The Benefits of Playing Poker

Whether you play poker for fun or as a career, the game has many benefits that go beyond the obvious ones of making friends and money. The game requires strategic thinking and decision-making, which can have a positive impact on your life outside the poker table. In addition, consistent practice of the game can delay degenerative neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

One of the key skills in poker is learning to read your opponents, both literally and figuratively. You learn to observe their body language, for example, to see if they are stressed or lying. This skill can also be useful outside of poker, in situations such as a job interview or giving a presentation.

Another important skill is understanding ranges. In poker, ranges refer to the likelihood that your opponent has a certain hand. A strong player will work out their opponent’s range by going through the entire selection of cards they could have and calculating how likely it is that you’ll beat them with a different card.

Poker also requires you to master a number of math formulas, which are used to calculate probabilities and EV. A good poker player will internalize these numbers and apply them instinctively. If you find yourself shying away from math, our poker workbook can help you memorize the key formulas and develop an intuition for them. Download your free copy today!