Poker is a card game in which players place chips (representing money) into a pot, with the best hand winning. The game requires patience, the ability to read other players, and the willingness to adjust strategy on the fly. It also helps hone working memory, which is an important skill in many other aspects of life.
In addition to honing mental skills, the game of poker teaches you to deal with losses and see them as opportunities for growth. Top players like Phil Ivey never let a bad beat erode their confidence, and they use every loss as an opportunity to learn. This mental toughness is something that can be transferred to other areas of your life, such as selling a product or leading a group.
One of the most useful skills you’ll learn from playing poker is how to quickly calculate odds and percentages on the fly, which will come in handy when deciding whether or not to call a raise. You’ll also become good at reading other players’ body language to pick up on tells, which can be incredibly helpful in making the right calls.
Another great thing about poker is that you can use it to study other players’ tendencies and develop your own strategy. You can do this by watching videos, reading books, or even discussing your own hands and plays with other players. However, make sure to dedicate your study time to ONE subject at a time — jumping from reading a cbet book on Monday to listening to a podcast about ICM on Wednesday will only dilute your learning.