The game of poker is a great way to learn how to control your emotions. It requires players to make tough decisions, and even the best player will lose sessions from time to time. But when you play with money you’re comfortable losing, it’s a lot easier to control your emotions and not let a bad run ruin your session.
Poker also helps you develop a good understanding of math and numbers. When you’re playing poker, you often have to count out your chips and evaluate your EV (expected value). The numbers become ingrained in your brain over time, and you’ll start keeping a natural count of them during hands.
Another thing poker teaches you is how to read your opponents and predict their actions. It’s important to do this in order to maximize your profit potential. The more you practice and watch others, the faster you’ll get at this. This allows you to use your instincts more than your brainpower, which makes for a better player in the long run.