Poker is a game that involves a lot of decisions, and as such, it requires a good amount of concentration. You have to watch your opponents and their body language, read them to see what they’re thinking and to analyze if they’re bluffing or not. Poker helps you develop the ability to concentrate, as well as improve your mental focus, which you can apply in other situations throughout life.

Teaches emotional stability in a rapidly changing situation

Because of its rapid pace, poker can be very stressful and it is important to keep your emotions under control. If you’re unable to do this, then the stress and anger can easily boil over into bad decisions and you will lose money. Poker teaches you how to manage your emotions, which will help you make more sound decisions in life as well.

Ensures you play the player, not your cards

There’s an old saying in poker that you should “play the player, not your hands.” This simply means that your hand is only good or bad in relation to what your opponent is holding. For example, you might have a pair of kings, but if your opponent holds A-A, then they’ll beat your kings 82% of the time.

Poker teaches you to be quick in your decisions and to use your intuition rather than memorizing complicated systems. It also teaches you to set a bankroll and stick with it, both during each session and over the long term. It’s also a great way to learn how to play by watching experienced players and reading poker blogs and books.