Poker is a game of chance, and luck plays a big role in whether a player wins or loses. But it also relies on skill and the more you play, the better you’ll become. It’s not just about the cards, though—poker can also teach you a lot of life lessons.

1. It teaches you to recognize cognitive biases.

Poker can be a stressful and anxiety-provoking game, but it’s one of the best ways to learn how to control your emotions. You’ll face many ups and downs in a hand, and you’ll need to keep your cool under pressure. If you’re not able to handle your emotions, you won’t be a good poker player.

2. It teaches you to be disciplined and to read people.

When you play poker, it’s important to recognize how people react to different situations and to read their body language and facial expressions. This will help you make smarter decisions and avoid making mistakes that could cost you the game. It’s also a great way to improve your social skills. You’ll meet people from all walks of life and backgrounds, and you’ll need to interact with them in a professional and courteous manner.

3. It teaches you to be more aggressive in some situations.

Poker involves betting in rounds, and players can either call (match the amount that their opponent has bet) or raise (bet more than the previous player). You can also check, which means you’re not raising. If you want to win the pot, you need to have a high-ranking hand.

4. It teaches you to be more creative with your betting.

If you’re not using a variety of tactics, it’s easy to get predictable. Your opponents will know exactly when you’re bluffing and when you have the nuts. This is why it’s crucial to mix up your bet sizes and style, and to never raise a hand without a strong reason.

5. It helps you to develop quick instincts.

In poker, the faster you can read people and the more quickly you can assess the strength of your own hand, the better. It’s not enough to just memorize and apply a complicated system, but to develop the kind of instinctive behavior that comes naturally to experienced poker players. You can do this by observing experienced players and considering how you would react in their situation. The more you do this, the faster and better your instincts will become. Over time, you’ll be able to calculate probabilities and EV estimates with ease, and it will become a natural part of your gameplay. This will allow you to make more accurate decisions that lead to more profitable results. The workbook below will help you internalize these key concepts and use them to your advantage at the poker table. Download your copy today!