Poker is a great game. Regardless of whether you are a recreational or professional poker player, you need to earn some skills i.e. critical thinking, bankroll management, discipline, time management, emotions control, etc to survive in the competitive world of poker. Not only these traits can help you win a decent amount of money on the poker tables, they even work well in different fields of the real world.
Even in your professional life, certain poker skills can help you progress in your career and reach milestones.
Here we have listed the skills which are extremely useful in poker and which you can implement in areas of real life such as your career, finances, or relationships:
Reading people & situations
On a poker table, a player needs to keep a close eye on his opponents to find out the strength of their cards and predict their next move. As he observes opponents’ betting style, body language, and behavior on the table to extract information about their hand, he gradually starts developing a great understanding of human psychology which allows him to study people in a better way, even in real life. He starts thinking rationally and takes decisions only after carefully analyzing every aspect of the available information.
Money Management
Playing poker requires maintaining a strict and sensible bankroll to support the game. Bankroll is the money a player keeps aside to use only to play poker. A good player always plays within limits and avoids risking the amount of money which he cannot afford to lose.
The habit of managing money smartly is very beneficial in life. You should control the money, not the other way around. Poker teaches people the importance of living within the means. Unexpected expenses can knock your door anytime, so you must have the resources available to deal with them effectively.
Dealing with risk
Risk is inevitable. Poker players need to deal with a lot of uncertainties on the game table. Before making any move, a good player mentally calculates the probabilities and expected value. As he acts on the basis on incomplete information, he analyses the situation carefully as per his knowledge and experience to decide “when to fold” and “when to hold”. Similarly, in daily life, a person needs to take decisions after thoroughly evaluating all the available options. That’s where your understanding of odds helps you in predicting the consequences of your choices and expected rewards.
Dealing with Failure
A poker player knows that it is not possible to win each and every hand he plays. He also knows how important it is to manage emotions and handle stressful situations effectively to take rational decisions in the game and avoid tilt.
In life, you have good days and bad days. But is important to never stop and maintain inner peace and concentration to deal with emotional suffering caused due to failure.
Poker is an exciting game which not only entertains but also teaches so many things about life. Like poker, circumstances can change anytime in your personal and professional life. Poker playing helps players learn how to deal with unforeseen situations. What’s important is to understand how honest you are about your capabilities and how clear grasp you have on reality.