Poker is a game where certainties are rare and it’s easy to fall victim to bad beats, but it’s also a great way to learn how to overcome these shortcomings. It forces you to face the truth about your own mistakes and how to change your behavior based on this feedback. This is a lesson that’s difficult to internalize outside of the poker table and can be applied to countless situations in life, including career, relationships and even financial markets.
This is why it’s important to have a solid poker strategy and stick to it. But you need to develop that strategy through careful self-examination, taking notes and even discussing your play with other players for a more objective look at your strengths and weaknesses. Then you need to have the discipline to stick to that strategy and make adjustments on the fly when needed.
One of the biggest mistakes poker players make is limping into pots when they are out of position. This gives their opponents an opportunity to see the flop for cheap with mediocre hands and it will often cost them money on the turn and river.
The best poker strategy is to bet with your strong hands and fold your weak ones. That way you can maximize the chances of hitting your draws by reducing how many players are involved in the pot. This is especially important in tournament play where the starting stacks are very large and it’s tempting to play cautiously in order to preserve your stack.