Pokakure: The Book of the Poker Samurai

[nanoking]

The proper manner of poker is nothing other than not being careless. But in this way one's play will simply be sluggish and stiff. One should go beyond this and depart from the norm.

You cannot tell whether a player is good or bad by his stacks of chips. Good and bad fortune are matters of fate. Good and bad actions are Man's Way. Retribution of good and evil is taught simply as a moral lesson.

When mucking your cards push them firmly across the table and if possible hand directly to the dealer.

Regardless of stakes, a person who plays above their limit will at some point commit mean or cowardly acts. In the lower limits there are even people who will run away. One should be careful with menials and the like.

A poker player should not bet something fainthearted even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in calling the depths of one’s heart can be seen.

When a cardroom is extremely busy and someone comes in thoughtlessly with some question or another, often there are people who will treat him coldly and become angry. This is not good at all. At such times, the etiquette of a poker player is to calm himself and deal with the person in a good manner. To treat a person harshly is the way of the low limits.

A person who is said to be proficient at poker is like a fool. Because of his foolishness in concerning himself with just one thing, he thinks of nothing else and thus becomes proficient. He is a worthless player.