Poker is a game of skill. It takes patience and the ability to set long-term goals. It also teaches you how to work hard to achieve those goals.
There are many benefits to playing poker, even if you never win. First, it builds your comfort with taking risks. This can be helpful in life, as it is often a necessary step to getting ahead in the world.
It teaches you to think quickly, as well. You need to be able to read the table and determine your odds of winning a hand. This helps you become a more efficient decision-maker and improves your mental arithmetic skills.
One of the most important things to learn in poker is that your hands are only good or bad in relation to what the other players are holding. You might have K-K, but if the other player has A-A and the board is 10-8-6 then your kings will lose 82% of the time! This is why it is important to play the player, not your cards.
You also learn to keep a short memory. There are going to be many bad beats and coolers in your poker career, but it is important to forget them and move on. This will help you to avoid the trap of playing a hand for emotional reasons, which can lead to disaster in the long run. It is also a great way to build resilience, which is an essential part of being a successful person in life.