The "mechanics" of live poker is what is different from internet and home-game poker, so here are a few hints in case you don't get them in a class.
First of all, you can call any casino and ask to be connected to the poker room, where they should answer your questions; don't be surprised if they're "short" with you, the person answering the phone is also busy trying to run the poker room usually, and does't have a lot of time. If they happen to be friendly, that's a great sign. You can always call back if you forgot to ask something.
When you go to a poker room, there will be a desk where you check in and are assigned a table to play at (and sometimes a seat, but usually you can choose any open seat); tell them you're new and want to play their lowest limit game. Be sure you know whether you want to play limit (recommended for a beginner, even if you play poorly, your money will probably last longer) or no limit (the kind you seen on TV most of the time), and what game (most poker on TV is holdem, but most casinos offer seven stud as well, and some also offer omaha and other games).
That same desk may be the place to go to inquire about the beginner's class if you plan to attend such a class.
Don't feel bad if they tell you table #17 and you don't know where that is; only the daily players usually memorize where the tables are by number. When you get to what you think is the right table, ask if you have the right table, and confirm that you have the game and limits you want.
Some casinos will sell you your chips out of the dealer's rack, and some have a chip runner who will take your money and bring your chips to you, and some require you to go to the poker room cashier and buy your chips, and some have all of these options. In most casinos, you play "table stakes" - you can't lose more than what you have on the table, and if you run out of money on the table during a hand, you play for a portion of the pot proportionate to how much you put in. You can't buy more chips during a hand, but you can buy more chips between hands at any time. In Las Vegas, in most casinos, cash on the table is "live" money (in many other places it is not permitted) and plays the same as chips, so don't put cash on the table unless you want it to "play".
Until you leave the table, unlike blackjack or other games, you can't take money off the table to reduce your risk. When people go to the bathroom, they leave their money on the table. When people go to eat, they either leave with their money (and have to get a new table like a new player when they return), or ask for a dinner break, and the casino will put a plastic box over your chips while you're gone. The casino WILL TRY to keep an eye on your chips while you're away, but is NOT responsible if someone takes them, and there have been stories about this happening -- but I've never seen it in thousands of hours of play.
When you finally sit down in a "live" game, if it's not after one of the introductory classes that's been described, when you sit down at the table tell the dealer and the other players you're new. Some live poker players are rude and will roll their eyes or otherwise misbehave, but most assume a first-time player is also a bad player and will do all they can to make you feel comfortable.
Just look to the dealer for guidance in particular; that's their job. Think about tipping the dealer $1 up front for their coming help, and after that, remember to tip the dealer after each pot you win (watch the other players for guidance as to what the customary tip is after winning a pot).
After you receive your cards, look at them (and use your hands to keep anyone from seeing them); you shouldn't pick them up off the table like you might in a social game at home. After you've looked at them, put them face down and "protect" your cards by putting a chip or two on top of them; this helps to assure that the dealer doesn't think you're folding and takes your cards away. Keep your cards where people can see that you have cards, but not very far in front of you (see "mucking" below).
Always wait until it's your turn to play before doing anything, whether betting, folding, calling, or raising. When you fold, just push your cards forward several inches. When you bet, as a beginner, it's best to announce exactly what you're doing (bet, call, raise), because if you act only with your chips, there are rules (such as, don't put chips out, then go back to your stack for more and try to put them out in addition - that's a "string bet") -- verbalizing what you plan to do protects you against all those chip-handling rules, but commits you to do what you said - so don't say "call" unless you're sure how much you're calling (just ask what the bet is), as it sometimes gets raised up without you noticing.
Never turn your cards up when folding, unless your fold will end the hand and you want to. Never show them to anyone else, even if they're not in the hand. When the hand is over and the betting is all done, if you were the one who was called, you are required to show your hand first (then the caller might just throw his cards away without showing them if you have him beat). If you have, or think you have, the best hand, show it immediately; not doing so is called "slow-rolling" and is bad etiquette (but make sure the hand is over and there is no more betting or calling to be done!).
If you're not sure what you have, just turn your cards up; "cards speak" and no matter what you think you have, the actual hand should be read by the dealer and the pot given to the best hand. When you turn your cards up, don't throw them towards the middle of the table; that can be considered "mucking" your hand and it is then dead, even if it was the best hand -- just turn them up right in front of you.
There is lots of "protocol" and "etiquette" to live poker, most of which you'll pick up in your first half hour. There are other fine points of rules that you'll learn only after years, some of which you will be amazed at, because each casino is just a little different and the fine points can be very strange at some places.
Finally, try to have fun -- there is every kind of personality at the live poker table, including, unfortunately, some real jerks. Learning to tune them out (don't even look at them, don't respond to them, unless you feel like you want to) is part of playing live poker that's the least fun, but important. Most players are there to make money and to have fun, and some don't know the right way to do either one.
Finally, if you last long enough, and don't like your seat (or who you're sitting next to), you can ask for a seat change, and the dealer will offer you the first seat that next opens up at your table, and in some casinos you can ask for a table change if they have multiple games of what you're playing.
Good luck!
--BG
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