Player Conduct

Commentary/Inadvertently Taking Away Someone's Advantage

At no time should any player or non-player make comments on a hand which may aid one or more players. Examples of unacceptable comments include:

• Folding before the flop, and then proclaiming upon seeing the flop, "Rats, I should've stayed in the hand." - In this example, that player just gave information to the other players regarding what cards he may have held, and potentially taken away someone's advantage.
• Upon seeing the full board, exclaiming, "Wow, a 7-2 looks pretty good now." - That person has just pointed something out to players who may otherwise not have noticed and thereby potentially taken away someone's advantage.
• Upon seeing the board, announcing, "Two hole spades makes a flush!" - In this case, a player may have thought he had the nuts with three of a kind, and now he realizes that someone else could actually beat him.
• Upon seeing the board, exclaiming, "Wow, there are a ton of different ways to have a really good hand!"
• Upon seeing the board, announcing, "There's no way that anyone can have a straight or flush."
• Upon seeing the board, announcing, "Looks like three of a kind is the best possible hand."
• After a player bets all in, announcing, "He was pot committed, he didn't need to improve to go all in."
• After a player bets all in, announcing, "The best strategy to eliminate players is to check to the river once someone is all in."

A common response to this guideline might be, "I'm only pointing out what is obvious to everyone." A) In many cases, it actually wasn't obvious to those involved in the hand because they are concentrating on their hand. B) If it's obvious, then it doesn't need to be said.

The only exception to this rule is when two players are involved in heads up play. Those two players, and only those two players, may use whatever techniques they wish to win the hand. If they make a comment, they can only hurt themselves.