You wouldnt be a jerk at a poker table in Las Vegas. So dont be one online. While the anonymity of the Internet may make a game of online poker seem particularly informal, dont be fooled. Whether people are playing for fun or serious business, theres certain etiquette to follow. A lot of whats considered appropriate behavior holds true for all poker games, both online and in the real world. Just follow these guidelines and apply a little common sense, and youll fit right in at the online table.

DONT keep your fellow players waiting. Keep the game moving! If others are becoming annoyed at waiting for you because you cant act in a timely manner, perhaps you should be at the table in the first place. If youre experiencing a bad connection or hardware problems, its polite to drop out rather than drag the game down.

DO take your time. This may seem like a contradiction to the first DONT, but its not. Just make sure you have enough time, within reason, to think about what you are doing or youll start making mistakes.

DONT give advice to your fellow players. Not only is it bad strategy, its also annoying and quite rude.

DO keep your playing style varied. This is good advice for any poker player. Keep playing the same way over and over, and eventually a decent opponent will pick up on it and use your repetition against you.

DONT jump in and out of a game after winning. Its not even allowed on several sites, but some less-likable players will buy in at the minimum, when a pot, jump out, and then buy back in with the minimum. Its poor playing and its not going to earn you any respect at the table.

DO sign up for bonuses and rewards whenever you can, but dont get obsessed. While a quick boost to your bankroll is certainly attractive, you might find that youll make more money in the long run staying in one place. Of course, some deals are just too good to pass up.

DONT play tired. The great thing about online poker is that its being played at all times of the day and night. Wait until youre rested before logging on. Youll play better and your bankroll will have a better chance of getting bigger.

DO play for free until youre comfortable with a sites games and software. Understanding how everything works improves your chances of winning when you do move on to real cash, and helps keep everyone else from curing your name because youre holding up the game with rookie mistakes.

DONT ask other players to check if another player is all-in. Once again, some sites dont allow it, and its still bad form.

DO enjoy yourself. Remember, its only a game. While its true that real money is at stake, dont bet more than you can afford and consider any losses the cost of a few hours of entertainment. And hey, if you happen to win some, all the better, right?