Despite the popular conception that poker is a game of chance, it actually has quite a lot of skill involved. The best players have great discipline, are able to stick to a plan even when it’s boring or frustrating, and can be mentally tough. You can watch videos of Phil Ivey taking bad beats, for example, and see how he doesn’t let it get him down. This kind of mental toughness is a very valuable skill, and it’s not something that’s unique to poker.
Poker also teaches you to read people and pick up on their tells, which are little things that indicate whether someone is feeling nervous or bluffing. Those are skills that can be very useful in any situation, from trying to sell a product to making a presentation.
Finally, poker teaches you to be patient. This is important because, as you progress through the game, you will likely lose a lot of hands. You need to be able to take those losses in stride and use them as motivation to keep getting better.
Lastly, poker teaches you to be a good observer and make notes about other players’ behavior. This can be very helpful when you’re playing a live game, as it will help you to anticipate other player’s betting patterns and make adjustments accordingly. It can also be a very valuable tool when you’re playing online, as you will be able to learn from the mistakes of other players and avoid making them yourself.