Poker is a card game that requires skill and strategy to win. While there are many different variations of the game, they all have similar elements. This includes the fact that players bet on their hands during the game, as well as the fact that there are several betting rounds in the game.
The game teaches players how to read their opponents and pick up on tells (non-verbal behaviors such as eye movements, idiosyncrasies, hand gestures, betting behavior etc). A good poker player will be able to assess the odds of a hand beating another, and make a call or raise accordingly. This sort of mental calculus is necessary for success in both poker and life.
Poker also teaches players how to deal with failure and loss. A good poker player will not chase a loss or throw a tantrum if they are dealt a bad hand. Instead they will fold, learn from the mistake, and move on. This ability to accept defeat and move on is a valuable skill in life, and one that can be applied to many other areas of business as well.
Finally, poker teaches players how to take risks. While a large amount of the game of poker involves chance, players voluntarily place bets into the pot with positive expected value for a variety of strategic reasons. Poker teaches players how to choose actions with a clear intent, for a specific reason, and divorced from the outcome of the action.