In a lot of ways poker is a game of chance, but it also requires an incredibly high level of skill and psychology. The more you learn about the game, the better you will become at it. Poker is one of the few games that can make you rich if you do it right, but there are some things about the game that not everybody knows.
Among them are the following surprising benefits of playing poker:
1. It improves your math skills.
The game is full of quick calculations – pot odds, implied odds and more – which help you decide whether to call, raise or fold. The more you play poker, the better you will become at these calculations and the more quick-thinking skills you will develop.
2. It teaches you to read players.
Being able to read players is an incredibly important skill for any poker player. It helps you understand when they are stressed, bluffing or happy with their hand. It can also be helpful in other areas of life, from selling to a customer to giving a presentation.
3. It teaches you to deal with uncertainty.
In poker, and in life in general, there is always some degree of uncertainty. To make the best decisions when this is the case, you have to learn how to estimate probabilities and choose the option that gives you the best chance of success. This is an incredibly valuable skill, and poker is a great way to learn it.