Poker is a game that puts your analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the test. It is also a game that indirectly teaches you a lot of lessons that can be applied to your everyday life.
One of the biggest lessons that poker teaches you is risk assessment. This is a skill that you can apply to other areas of your life, especially business and personal relationships.
Another lesson that poker teaches is how to read your opponents. This is a very important skill to develop, as it can allow you to make better decisions. By learning to read your opponents tells (eye movements, idiosyncrasies, betting behavior etc), you will be able to figure out if they are holding a strong hand or just trying to bluff.
If you are dealt a good hand, you should try to bet more aggressively. This will force weaker players to fold and it will also increase the value of your pot. This is the key to winning poker.
Another way to improve your game is by making a list of the most common mistakes that you make in poker. Once you have a list, you should work on correcting those mistakes and then testing yourself. This process will help you improve your game faster. For more information on how to properly warm-up before a session, check out our 3-Step Poker Warm-Up Routine. This will prepare you for any kind of situation at the table and allow you to maximize your potential.