General Poker Tips - mechanics at the table Tip #1: Keep your table space tidy. Stack your chips in denominations and avoid confusion, don't keep a "dirty stack" (mixed denominations). This will make it easy counting your stack so you can spend your energy on the game. Tip #2: Pay attention and follow the action. Do not waste unnecessary chips because you were forced to complete a bet you wouldn't have called had you discovered someone had raised before you or the blinds had gone up. If you make any movement of chips towards the pot (in turn) before the flop, you will be forced to call as a minimum, no matter how small the chip. If someone has raised the pot and you put out 50% or more of the amount required to call, you will be forced to the complete the bet. Tip #3: Think before you act. Determine the size of your bet or raise before you start moving chips towards the pot. Announce your total bet size before or as you move your chips towards the pot. If there is a discrepancy between your verbal announcement and the chips you have physically moved, the verbal announcement will be binding (if otherwise legal). Tip #4: Do not act out of turn. It is inconsiderate and bad etiquette at best, at worst it will give away valuable information to the other players and you will be doing yourself a disservice. For example if you call out of turn, you will not be allowed to raise once the action gets around to you.