Poker is not just a game that tests the strength of an individual’s hand; it also teaches valuable lessons that can be applied to real-world situations. The game has an amazing ability to teach us how to make decisions under uncertainty, and this is a skill that can be used in a variety of situations such as business or sports.
The first thing that poker can teach us is the basic rules. It’s important to understand things like how the game is structured, and that there are mandatory bets (called blinds) placed into the pot before each player sees their cards. This encourages competition, and teaches players the value of winning the pot, even before they know their actual hand.
Once you understand the basics, you can start to focus on how to play the game. Studying charts of what hands beat what can help you to develop a strategy, as can understanding the value of raising and folding. For example, it is often better to raise a weaker hand than limp, so that you are pricing all the worse hands out of the pot and can win with a stronger one.
Observing experienced players is another way to learn, as this can help you to recognise tells and changes in body language. Using this knowledge can give you an edge against more experienced opponents, and it can be helpful to practice observing other players in a live setting, so that you can take what you have learned into your own games.
