Poker is a game that puts your analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the test. It’s also a game that indirectly teaches many valuable life lessons.
One of the most important lessons of poker is to be able to read your opponents. This is an essential skill that goes beyond just knowing the tells, but also understanding how to read the subtle changes in their mood and body language. Keeping a mental notes on these details can make a big difference in your game.
Another lesson that poker teaches is the importance of patience. This can be especially hard for beginners, but it’s an essential trait to have. Learning to sit through a few losing sessions and still play your best is a great way to improve your resilience and patience. This is a skill that can benefit you in other areas of your life, such as business and relationships.
Finally, poker also teaches you to develop quick instincts. This is achieved by playing and watching the game, as well as observing how experienced players react in certain situations. It’s important to do this diligently, and to hone your intuition by studying a specific topic for a few weeks at a time. For example, you could watch a cbet video on Monday, read an article on 3bet strategy on Tuesday and then listen to a podcast about ICM on Wednesday. This will help you ingest the content and internalize it much faster than simply reading multiple topics in one sitting.