How Poker Can Help You Become a Better Investor

Poker is a card game in which players place chips into the pot, or middle of the table, for each round. Unlike casino games, where initial bets are forced, in poker players put money into the pot voluntarily for a variety of reasons including expected value, psychology and game theory.

The cards are dealt in intervals called betting rounds, with each player having the opportunity to call or raise bets. When the dealer puts a third card face up on the table that everyone can use, this is known as the flop. During the flop betting phase, you need to decide if you want to fold your hand or try to improve by calling bets with your strong value hands (triple fives for example).

You should also learn to read your opponents and look for tells. These are the small things a player does that give away their emotions and the strength of their hand. This is not only helpful in poker but can help you develop good habits in high pressure situations outside of the game.

Once the betting phase is over, you reveal your hands. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. If no one has a winning hand, the dealer wins the pot. Some people play poker just for fun, but some of the top minds on Wall Street say that it has made them better investors by teaching them how to make decisions under pressure.