Manners at play
A few courtesies that make an evening at the tables pleasanter for everyone, whether a regular or a first-time guest.
“Courtesy costs nothing”
Manners at a card table are largely a matter of attention. A guest who notices what is happening at the table, what the dealer is doing and how the neighbours are feeling will seldom put a foot wrong. The following courtesies are not rules, since I shall never enforce them; they are what the regulars do, and what visitors are invited to copy.
The most important is patience. Everyone at the table was a beginner once, and some are beginners now. A hesitation, a mistaken chip or a question that has been asked before is no cause for sighing. The lounge has a reputation for friendliness, and it is kept by small acts of kindness at the table.
The second is restraint. A cheer for a good hand is welcome, a groan at a bad one is understandable, and running commentary on another person's cards is a nuisance. Win quietly, lose cheerfully, and leave the post-mortem for the tea afterwards, where it is always welcome.
“The small courtesies”
- Greet the people either side of you when you sit down; a nod is enough.
- Keep your chips in neat stacks where the dealer can see them, and leave other people's alone.
- Hold your cards low and close, and do not look at anyone else's.
- Act in turn, and take a moment if you need one; nobody will mind a short pause.
- Let the dealer gather and straighten the chips. Reaching across the baize rarely helps.
- Keep your voice at the level of the table next to yours, and take telephone calls in the hall.
- Congratulate a good hand sincerely, and take a bad one with a smile.
- Do not coach another player unless you have been asked; a stranger's advice is a heavy thing.
- Tell the dealer if you are leaving the table, and thank the dealer when you do.
- Leave your place tidy: cups on the tray, cards in the middle and the chair pushed in.
- Take disagreements to the dealer quietly, and to the manager afterwards if they are not resolved.
- Say goodnight to the table when you go. It is a small thing, and it is always noticed.