traits. Let's move on to some other points.

When a new player sits down at a table, a poker dealer can usually determine what skill level a person has by the way they handle their chips, by the language that they use and how they interact with the other players. We can tell instantly how much experience a person has had playing in a casino poker room. Poker dealers expect better etiquette from experienced players and are a lot more forgiving of the players that are not as familiar with the game. One example of this is the rule about acting in turn. Players must only act when it is their turn. This is a rule that is enforced by all poker dealers. The problem is that some players do not pay attention to the game so they need to be constantly reminded. There are others that deliberately act out of turn (angling). These are a poker dealers worst nightmare. Why? No one wants to constantly scold a player for doing something that they shouldn't do. Unfortunately it comes with the job and can't be avoided. When we remind a player to wait their turn, we hope they will be cordial about it. The good players will accept their advisement graciously and attempt to refrain from the same infraction in the future. The bad players will immediately take offense to any charges and will make unnecessary comments to defend their actions. Yes, there are times when a player is unable to see another players cards - thus the visual impairment caused the foul. In these cases a good dealer will be understanding and tolerant. Many times a player will defend his position and be correct. There is nothing wrong with defending yourself when a dealer is correcting you. We would hope that with any confusion, players would talk with a respectful tone, and of course it is required of the dealers as well.

I can't list every infraction that a player can make, nor should I list every expectation in regards to the game, it's not necessary here. I will however bring up one other point. Players are infamous for throwing in their chips haphazardly. Poker dealers expect to be able to count the chips without having to re-stack them every time. It just slows down the game. Putting in your chips neatly, especially when there are a lot of raises, will go a long way to making a poker dealers night a little easier. Messy chip tossing will only aggravate a dealer.

Short List Of Expectations:

- Follow the rules
- Stack chips neatly and refrain from splashing the pot
- Not argue unnecessarily
- Inform us if something is incorrect without delay
- Follow instructions
- Be polite
- Learn to lose gracefully
- Control your drinking
- Refrain from angling
- Be patient
- Avoid cursing continuously
- Work with us - not against us
- Tip if you feel we deserve it

Having played many hours of poker myself there is a flip side to all of these points and of course you and I both expect a lot from dealers in the same regards. With any luck, some of these points will be taken seriously. I have met a lot of players that are more than exemplary when it comes to their behaviors in the poker room. These players go unrecognized, and its a shame that they can not be rewarded for their level of benevolence. The good poker dealers know who you are and appreciate you! If there is anything that I could say to steer someone in the right path its just a simple truth - "A smile goes a long way".

Good Luck - see you on the tables!
Kevin

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