Poker is a fun game that can help you develop many different mental skills. It’s a great way to de-stress and unwind after a long day or week, but it can also improve your math skills, teach you how to read other players, and even reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease!
One of the most important mental benefits of playing poker is that it helps you control your emotions. When you play regularly, you will learn to limit your anger and stress levels, which is a huge benefit in everyday life.
You will also learn how to cope with failure when you make a bad hand and not throw a tantrum over it. Being able to accept failure is crucial for your poker success, and it’s an important skill that can help you in the real world as well.
It’s also good for your self-confidence! When you play poker on a regular basis, you will gain more confidence in your abilities and decision-making capabilities.
Aside from these mental benefits, there are some physical advantages of playing poker as well. It can improve your coordination, and help you lose weight.
1. Practice and Watch Other Players
Poker is a fast-paced game that requires quick thinking and strong decision-making. Practicing and watching other players can help you develop instincts that are based on their eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures and betting behavior.
2. Narrow Your Range of Starting Hands
Having too wide a range of starting hands can lead to you folding too often in the beginning. To avoid this, try to keep your range of starting hands narrow to a few different types.