Poker is more than just a game of luck, and there are plenty of ways to improve your game. The best way to learn is by playing it regularly, and that means not just sitting down and playing a few hands at home but also going to play live with friends or at a casino. Here are some of the many skills you can gain from playing poker that will translate to your life outside of the game.
1. Math skills
Poker teaches you to work out odds, and that might seem like an unimportant skill at first glance but it can really help you in the long run. You’ll be able to calculate the probability of your opponent holding a certain card and decide what move to make in their favour. This can be useful in the real world, and can help you to avoid making costly mistakes.
2. Pot control
Poker involves a lot of decision making, and one of the most important parts is knowing how to control the size of your pots. A big part of this is deciding when to bet and raise, and this will depend on your table position. If you’re in early position, for example, you should bet more often than those in late position.
This is because you’ll have a better idea of what your opponents hold, and can inflate the pot size to get the most value out of your strong hands. Conversely, if you have a mediocre or drawing hand, you can still exercise pot control by simply calling to keep the pot size under control.