When you walk into a poker room inside a casino for the first time it can be very intimidating. There are sometimes hundreds of people sitting down and dozens of people moving about. Players are moving about, chip runners are exchanging players cash for chips, floor people are settling disputes and calling names on microphones to fill seats. What looks to be a chaotic environment is actually a well developed choreography.

Alright, so the first thing you do is walk into the poker room and look around. Once your nerves have settled a little and your ears have adjusted to the unrelenting clatter of players playing with their chips, the first thing you want to do is walk up to the podium. Every poker room has one. It is usually located right by the entrance of the poker room, sometimes off to the side. Once there you should see a man or woman in a suit. These are referred to as ‘floor people’. If you don’t see one, wait there until a floor person shows up and asks you what you would like to play.

Once the floor person asks you what you would like to play, if you don’t already know, ask them ‘what games are you spreading?’ They will tell you all the games currently being played, both type of game and limit. Once you have made your decision, one of two things will happen. First, will either take you to an unoccupied chair at a table or give you a table number and directions. If the game is full then they will ask for your name and put you on the list. When a seat opens on a game you want to play then they will call the next person on the list. Just wait until they call your name. I wouldn’t recommend wondering off, if they call your name and you don’t respond by the second call they will give our seat to the next person on the list. If you do have to run somewhere for a few minutes ask the floor person if you can give them a twenty dollar bill to lock up the seat. This way if they do call your name and you aren’t there, then they will take your twenty and place it at the table to hold your spot. You will not lose the twenty dollars whether you show or don’t show. It’s just a place holder.

Once you’re at the table you are going to need chips. If it is not busy then there is a good chance the floor person will run and get some chips for you. If not then either the dealer will change it from his rack or he will call a chip runner for you. If there is a player at the table with a large amount of chips in front of him, he will sometimes offer to sell you some chips. If you elect to play before you have chips don’t worry, money plays on poker tables ($100s only) or the dealer will simply say you are behind whatever your buy-in is.

After you have your chips you have to decide when the right time to get in the game is. Many casinos don’t make new players post to come in. If this is the case don’t worry about it and just play as soon as you can. If you have to post to get in the game, I would recommend coming in behind the button. You will have to post the large blind, but by coming in after the button you can start in a relatively good position and avoid having to pay the small blind and playing two hands out of position (first to act before the flop, small and big blind).

Now that you are playing poker here are a few tips to remember.

1) Watch the action and don’t act out of turn. It’s an amateur mistake that gives those acting ahead of you information about your hand.

2) Its not the kitchen table and the people around you probably aren’t old friends, so don’t make rude comments about their play. If the good players at the table can see how to get under your skin, they might try to put you on tilt.

3) Don’t teach people how to play at the table. Don’t correct bad play or tell people what they should have done and why. You are not going to impress people with your knowledge of poker. Besides, why would you want to teach someone how to be a better player while you’re playing them?

4) Its ok to ask the dealer to call cocktails but don’t keep asking him over and over. The dealer can’t just stop the game and get up to find out what is keeping the waitress.

5) Don’t splash the pot. Once again, it’s not the kitchen table at your house. If you don’t know enough not to splash the pot then there is no reason to assume you know how to count correctly either. If you splash the pot the dealer will have to stop the game and break down the pot so he knows if you placed the correct bet. What you want to do is place the bet within the reach of the dealer but not to close to the pot. Stack the chips when you place them don’t spread them around the table.

6) If there is a mistake on the game don’t freak out. Having a temper tantrum or trying to talk over the dealer will not help at all. Most likely the floor person will tell you to be quiet and ask the dealer what happened. Let the dealer and the floor person settle it. Remember the floor person’s decision is final. Incase you were wondering, while mistakes do happen they are very rare.

7) Don’t take the cards off the table.

8) Tip the dealer when you win a pot. These people make their living off tips and they work hard for it.

9) Tip the cocktail waitress when she brings you a drink. If you choose not to, don’t be surprised if she takes her time getting back to you.

10) You are most likely not playing the final table in some huge tournament so don’t take forever to make a decision. Taking a long time to act doesn’t make you thoughtful; it makes you an annoying, indecisive amateur.

11) Do not slow roll. That is where you take your time to turn the winning hand over. It’s rude and those who do it should be taken out back and shot.