Poker is a game of chance, and luck can make or break a hand. But it is also a game of skill, and over time you can train yourself to improve your skills in all aspects of the game. In particular, you learn to notice the way other players play and act around a table. This helps you better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and adjust your own strategy to exploit them.
In addition to noticing body language, you also learn to read the cards and how your opponents bet. This helps you to spot tells and predict how your opponent is likely to act before deciding whether or not to call their bets. Developing this skill can be useful in any situation where you need to read people, such as when you are trying to sell something or manage a team.
Another important lesson is how to handle failure. You must learn to analyze why you lost a hand and figure out what you could have done differently. This will help you build a healthier relationship with failure and keep pushing yourself to become better.
Poker also teaches you to think quickly and logically. Quick math skills are essential to being a good poker player, and you will develop an intuition for things like frequencies and EV estimation. This can be beneficial for you in other situations that require logical thinking, such as making investments or evaluating business opportunities.