Poker is a game that puts your analytical, mathematical and interpersonal skills to the test. It is also a game that indirectly teaches you many life lessons.
One of the first things you will learn is that your poker hand is only good or bad in relation to what other players are holding. You will often find yourself in a situation where your kings are a bad hand, for example, if another player has A-A on the flop.
The next thing you will learn is that poker requires you to read the other players, their tells and their betting behavior. This skill is a great transferable attribute to life in general, because it will help you understand people and their motivations better. It will also help you read people when you are not at the poker table, such as in business meetings or social situations.
You will also learn that you must make decisions based on the facts and not your emotions. This is a great skill to have in life, because it will prevent you from making bad decisions when you are feeling down. It will also prevent you from chasing losses with foolish gameplay, which is known as playing on tilt.
You will also learn to be patient, which is a very important trait in life. You will often be required to wait for other players, whether it is to call your bet or to check. If you are patient, you will not get frustrated by these situations and you will save yourself a lot of money in the long run.