When it comes to growing as a person and becoming more successful in life, casino games probably aren’t the first thing you think of.
But in truth, the game of poker can teach you a lot about life.
Poker is a fascinating game. It's not just reckless gambling the way other games, like blackjack, are. It involves skill, and it's got many layers.
In fact, many successful people — Tony Hsieh of Zappos, for one — have talked about how poker made them more savvy and confident in the business world.
Here are a few of the life lessons you can learn from understanding poker:
1. The Importance of Posturing
In poker, good players will be able to size up your abilities even before you've said a word. The way your handle your chips is usually a telltale sign of your experience level.
When making a bet, if you painstakingly count out each chip individually rather than confidently placing stacks of chips on the table, you've blown your cover as a novice player. Likewise, if your chips are all strewn around in front of you, instead of stacked in organized piles of 20. Even the way you hold your cards — or if you look at them too often — are signs that you don't know what you're doing.
Though these may seem like trivial details, they speak volumes to your experience level — and the more experienced players will take advantage of this information.
In life, it's no different.
Often, the difference between coming up short and getting the big sale, or winning over a romantic partner, comes down to the minute details of posturing. Did you look like you knew what you were doing when you tasted the wine in front of your clients, at the restaurant? Did you act like you believed in what you were saying during the presentation? Did you sound confident, or creepy, when you suggested skinny-dipping at Ocean Beach on the first date (even if you were bluffing...)?
This content is only available to subscribers
Subscribe now and have access to all our stories, enjoy exclusive content and stay up to date with constant updates.
Unlock contentAlready have an account? Sign In
