A little bit of friendly advice…learn these etiquette rules. Study and memorize them and put them into practice at every land-based Poker session.

There's nothing in this great big Poker universe that gives you away quicker than not observing these rules. The experienced players at the table will instantly peg you as a novice and eat you alive.

Not bad strategy if you're trying to down play your poker ability by acting dumb, but by now you're probably used to playing cards with two good hands.

• At the table if you feel the need to chat to the fellow players keep it brief and light. Resist the temptation to critique another player's poker ability, aggravate fellow players, or use profanity. There's no need for it and it is very grade school.
   
• Keep a cool and level head at all times. No need to argue and shout at one another. It only creates a disturbance and reflects badly on your professionalism.
   
• Dealing a Poker game can be stressful for a lot of dealers. They work long and hard and mostly for minimum wage. They deserve a little respect. So what if you're having a lousy day at the table, it's not the dealer's fault. They don't deserve or need you're aggravation or disrespect.
   
• Do not throw your cards at the dealers. And please, don't try and disguise you're displeasure with a dealer by speaking to the rest of the table in a voice loud enough for them to hear. Dealers aren't deaf and they certainly aren't dumb.
   
• Be polite with the way you handle your chips as well. Place the chips close enough for the dealer to rake them in and don't stack your chips so that it interferes with the dealing. These are ways to create a better flow in the game.
   
• Don't stall when it comes your turn to play. You're not being clever, it's a waste of time and it's real bad manners. What would your Momma say?
   
• When you spot an indiscretion at the table, don't be too shy to speak up. We're all human and sometimes we can make a mistake by placing an incorrect bet. Maybe the pot is going to be awarded to the wrong player. Who knows? If it doesn't look or feel right, speak up.
   
• Show you're hand right away when you think you're going to win the pot. Don't make the dealer ask you to show you're hand. It really does show your inexperience and slows the game down to a crawl.
   
• Don't deliberately splash the pot, act out of turn, or reveal your hand before the betting is complete when you're all in.
   
• When you're going to leave the table, tell the floor person. Keep your playing space in an orderly way. Don't clutter up the area with a bunch of unnecessary objects. You're cash, chips and a card cover token will suffice.
   
• Exercise your common sense and do what you can to make the game run as smoothly as possible. Everyone will appreciate your efforts.

Oh yea, don't forget to smile every once and awhile and have fun. It could be worse. You could be playing Bingo.