Being known as a friendly player in the poker world will help you in the long run. Although there are some professional players who are known for their arrogance and annoying chatter: Mike "The mouth" Matusow, Phil "The Brat" Helumth, and Men "The Master" Nguyen are a few players known for being chatty, and sometimes annoying, at the table. There is nothing wrong with light banter, but avoid being negative. No one likes a whiner, and playing this way encourages others to try to take you out, just because they don't like you. Here are a few etiquette guidelines to keep you in positive favor with fellow poker players:

Poker Etiquette Tip #1: Don't Tap the aquarium
If a 'fish' is playing poorly, the worst thing you can do is 'tap the aquarium' by informing him of how bad he is playing, and what you would do different if you were him. Things like "you played 73 offsuit under the gun, are you nuts?" or "You cold called 3 bets on the turn with a gut shot... you are a 12 to 1 dog you know". These things will only negatively effect the game. Either the fish will start playing better (which no one wants) or they will be uncomfortable and leave (which no one wants). Its better to keep your mouth shut and let the bad players continue to believe they are good.

Poker Etiquette Tip #2: Take bad beats like a man (or woman)!
When you take a bad beat, its easy to get steamed, and start spouting reason why your opponent shouldn't have called. The truth is, your opponent calling when she shouldn't is exactly what you want to see at the table! When you get out-drawn, congratulate your opponent, or at the very least, say nothing. Simply make a note of that 'weak' play, and continue on your game. I actually enjoy taking bad beats, because it allows me to get a read on the weak players at the table.

Poker Etiquette Tip #3: Don't try to 'outplay' weak opponents.
Sandbagging, or acting weak when you are strong, to trap an opponent, can be a good strategy when playing solid players, who will sense weakness, and try to push you out of a pot. Against beginning players, or just plain bad players, however, sandbagging, or getting tricky not only isn't nice, but your opponents won't even understand your great 'plays'. Stick with a very basic strategy. Not only will it win you the most money, but you won't have a table full of angry players.

Poker Etiquette Tip #4: Its not the dealers fault!
Blaming the dealer for a string of bad cards simply shows that you don't believe poker is a game of skill. Every player will get a run of bad cards, and changing dealers won't help. Asking for a deck change, or a wash of the cards only wastes time, and won't improve your poker game. If you are getting frustrated, take a break for a few minutes, and go for a walk, or grab a (non alcoholic) beverage.

Poker Etiquette Tip #5: Don't splash the pot
Splashing the pot means to put a bet/call/raise in, and having some or all of your chips hitting the pot. This is simply poor gambling skills. It can be seen as a sign of cheating, if you do it consistently, because it is often difficult to make sure that you made the correct bet amount if you throw it into the pot. A common poker tell is watching how your opponent makes his bet. Avoid doing this yourself by betting the same way every time. Personally, I will grab a stack of chips with my hand, and place the entire stack down on the felt, sectioning off the chips in their appropriate order. This prevents pot splashing, and also prevents string betting, as I do this all in one motion. Often players who are throwing their chips into the pot will miss count their chips, and won't have put in enough chips, which could result in a raise being considered a call by the dealer.

Poker Etiquette Tip #6: Don't fold like a quarterback!
In the same way that you use your chips, you should also use your cards. Don't fling your folded cards at the dealer, as this could cause them to turn face up, or even cause them to land off the table. This can be extremely annoying to other players, and it simply un-professional. Until you become experienced with the cards, simply sliding them over to the dealer is the easiest way to fold.

Poker Etiquette Tip #7: No string bets
A string bet is a bet that takes place in two parts. You will often see an old poker movie, showing an old man in a cowboy hat stating "I Call...." then a 10 second pause "And I raise you another ten thousand..." This is the classic string bet. It is used by some to judge the likely hood that their opponent will fold. It is simply not allowed at any professional poker game. IF you are going to raise, you must either call 'raise', or put the raise into the pot in one motion. Once your hand leaves the 'pot' area, it cannot go back to your stack for more chips.

Poker Etiquette Tip #8: Don't show your hands to players, or discuss your hand during play.
Showing a hand to a fellow player is rude. It is also bad poker strategy. He or she didn't pay to see your hand, so why are you showing it? If the dealer catches you showing your hand, they can open up your hand for the table to see. Use the 'show one show all' theory. If you are going to show someone your hand, just show the entire table. If you are looking to get some more action, and want to show a bluff, put the cards face up on the table for all to see.

Poker Etiquette Tip #9: Let the other players Play
If other players want your opinion, they will ask for it! There is nothing worse then getting advice from a player you didn't ask for advice from. Not only it is terribly rude, but it is not good poker. I've often seen players beat a player, then give him advice on what he did wrong! How insane is that? Do you NOT want to win? Your goal as a poker player is to play better then your opponents. By giving him advice, even if it is correct advice, you are recommending to him that he STOP playing poorly, and hurting your ability to take money from him. My advice is simply to say "nice try", or "almost had me" or something to that regard.

Poker Etiquette Tip #10: Be a gracious loser, AND winner
Whether you have a great night, or a terrible one, take it in stride. The only thing worse then an angry losing player is a cocky and arrogant winning player. Something like 'I ran really lucky tonight' will help your bad opponents continue to feel that they are not bad players, just unlucky ones. To quote a Thomas Austin Preston, "You can sheer a sheep many times, but skin him only once". Remember, you want your bad opponents to continue to play with you, even though you are constantly winning their money. Try to do whatever it takes to make then comfortable when you are playing, especially if you leave a big winner.