The game of Poker has a lot to teach us about life. It requires a level of comfort with risk that translates well in the workplace and a strong ability to weigh your options before making a decision. It also gives you a good sense of how to read people and the subtle tells they give off. The fact that you have to play cards to make money in Poker is a reminder that every reward comes with some risk, and that you need to be prepared for the possibility that things may not go your way.
When you play a hand of Poker, you’re working with incomplete information about your opponents’ hands. Each action, be it a fold, call, check or raise, is an opportunity for your opponents to piece together a story about you that might give them an advantage. For example, players might reveal weak hands by calling small bets or signal strength by glancing at their chips to encourage their opponents to challenge them before the showdown (the end of the betting round in which all players reveal their cards).
It’s essential to have a clear strategy to guide your play and to stick to it even when human nature tries to derail you with calls or bluffs that aren’t optimal. You need to be willing to take a beating from terrible luck or bad beats when they come your way, and to keep trying even when you’re tired or frustrated.