Poker is a card game that can be incredibly fun, but it’s also a game that pushes your mathematical, analytical and interpersonal skills to the limit. It’s a game that, without you even realizing it, teaches a lot of life lessons that can be used outside the poker table.
One of the most important things that poker teaches you is patience. This is because in the short run, you’re largely dealing with chance. However, over the long haul, you’ll find that your decision-making is much improved if you’re patient enough to make the right call at the right time.
Another important skill that poker teaches you is mental arithmetic. This is because you’ll quickly find that if you don’t know how to calculate odds, it’s impossible to make money at the game.
In addition to calculating your own odds, you also need to be able to determine the strength of your opponents’ hands. This is done by looking at the cards that have been dealt and figuring out what type of hand they may be holding.
Once you’re able to figure out what kind of hand your opponent is holding, you can then decide how to play the hand. For example, if you’re in EP and see that your opponent has a strong pair, it’s probably best to fold because you’ll likely lose. On the other hand, if you’re in MP and your opponent has a weaker hand, then raising and betting aggressively will help you win more often.