The Best Life Lesson in POKER

I've heard tons of people claim that poker is very similar to life. Doyle Brunson said something about poker = life. In my opinion the 'game of poker' has some similarities and many unsimilar parts when compared to life... but that wasn't what this thread is about.

Just like any other sport, activity, hobby, ect... poker can teach any player many important lessons about life (probably because poker is DURING OUR LIFETIME). Which lesson that poker can teach about life do you feel is the strongest / most important?

I think the most valuable lesson poker can teach is how to make a gameplan, and stick with it long enough for it to play out. The one thing most beginners can't comprehend is how to let the odds pan out. Even though no one is immune to getting upset after being one-out-rivered in a huge pot, the experienced players understand the other 43 times will go their way.

Short answer poker teaches patience (or lets you gauge how little you have) and to really look at others, (yes to get a read on them and take all there money, but getting outside of our own space is a good thing).

Not so short answer is that poker is a journey of self discovery. I know that sounds like a new age pile of crap, but it is really true. To become a better poker player you really have to examine and know yourself. My example, I have certain mood swings that I know if one is going I should not go near a poker table or I wil lose. It took me a little bit of time to recognize this fact, and a lotta 'bit o time to develope the discipline not to play when I am in one of these moods.

I'm sure everyone here has things that that have discovered about themselves by trying to become a better card player.

its not over until the last card...basically means that you have to keep your head up and everything can still turn out ok, it only takes a chip and a chair

Poker has long been a methaphor for life.....ever heard the saying " if you play your cards right". I think it teaches you that no matter how blessed you think you are, life will have its ups and downs, they are unavoidable....but if keep doing the right thing, you will eventually come out ahead..

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Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.

Very good Franky...and I believe very true.

I shall add a little something here. Poker and Life!

Life

In the beginner there was nothingness. The God Created the Earth, and Man born.

Then Woman was Born.

Man and Women invested their Sweat into the World

Then Woman and Man lived, aging constantly.

Then They Died.

But they Past on there knowledge to there Children.

Poker

PokerStars Created Online Poker Room

The First Mmeber was Born

The Second Member Was Born

The Members Invested there Money into the Game.

They played Poker, slowing losing money to the Poker Room.

They inspred younger players to play.

Then they Lost there money.

Then They were defeated.