• POKER ROOM
• Poker Room
• Getting Started
• Special Features
• Poker Games
• Poker Strategy
• Poker Rules
  • Cardroom Rules
  • Limit Structure
  • Table Rake
  • Prohibited Software
• Poker Hands
• Poker Terms
• Poker Room FAQ

Card Room Rules

1. Unless otherwise stated, all chat at PokerStars tables must be in English. Trivial exceptions (e.g. "Salut!", "gracias") are acceptable. On a small number of tables and in a small number of regional tournaments, chat may be allowed in a particular language and in English.  These tables and tournaments will be clearly labeled.  If you are not comfortable with non-English chat, please do not join these tables or tournaments.
2. Players are expected to chat in a way that would be appropriate in a face-to-face meeting. Abusive, foul, or inappropriate chat will not be tolerated. Players doing this are subject to penalties, including removal of chat for a period of time or permanently. In severe cases, such players may lose their playing privileges.
3. Players may not use the PokerStars chat feature to advertise websites or other commercial services. Such "spamming" may result in loss of chat and/or playing privileges.
4. Players may not type words, characters or phrases into chat that make it difficult for others to use the chat feature. We consider such activity disruptive to our games and do not permit it. Players doing this may lose their chat privileges.
5. Players may not "spam" tables with announcements of private tournaments or sit-and-go events. Such spamming may result in loss of chat, private tournament deployment, and/or playing privileges.
6. In both cash games and tournaments, players who have folded during a hand may not discuss the cards that they folded. This provides unfair information to players still in the hand.
7. In cash games only, players still in a hand may chat about what cards they claim to hold. This is "coffee-housing," which is common in poker. However, players (in the hand or not) may not coach or otherwise suggest how another player should play his hand. For example, it is okay to say "You should call; I'm bluffing." It is not okay to say, "You should call; he's bluffing."
8. In both cash games and tournaments, if there are more than two players left in a pot, players (in the hand or not) may not chat anything that might reasonably be interpreted as affecting the play of the hand. For instance, suppose players A, B, and C are in a hand. A bets, and B is next to act. C may not chat, "I'm going to fold" (whether he intends to fold or not).
9. In case of disputes, PokerStars management decision will be final.