Poker is a card game that puts people’s analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the test. It’s also a game that indirectly teaches people important life lessons. Here are some of the main ones:
It teaches you to manage your emotions. You must be able to keep your anger and stress levels in check, otherwise they could boil over & lead to negative consequences. This is a vital skill that you can apply in your daily life.
You learn to read your opponents. This is essential when playing poker, as it allows you to make better decisions about whether or not to raise a hand or call someone else’s raise. This is a skill that you can apply to your daily life, especially when you’re dealing with people who might be trying to take advantage of you.
It forces you to study the rules of the game and know what hands beat which. For example, a flush beats a straight and three of a kind beats two pair. This is a skill that you can use in your everyday life, as well as when you’re playing poker with your friends.
It teaches you to set bankrolls – both for each session and for the long term – and stick to them. Having a set amount of money to spend on each session prevents you from going on tilt and chasing your losses. It can be hard to do, but it’s a crucial skill for any professional poker player.
