Hi all, It is my first time playing poker live at a casino and have some questions about etiquette.

1) May sound stupid, but I don’t want to look like a rookie, but where do you put the chip racks after you sit down at a table?

2) When I want to leave what is the proper etiquette of cashing out?

1. That's actually a pretty good question. I do the same most others do: put the empty racks on an empty tray or under the table but that's certainly not the preferred way to do it.

2. You put the chips back into the rack and take them to the cashier where you got them from. If you got them from a chip runner you look around to see where other people take them. That's the cashier.

Unsolicited advice: verbalize all action to avoid any misunderstandings.

The answer to all new player questions is to say, "I've never played live before, what do I do?" It makes absolutely no difference if you "look like a rookie".

1) there's usually an area near the cage or on a counter where there are a bunch of racks, or you can slide it in back of your chair if it fits so you'll have one when you leave or you can do what most people do just throw in on the floor under the table (or anywhere on the floor in the poker room is usually standard).

2) You don't have to do or say anything. Just get up when you wanna leave. If you're friendly with the people there, jus say "good luck, have a good one".

Also, come back after the session to let us know how it went if you want to.

Some more unsolicited advice.

Act in turn. Don't fold prematurely, don't bet prematurely. Don't start collecting your calling chips before action's on you. Wait until it's your turn to give away information about what you're going to do.

Don't talk about the hand in progress. Don't react when a flop hits your folded hand. Don't talk about what you think a bettor has when there's still other players in the hand.

Good luck, hope you enjoy your first trip. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Unsolicited advice
If you lose your first buy in or two @ 1/2NL then you should Move up to where they respect your raises

Warms my heart to see this advice, really long since last time.

I don't think telling people/dealer that this is your first time playing in a Poker room is a mistake. They will help correct your "breaches" usually with a warning or cutting you some slack. Just be sure to also let them know you have played on line and house games and know how to play poker.

Most players also leave right before they have to pay the big blind again.

If you have any questions, ask the dealers, not the players.

You don't need to ask the dealers for change, they will make it.

Pay attention to when it's your blind and post it.

Be mindful of tipping the dealers, unless you are against that sort of thing.

Turn your hand over at the end, even if you may think you are losing.

Good luck!

I actually think it's better to make your action with your chips. In PLO you always get these dumbasses who say 'call' without moving any chips. Half the time everyone thinks they said 'pot' especially in a noisy room it all sounds the same.

The best way to fold is to muck your cards. The best way to call is to put chips in. The best way to raise is to put the chips in in one motion, etc.

Pretty sure you will make more money if you look like a rookie.

Yep. It's hugely +ev if people think you're bad when you're actually good.

It's always better to do both, and make sure they match.

I doubt he'll be playing PLO, but there it's better to clearly say raise, then how much (pot or a number).

Stack your chips in stacks of 20 (or more if you are winning a lot). Chip stacks of 10 make you look like a rookie.

Don't cover your eyes with sunglasses or anything else if possible.

Don't worry about looking like a newbie. The experienced players had you made within the first orbit. Things like 1) how long does the player take to act, 2) how aware is the player of the action around them, 3) how does the player stack and handle their chips, and 4) how comfortable is the players body language all give clear indications when a player is new to a cardroom (though not necessarily new to poker).

So, lean in. Say this is your first time. Ask advice. Have fun

I have seen this advice a lot, but I always use stacks of ten (easier for me to cut out bets, less likely to knock them over).

This is a bad take.

Also, be conversive with the other players instead of wearing headphones and staring into your phone the entire time. You'll have a lot more fun that way.

When you bet, it has to be in one motion otherwise it's considered a string bet (whatever chips you put out first are gonna be the bet). If you verbalize your bets before hand (make sure the dealer hears you and acknowledges it) then you can place them out however you want. Verble is binding.

or a tight nit

For tournaments, the current TDA rules actually recommend to use "clean vertical stacks of 20 same denomination chips each as a standard".

In cash games you can do whatever you want, as long as higher denomination chips are visible at all times.

1) Don't be a slob just because you are not at home. You can sometimes store one rack in the bend of your chair .. otherwise put it on a side/drink table or walk it back to the counter. You can also put them on a table that's not being used .. please don't toss under the table so they make noise when kicked, forcing a Brush/Floor to get down there and pick them up.

2) In years gone by a Player would announce 'last orbit' or similar .. not sure why as it alerts the table to possibly change how they play you, knowing the chips are leaving the table. Just grab/ask for a rack and start to gather them a hand or two ahead of leaving. Some rooms will not let you play out of a rack more than a couple hands up to a full orbit.

Not sure why .. but some Players will pay both Blinds and then leave after playing their Button. While this is sort of courteous to the next Player, it really doesn't make sense to pay the Blinds and only get one hand benefit from it. I leave 2 hands after the Button but I'm not even really sure why I picked that as 'max value' is to leave just before you are to be the Big Blind.

If you want to rile up the Player to your left that loves to Straddle, then wait until the last minute to announce 'No Cards' when you're going to be the BB, thus preventing them from Straddling this orbit! It's fun .. especially if you are a Reg and know the Player.

IMO Players are much more understanding of newbies these days, knowing the game needs to grow .. hopefully the room you go to is the same.

I stack my chips in 10s or 15s .. and build a nice pyramid with them when I have a lot. I don't like to color up and I don't like to give other Players change unless the Dealer asks for it. I want to win my big chips, not get them on exchange! Yes, it's a stupid thing, but there are Players out there with much worse idioms/superstitions than that! GL

do not, and i can't emphasize this enough, do not bring a pee cup

Be aware of the rules for calling vs raising. For example if a player facing actions puts out an oversized chip without a verbal declaration, this is a call. For instance if you are playing a 1/3 game and the first player to act silently puts in a green ($25) chip, it is a call by rule. If that player wanted to raise to $25, he would have to say “raise” or “raise 25”. To raise to a lower amount he would have to say “raise 15” (or whatever amount) a just saying raise makes it 25.

Another situation: if you put multiple chips out and taking away any one of them makes the amount insufficient to call, this would be a call not a raise. For example, in a 1/3 game, player A min raises to $6, player B puts out 2 red chips silently. Player B has called the $6 bet. To raise to $10 he must verbalize.

This is why the advice given above to always verbalize your intent is good. If you are unaware of rules such as these, you may not get the action you intend. Verbalizing (in addition to chip motion) will ensure correct action

Depends are much more discreet.

taller pee cups can be used discreetly with minimum splash. 90% of the time neighbors don't notice. if they do, tell the dealer it's your first time.

depends are a pricy option and it adds up. when you factor in rake and the occasional dealer tip live play becomes -ev.

pee cup > depends > nothing imo.. if you miss the bbj you will kill yourself.