Poker is played with chips (representing money, of course) and involves betting between players during a hand. The player who has the highest ranked poker hand at the end of the hand wins the pot. The pot consists of all the bets made during that particular hand.
Learning to read other people is an essential skill in poker – and in life. You’ll learn to assess your opponents and think about what they’re trying to tell you – not just their body language, but also how they’re reacting in stressful situations.
The game of poker can also help you learn about managing your emotions – stress, anxiety and excitement are all part of the experience – as well as concealing them from your opponents. All of these skills are invaluable in the workplace and outside of it.
A good poker player knows when to take risks and when to bail out. “When your odds of winning a hand are decreasing,” says Just, “you might want to cut bait instead of digging yourself into a hole.” She learned this lesson as an options trader and now applies it at the poker table. She recommends new players start by taking smaller, lower-stakes risks sooner rather than jumping straight into high-stakes risk-taking – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make some big bets!