The Mental Benefits of Playing Poker
Poker is a game that requires a lot of mental energy and focus. It’s also a game that involves a lot of skill and strategy, as opposed to other gambling games like blackjack where luck plays a much bigger role. Therefore, playing poker can help to develop a more mature and logical mind by forcing players to think critically and stay focused on the task at hand.
Poker also teaches you to be patient. It’s inevitable that you’re going to have losing sessions, and if you can learn to handle these sessions without becoming frustrated or giving up on your dream of being a poker player, then you will be better equipped to deal with high-pressure situations in other areas of your life.
When you play poker, you need to be able to read your opponents. You need to classify them as one of four basic player types – LAG’s, TAG’s, LP Fish and super tight Nits – and exploit their tendencies. This means that you need to take your time and think carefully about what’s happening at the table before making your decision.
Finally, poker improves your math skills – not in the standard 1+1=2 way that we’re all used to in school, but by teaching you how to work out odds in your head quickly. This gives you a huge advantage when it comes to decision making, particularly when in position – you can see what your opponents are holding and determine their bluffing intentions more accurately, or make value bets with stronger hands.