Crushing It at the Casino: A Newbie

Well, have no fear! I'm about to dish out a quick primer on how to fit right in without breaking a sweat. Just to be clear, I'm not gonna dive into the nitty-gritty of poker tactics – there's plenty of resources for that jazz, like articles, tutorial vids, and even my own book, ""Winning Poker in 30 Minutes A Day."" But stick to these 12 insider tips and you'll be bluffing and raising with confidence in no time.

Settle in, shuffle up, and let's get you ready to bluff your way to the big leagues at the next $500k XL Main Event on February 16.

1. Embrace Your Newbie Status

Everyone was the new kid on the block once. There's zero shame in just starting out. The real pros out there, they get it – they'll cut you some slack if you fumble a bit. It's only the real punks that might give you grief, but you know what? Brush 'em off. If they were truly all that, they'd be bustling to welcome fresh blood to the table with open arms.

2. Master the Card Peek

If you're like me, you've probably been all lax with your cards at home games, maybe even tossing them in your lap. But in the casino's poker room, it’s serious business. They're on high alert for cheaters, so there are rules to follow. No dipping your cards below the table or flashing them around like a Las Vegas marquee. You gotta guard them like they're the secret to eternal youth. So here's what you do: just bend the corner of your cards up with your right hand and use your left to shield that peek from your nosy opponents. A little practice and you'll nail it faster than you can say ""royal flush.""

3. Keep it in Turn

Taking your turn should be as easy as pie if you just keep your eyes peeled on the action. Jumping the gun or zoning out when it's your turn is not only a party foul but also super annoying for everyone else. You don’t wanna be that person asking, ""Is it my go?"" Just remember, action goes around the table clockwise, one by one. Keep track, and act when it's your time – simple as that.

4. Don't Stall the Game

Your move? Make it snappy. Sure, if you're in a real pickle, take a moment to think – that's totally cool. But don't make every play a drawn-out drama. No getting lost in lala land, no chitchat mid-play, and for the love of the game, keep your phone tucked away unless you’re already folded. When you’re in the thick of it, stay sharp and focused on the game, because that's where the magic happens.

5. Keep Your Poker Moves Under Wraps Until It's Your Turn

Okay, so there are a couple of no-no's I've seen folks do at the table that you've gotta avoid. First thing is grabbing or fingering your chips like you're about to throw down a bet before it's even your turn . Big giveaway! And another thing, don't even think about hovering your cards ready to toss 'em in for a fold. That's just telegraphing your moves, and you might as well shout out what you're gonna do. Savvy players will catch on and use that intel to their advantage, so play it cool and wait your turn.

6. Sling Your Chips in One Fell Swoop

Rule of thumb in the poker room: no ""string bets."" That's when you bet in dribs and drabs instead of all at once, and trust me, it's a big no-go. You gotta push your bet or raise in one smooth motion. In the movies, you see players tossing chips with a ""I bet this..."" and then they toss some more with ""...and raise you that."" Looks cool? Maybe. Legal in a poker room? Nope. Think about what you're willing to stake in total, then announce your move clearly. ""I raise to $30,"" then go ahead and slide those chips without any back and forth from your stack.

7. Don't Squirrel Away Your Winnings

Dipping into your stack and pocketing a few chips? That's what they call ""ratholing,"" and it's a big taboo in the casino world. When lady luck smiles on you and those chips come your way, they gotta stay out in the open, on the table. You can only gather up your winnings to stash away when you're calling it quits for the night.

8. Save Your Questions for the Dealer After the Hand

Hey, I get it, we're not all poker wizards. Questions are bound to bubble up while you're sitting there, cards in hand. But, do yourself and everyone else a favor, and hold onto those questions until after the hand wraps up. If you're bursting to ask something , take it to the floorperson, the poker room manager, or wait for a better moment. Dealers have enough on their plate handling the game; you don't want to throw them off with a chit-chat during the action.

9. Don't Be That Person Who Forgets the Blinds

This one's about keeping the game moving. In games like Hold'em and Omaha, you got blinds – those forced bets that need to be thrown in before cards are dealt. Keep the game flowing smooth like a river by posting your small or big blind when it's your turn, without someone having to remind you. It's just good poker etiquette.

10. Poker's a Solo Mission – Keep It That Way

When you're peeking at your cards, that's a one-person show – no sharing with the audience. It's awesome to have your pals rooting for you at the table, but they shouldn't be in on your hand or your betting strategy while the hand's in play. Keep your game to yourself, and let your friends just be your cheer squad from the sidelines.

Keep It Chill When You Take the Chips

So, you just nailed a killer hand, and you're itching to do a victory dance, right? Nah, just play it cool. Rubbing it in by throwing a party at the table is only gonna rub folks the wrong way – especially the poor soul who just lost their stack to you. Just rake in those chips nice and easy, stack 'em up, and keep your head in the game. There's more poker to be played, my friend.

Don't Be That ""Slow Roll"" Show-off

Okay, so you've seen it in the flicks – the whole drumroll, suspenseful card flip that has everyone at the edge of their seats. Pretty cool in a buddy game at home, but at the casino? Not so much. This ""slow roll"" move is just bad form in a legit poker room. You gotta be straight-up respectful.

When the moment comes, flip those cards pronto, win or lose. If you're on the calling end of the final bet cnn, wait for your opponent to show their hand, then lay yours out, too. Drop that winning hand on the table, but let's keep the theatrics out of it, yeah?

Hey, don't get me wrong, these tips won't suddenly make you the poker king. But what they will do is save you from some red-faced moments and keep you from ticking off the poker veterans while you're getting a grip on the fine art of swiping their chips.

I'm telling ya, I've been at this poker game for a long half-century and spilling the beans about it since the year '00. I've got my name on a bunch of articles, kicked off some books like ""Winning 7-Card Stud"" and the fresh-off-the-press ""Winning Poker in 30 Minutes A Day."" I'm even behind the mic at the poker radio gig, House of Cards. Check out www.houseofcardsradio.com – they've got the lowdown on when and where you can catch me and all the poker talk you can handle.