Poker has the reputation of being a game of luck but this isn't always the case. Some people have become famous overnight when their luck turned sour, and with poker, if you can keep your cool, you will be fine.
In poker, you are allowed to play it how you want to, there is no rule against what you think is fair, just remember that the cards that are dealt are in your hand, so do not think that if you have the worst hand, it means that you are going to win. There is always going to be at least one card that you do not have. Poker gaffes happen in many different forms and situations, but the most common one is that the first person that you call will have the better hand than you. This can seem to give away your weakness and your poker status as well, but if you keep your composure and act accordingly, you should be fine. Do not call and immediately raise, this will make you appear like you are afraid of the other person's strength and they will take advantage of this.
Another poker gaffe is to call without knowing what hand is behind the cards you're holding. If you don't know whether it's a straight, a flush, four of a kind or whatever else, it's best to make a hasty decision, just because you are feeling confident in the position you are in at the moment. When you do this, you might be playing against a good opponent, and then all of a sudden, they call you don't even see what the next card is! So the best thing to do is to play it out a few times before making your move. Just remember that you can make mistakes, and you should only act when you are sure of the situation.
Another poker gaffe is to bet more money than you have in the pot when you are on the board. This is very easy to do when you're starting out. You may think you have an amazing hand, especially if you didn't expect the flop from a certain hand, but sometimes you have to realize that they really don't have anything and it's the turn that you're getting a lot of action from. Then you can cut back on your bet, but you must always keep in mind that you are playing against the house, not a random number, so remember that they have money in the pot, and are probably betting more prepared for the turn than you are.
Finally, a poker gaffe happens to many people who are too eager to make a big move and just throw everything they have at the board. In poker, a lot of times, you don't get any kind of action because people are scared of folding and losing their money, so when you're bluffing with a really good hand, you really need to make sure that you have a solid plan and play according to it. After a while, if you haven't got any kind of action coming in, then try raising with a strong hand, this will make them fold because they will think that you are a good player and it will help to put you in a good position to make a big move.
Hopefully these tips will help you avoid a poker gaffe, it is always possible to make a mistake or two but once you learn to deal with them, you will never again have to endure the shame of a bad move. So, just remember that the key to being a good poker player is learning to keep your head above water and playing according to your strategy.