Mariv/Arvit

Arvit

1. The actual law doesn’t obligate Arvit like it doe Shacharit and Mincha but nonetheless it has been accepted by all of Klal Yisrael to say it daily.

Order of Maariv

1. The minhag is to say VeHu Rachum before Maariv.
2. After one answers Barchu with Kavana that one is going to daven maariv now it’s forbidden to talk with others because it’s considered as if one begun the Brachot of Kriyat Shema.
3. Of the 4 Brachot Kriyat Shema only the first one begins with Baruch the rest don’t begin with Baruch because they are considered Bracha HaSamucha LeChevarta.
4. Some have minhag to change Bracha of Gaal Yisrael ti Melech Tzur Yisrael however it’s preferable not to change the Bracha.
5. There’s a very old minhag to say Yiru Aynenu which a collection of 18 pesukim corresponding to 18 Brachot of Shemona Esreh. (It was established because they used to pray in the fields and had to leave together and so they said this abridged Shemona Esreh together before Kaddish.) However, in Eretz Yisrael and some others have the minhag not to say it.
6. It’s forbidden to interrupt (with speech) between Gaal Yisrael and starting Shemona Esreh just like in Shacharit. However, by Maariv it’s permissible to announce Rosh Chodesh or Yaaleh VeYavo between Kaddish and Maariv (which would be forbidden by Shacharit).
7. If one concludes Shomer Amo Yisrael LeAd together with the Shalich Tzibbur one should answer Amen.

Coming late to Maariv

1. If one comes late to Maariv and one is able to catch up to the tzibbur by Shemona Esreh if one skips Baruch Hashem LeOlam one should do so and skip Baruch Hashem LeOlam in order to say Shemona Esreh with the Tzibbur. After Shemona Esreh one should say Baruch Hashem LeOlam without a conclusion of the Bracha.
2. However if one came too late to catch up just start Shemona Esreh with the Tzibbur and say Shema with the Brachot after the last Barchu after Shemona Esreh. This is all true in a case where one can’t get another minyan afterwards, because if one is able to do so one should do that.

Waiting for someone to finish Arvit

1. If there’s only one person left in shul Davening after Arvit/Maariv at night, one should wait around for that last person so that he isn’t rushed in Davening.
2. Some are strict to wait for the last person Davening even after Shacharit and Mincha.
3. In a shul that’s in the fields one must wait for the last person even after Shacharit and Mincha.
4. However, if the last person Davening is extending his prayers (adding more requests) one doesn’t have to wait for such a person.
5. If the last person Davening entered so late that he couldn’t finish in time to complete Davening with the tzibbur, one doesn’t have to wait for him.