Poker is a card game where players wager and make decisions in order to win bets. It is generally played with a conventional 52-card deck, but some games use different card sizes and rules. The goal is to have a hand that beats your opponent’s or convince them to fold their cards.
This requires concentration. The cards are not randomly dealt, and there are many things to keep in mind at once: the probability of a particular card showing up, your opponents’ tendencies, their body language, etc. Poker also teaches you to focus your attention and improves your ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
Teaches you to read people
A huge part of poker is reading your opponents, and this skill can help you in all areas of life. Being able to read what someone is saying can help you get through a job interview ahead of someone with a stronger CV, and knowing how to spot bluffs can save you from losing money at the casino or your home game.
Teaches you how to adapt
No poker player goes through their entire career racking up victory after victory. Even the most successful players lose a fair number of hands, and learning how to adjust your style to the environment you’re playing in is a valuable lesson. Sometimes the best move is to just call a bet and see what happens, or even better, to bluff! Poker teaches you to accept failure as a bruise, not a tattoo.