As with anything new in someone's life - whether it's a new job, or a new recipe or even a new game, you have to learn about it before you can say you understand it. Same thing goes for poker.

I love to play the game, but at one time I knew nothing about it and boy did I make some mistakes! Have a seat, sit back and have a laugh or two as you read the 5 dumbest things I ever did at a poker table, and hopefully it will save some other newbie from making the same stupid mistakes that I did.

Dumbest Move #1 - I sat down at a table in a local casino with my $50. I was ready to play. But half way through the first hand, I couldn't even make the bet! Why? Well, because at the time I didn't know that poker tables have different table limits. And I was sitting at a table that had a $10/$20 limit.

So I was able to ante up, and I had a great hand, 3 kings with an Ace kicker and I didn't have enough cash to play the way I should of. I ended up losing the hand anyways to a full house but if I had enough cash to back myself with an all in bet or at least a huge raise I may have got the other player to fold or something! So a word to the wise, when you're going to play a poker game, make sure you know what type of game your sitting down at. Or at least make sure you pick a game that is within your budget!

Dumbest Move #2 - Another stupid move I did more than once was at an online poker site, and not using the muck option when losing a hand. This could be one of the biggest mistakes a new poker player can make. Why? Because, as with my case, if you show your hand at the end of each game and everyone gets to see if you were actually betting on anything good, or just bluffing, they now know how you play the game and will kill you on every hand - especially if the players are good poker players.

Giving away your playing style is pretty much the singlest stupidest thing you can do in poker. Giving your opponents that advantage means you are effectively just handing them the money. Not clever.

Dumbest Move #3 - Playing every hand. The point of poker is to win and that means not playing every hand just because you can. This is a mistake a lot of new - and even some experienced - poker players make. Bide your time until you get a good hand. It's really that simple.

There is absolutely no reason to play every hand! Yes the thrill in poker is playing, understood, but if you lose your money fast your playing time is over. So fold if your hand is not worth playing. There will be another hand to play, so play smart and don't get caught up in the excitement of the atmosphere and the draw of the cards. Be smart and you may walk away from the game with more cash then when you sat down!

Dumbest Move #4 - Staying in the game "just because". Some players feel the need to finish the hand whether or not they have a chance of winning just because they already put money in the pot. Are you kidding me? I did this when I first started playing because I was excited and felt there is "always a chance I will pull it out and win. Yeah, right.

An example : if you have, say, a pair of fours and nothing else is coming up, then it might be time to fold your hand and cut your losses. Especially if someone else keeps raising. If it looks like you are not going to win, get out as soon as possible. Save your bankroll for the next hand, because that is one you might be able to win.

Dumbest Move #5 - Learn to play the game before you play for real money. I once played in a Omaha Hi-Lo tournament having never played the game before. I did, of course, read the rules and thought that I'd be able to pick it up as went along. Mistake!

So off I went, Mr. know it all, and sat at the table and started playing the game. Well about a half hour into the game I kept losing when I thought I should of won, and I won when I thought I should have lost. I had no idea what was going on and lucky for me I was having enough luck that day to get me to intermission when I took the time to go and reread the rules of the game.

That's when I found out how you are really supposed to play Omaha Hi/Lo. I discovered I was even folding great hands, like 1,3,5,6,7. I suspect I would have won a lot of money, but I didn't really understand the game. So I got pretty much what I deserved. I'll neve again act like I know it all and play a cash game I've never actually played before.

Well these are some of my stupid mistakes and it's been lots of fun sharing them with the world, hehe. But I hope if I helped anyone out there stop making the same kind of mistakes I did it was worth the shame! Always remember in poker, know the game and know the table you're sitting at. And never, ever pass on the muck!