Poker is a game that requires players to make decisions on incomplete information. Learning to read other players, watch for “tells” such as fiddling with chips or a ring, and observing how experienced players react will help you develop quick instincts that will improve your performance at the table. It’s also a good way to work on mental discipline, which will come in handy in high-pressure situations outside the poker room as well.

In addition to understanding the rules and hand rankings, it’s important to understand basic poker math such as odds and risk/reward ratios. Studying poker odds will allow you to calculate the probability of getting a certain card, or comparing odds to determine if a call or raise is profitable. Over time, these numbers will become ingrained in your poker brain and you’ll find yourself naturally considering them during hands.

Another key aspect of poker is knowing when to fold. While this may sound easy, it’s actually a skill that takes years to master. You’ll need to learn to recognize cognitive biases such as the fear of missing out or a desire to prove your hand’s strength, and then be able to make the right decision even when you have a bad beat.

A great place to start is this poker book by Matt Janda, which dives deep into balance, frequencies and ranges. It’s a bit more advanced than The One Percent course, so I recommend reading it after you’ve taken that course.