Poker is a game that pushes a player’s analytical and mathematical skills to the limit. Often times it is also a psychological game that requires players to conceal their emotions and keep a “poker face”. Poker does not only test one’s ability to be successful at the table but it also indirectly teaches a lot of valuable lessons which can be applied in life.

1. Teaches the importance of a good mental state of mind.

Poker can be very stressful and emotionally draining at times especially when the stakes are high. A successful poker player needs to have a strong mental state of mind in order to play at a high level. It is important for a poker player to be able to recognise any tells their opponents may give off and be able to change their strategy accordingly.

2. Improves the ability to read people’s body language and facial expressions.

Poker teaches a lot about reading other people’s body language and facial expressions. Keeping a poker face is essential in this game as you cannot let your emotions show when you are holding a strong hand. It is also important to conceal any excitement or fear you might be feeling during a hand so that your opponent does not pick up on this and make the wrong decisions.

3. Helps with learning and studying.

Studying is a huge part of any poker player’s day and learning new poker strategies can be very time consuming. However, it is important to learn as much as you can in order to improve your poker playing and make more money at the tables. Therefore, a lot of poker players will spend a large part of their time studying poker strategy and reading articles online to help them become better players.

4. Develops the ability to analyze a situation and make a sensible decision based on rational thinking.

A good poker player is a logical thinker who can look at any situation and make a reasoned conclusion using their analytical reasoning skills. They will never make a decision purely on emotion or gut feeling. They will always weigh up the pros and cons of each move and decide whether it is in their best interest to continue with their hand or fold. This is a skill that can be beneficial in many different aspects of life and improves the way we live our lives.

5. Teaches the importance of having a backup plan.

Poker is a very strategic game and as such you need to be able to have a plan B, C, D, and E etc in order to maximise your winnings. It is also important to be able to switch up your strategy and recognise when you are being beaten by an opponent. This can be done by observing their betting patterns and analysing what they are doing incorrectly.

Poker is a very fun and exciting game to play but it can be very expensive if you make the wrong decisions. To minimise your losses and increase your winnings it is essential that you only play when you are happy and not feeling tired or frustrated. If you aren’t enjoying the game it is best to quit the session and come back another time when you are in a more positive mood.