Poker is a game of calculation and logic. It teaches you how to be more patient, and it also encourages you to develop certain mental traits that are incredibly beneficial for your profession.
For example, you will learn to estimate probabilities under uncertainty, which is an essential skill in finance and other areas of work. You will also develop an ability to read your opponents’ tells and other subtle expressions. This is a vital skill because it allows you to gain valuable information about their hand strength without having to reveal anything about your own.
Another important lesson is to know when to fold. You will learn to avoid chasing your losses and only play with money that you’re willing to lose. This will help you build a solid bankroll and ensure that you’re not losing more money than you can afford to lose.
In addition to learning how to play poker, you will also learn a lot about its history and culture. The game traces its roots back to the Renaissance game of primero and the French game of brelan, and it later incorporated elements of the Persian game of as nas. The game has a long and rich history, and you can find out more by reading some of the best poker books. For instance, check out the third edition of Seidman’s Easy Game for an excellent introduction to the game. This book goes a little deeper than the basic concepts and explores things like balance, frequencies and ranges in more detail.