Poker is a card game that requires self-control and an ability to think long-term. It also helps develop a healthy relationship with failure by teaching players to learn from their mistakes. Those lessons learned at the poker table can be applied to other areas of life, from personal finances to business dealings.

Poker improves math skills – in particular, odds. While many people see this as a negative, the fact is that working out probabilities quickly becomes second nature when you play regularly. It’s important to be able to assess situations on the fly and make decisions with confidence based on facts rather than emotion.

It teaches you to read other players –

Poker involves reading your opponents and determining their hand strength based on their betting patterns. While some of this can be done via subtle physical tells, a lot of it comes down to analysing patterns. For example, if a player always checks the pot you can assume they’re holding a weak hand.

It teaches you to control your emotions

As anyone who has played poker knows, it can be very stressful. There are moments when an unfiltered expression of emotion is perfectly justified, but most of the time it’s not. In poker, and in life, it’s often best to keep your emotions under wraps. Poker teaches you to do that and to stay cool under pressure, even when you’re feeling the heat. This is an invaluable skill in any pursuit in life.