Poker is a game that requires a lot of brain power. This often results in players feeling tired at the end of a session or tournament. This is a good thing as the body needs to rest so that it can recover. As a result, the game of poker indirectly teaches players to have better sleep habits.
Another important life lesson that poker can teach is discipline. Playing poker requires a person to be able to make decisions without emotion and think long-term. This is a valuable skill that can be applied in all areas of life.
A third lesson that poker can teach is how to control your emotions. Poker is a fast-paced game and it is not uncommon for tension to build. This can lead to players making bad decisions. Keeping your emotions in check is a key part of poker and it can help people get further in life than they would have otherwise.
Finally, poker can teach a player how to read other players. There are four basic player types – LAG’s, TAG’s, LP Fish and super tight Nits. Each of these player types have specific tendencies that a successful poker player can exploit.
For example, if an opponent is raising a lot of hands from early positions you should try to be on their left as much as possible so that you can call their re-raises with weaker hands. This will maximise your EV and allow you to win more pots.