The Skills That Poker Teach

Poker is a game of strategy and risk. It tests an individual’s analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the limit and indirectly teaches some life lessons that can be applied to other aspects of business and life in general.

One of the main skills that poker teaches is resilience. A good player will not chase a bad hand or throw a tantrum after losing – instead they’ll learn from their mistakes and try to improve the next time. This is a great skill to have in both poker and in business, as it means you’ll be able to take the ups and downs of life and continue to push forward regardless of whether you win or lose.

Another skill that poker teaches is the ability to read an opponent. This includes understanding their range, or the set of hands that they could have. This allows you to put them on a hand and make more accurate bets pre-flop. For example, if your opponent has AK pre-flop and you are holding two pair, you can bet enough to get them out of the pot and raise the value of your hand.

This also applies to bluffing – always bet when you have a strong hand, and not just limp. This will force players who have weak hands to fold and reduce the chance that you’ll be forced to call with a rubbish hand. It will also increase the chance that your bluff will be called, which increases your winnings.