These are generally accepted rules of poker etiquette taken from Robert's rules of poker.

If you look closely you will see that any statement which can alter the play of a hand in action, true or false, made by a player in or out of action before the showdown is against these rules. Now there are certainly some rules I doubt anyone online will ever be held to like using the cell phone at the table. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Some rules are discretionary but in general practice revealing cards or commenting to influence play during a live hand is prohibited and not an option of management discretion. Those which are optional affect things like smokeing or casino and area specific items.

In general casinos and online card rooms strive to maintain the integrity of poker rules across sites which make enforcement and player knowledge an easier undertaking.

If you want to know the specific rules for games at various online sites they will usually have them posted or linked to a page on the primary web site.

From Robert's....
POKER ETIQUETTE

The following actions are improper, and grounds for warning, suspending, or barring a violator:

Deliberately acting out of turn.

Deliberately splashing chips into the pot.

Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in.

Reading a hand for another player at the showdown before it has been placed faceup on the table.

Telling anyone to turn a hand faceup at the showdown .

Revealing the contents of a live hand in a multihanded pot before the betting is complete. Do not divulge the contents of a hand during a deal even to someone not in the pot, so you do not leave any possibility of the information being transmitted to an active player.

Needlessly stalling the action of a game.

Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck . Cards should be released in a low line of flight, at a moderate rate of speed (not at the dealer's hands or chip-rack).

Stacking chips in a manner that interferes with dealing or viewing cards.

Making statements or taking action that could unfairly influence the course of play, whether or not the offender is involved in the pot.

Using a cell phone at the table.

Monty