Poker is a card game that involves skill and some luck, but mostly it’s about reading your opponents. It’s also about knowing when to fold a weak hand or bluff, and about how to change your strategy mid-game. All of these skills can help you develop critical thinking, math, and interpersonal skills that serve you well in other areas of your life.

A good poker player knows when to call, raise, or fold, but he or she also needs to understand how to read other players’ body language and betting patterns. This can be useful in a variety of situations, from talking to coworkers to giving a presentation to strangers. And learning how to tell when someone is bluffing can save you from making bad calls in the future.

Keeping detailed records of your wins and losses is a key part of becoming a better poker player. This will help you learn from your mistakes and improve your play over time. It’s also important to set bankroll goals — both for every session and for the long term — and to stick to them.

A good poker player is able to walk away from the table after a loss and learn from it. This resilience can help you deal with setbacks in other areas of your life, from dealing with a bad hand to finding a new job. Plus, it can improve your overall mental health by building up the myelin sheath that protects your brain cells.