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Don't pick your
cards up and hold them close to your chest to look at them. Leave your
cards on the table, cup your hands over them, and bend up the edges of
the cards to look at them. Watch the other players to see how it's done.
The reason for this is a rule that says that no card can cross an imaginary barrier at the edge of the table. If you do move your cards behind the edge of the table, your hand can be ruled dead. Most cardrooms do not strictly enforce this rule at the low-limit tables. But you will be corrected if you do it, and if you persist in doing it, you will eventually have your hand declared dead. Just don't do it.
On a related note, should the dealer accidentally deal your card to you in such a way that it flips off the table onto the floor, do not reach down and pick it up. You are not supposed to touch any card that's off the table. The floorman will come over and pick up the card. The reason for these rules is to protect the integrity of the deck.
Don't ask a friend for advice at the table and don't give advice to a friend, even if one of you is not involved with the pot, or even if your friend isn't playing at the table. Consulting with another person about how to play a hand isn't allowed. Also don't show your hand to another player, even if he is not involved in the pot and even if you are folding.
A string bet is a bet that's made in two motions. It's common in home games to see a player say, "I call your dollar," put a dollar in the pot, then say, "And raise you a dollar," as he reaches into his stack of chips for a second chip. That's a string bet. In a casino, if you're going to raise simply state "raise." Don't say something like "I'll call your bet and raise you." Just say the one word, "Raise," and put all your chips into the pot at one time, not in two motions of your hand.
The reason for this rule is to reduce the chances for players to engage in what's called angle shooting. Without this rule players can call a bet, wait to see your reaction to the call, and if you react in a way that suggests you didn't want to be called, they will raise. Not allowing string bets reduces the opportunity for this kind of unethical move.
The reason for this is a rule that says that no card can cross an imaginary barrier at the edge of the table. If you do move your cards behind the edge of the table, your hand can be ruled dead. Most cardrooms do not strictly enforce this rule at the low-limit tables. But you will be corrected if you do it, and if you persist in doing it, you will eventually have your hand declared dead. Just don't do it.
On a related note, should the dealer accidentally deal your card to you in such a way that it flips off the table onto the floor, do not reach down and pick it up. You are not supposed to touch any card that's off the table. The floorman will come over and pick up the card. The reason for these rules is to protect the integrity of the deck.
Don't ask a friend for advice at the table and don't give advice to a friend, even if one of you is not involved with the pot, or even if your friend isn't playing at the table. Consulting with another person about how to play a hand isn't allowed. Also don't show your hand to another player, even if he is not involved in the pot and even if you are folding.
A string bet is a bet that's made in two motions. It's common in home games to see a player say, "I call your dollar," put a dollar in the pot, then say, "And raise you a dollar," as he reaches into his stack of chips for a second chip. That's a string bet. In a casino, if you're going to raise simply state "raise." Don't say something like "I'll call your bet and raise you." Just say the one word, "Raise," and put all your chips into the pot at one time, not in two motions of your hand.
The reason for this rule is to reduce the chances for players to engage in what's called angle shooting. Without this rule players can call a bet, wait to see your reaction to the call, and if you react in a way that suggests you didn't want to be called, they will raise. Not allowing string bets reduces the opportunity for this kind of unethical move.