How Your Gaming Skills Can Make You A Better Poker Player

While gaming and the classic card game of poker are different in many ways, certain skills are transferable from one game to the other.

Gamers often find that the skills they develop playing video games come in handy at the poker table, too. Both games require players to use strategic thinking, read their opponents, make quick decisions, and be adaptable.

Gaming skills can transfer to in-person physical poker games, as well as games played online at traditional online casinos and Bitcoin poker sites.

Kane Pepi explains that crypto poker sites, which allow players to wager with cryptocurrency, typically offer faster payouts and more anonymity. This makes them a popular option among gamers.

However, regardless of the gaming platform chosen, the skills fine-tuned during video gaming will benefit a player’s next round of poker.

In this article, we will review the top gaming skills that can be used during poker games. 

Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is vital in video gaming, and it is equally as important during poker games. Video gamers often fine-tune their strategic thinking skills while playing real-time strategy games like “StarCraft” or “Age of Empires”.

In these games, players must constantly analyze what is happening in the game and anticipate their opponent’s next move. Beyond that, players must also consider their own strategy and plot their way to victory.

This is similar to poker, where players need to access the cards they are dealt, think about the odds, and predict what their opponent’s cards are and what their opponents will do. 

In video games, players get comfortable always thinking ahead of the action, and that can give them an advantage when playing poker as it may help them outsmart, outthink, and outmaneuver their opponents. 

Adaptability

Being adaptable is important in video games and during poker games. Video game players often get used to the fast-paced environment of video games, especially in battle royale games like “Fortnite” and “Apex Legends”.

In these games, players have to react quickly to a constantly changing environment and ongoing threats and change tactics at the drop of a hat. The ability to change strategies easily is vital in poker and is a key skill that many video gamers take with them to the poker table. 

In poker, each hand is different, and the dynamics of a game can change at any time. Because video gamers are comfortable with adapting and can adjust their strategies accordingly they often excel at poker, where they can work with the cards they are dealt and adapt to opponents moves. 

Quick Decision-Making

In competitive first-person shooters like “Call of Duty” or “Counter-Strike,” split-second decisions can determine the outcome of a firefight or match. Gamers are accustomed to making rapid assessments of the situation and executing decisive actions under intense pressure. 

This ability to think fast under pressure translates perfectly to the poker table, where snap decisions are often necessary to seize opportunities or avoid disaster, such as deciding whether to bluff or fold in a critical hand.

Quick decision-making is a vital skill for both video gaming and poker, and players who have honed this skill by playing video games often excel at the poker table in physical establishments, online sites, and crypto casinos. 

Risk Assessment

In strategy games like “Chess” or “Civilization,” players must weigh the potential benefits of their moves against the risks involved. This skill directly applies to poker, where players must assess the potential profitability of their decisions with the likelihood of success or possible failure. 

For example, just as a player in “Civilization” must decide whether to risk expanding their empire into disputed territory, a poker player has to evaluate whether the potential payoff of a bluff outweighs the risk of being called by their opponent.

Video gamers often come to the poker player with highly developed risk assessment skills, which greatly benefit them as they decide what poker hands are worth wagering on, when to fold, and when it’s worth bluffing their way to success. 

Reading Opponents

In multiplayer online games like “League of Legends” or “Dota 2,” players get good at reading their opponents. They must constantly analyze their opponents’ strategies, tendencies, and tells to gain a competitive advantage.

The ability to read opponents’ behavior and predict their moves is vital in poker, too. In poker, understanding your opponents’ tendencies can mean the difference between winning and losing. 

Because of their gaming experience, video gamers are often skilled at picking up on subtle cues and patterns, such as betting patterns or body language during poker games, which can give them a significant edge in reading their opponents at the poker table.

Patience and Discipline

Some video games require players to invest hours upon hours of time into playing. Multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) like “World of Warcraft” and “Final Fantasy XIV” are both video games where players dedicate countless hours to level up their character and acquire unique assets.

The time that these games take produces players who are patient and disciplined, and both of these characteristics translate well to the poker table.

In poker, success often comes to players who are able to wait for the right opportunities and who can exercise discipline during games. Gamers are accustomed to putting in the time and effort required to master complex systems, which translates well to the grind of poker.

Competitive Mindset

Video gamers often strive for excellence and are competitive within their own gaming community. Beyond that, gamers are typically dedicated to betting themselves and are competitive by nature. This same drive for excellence carries over to poker, where players often dedicate hours to learning about and practicing the card game. 

Video gamers who have a competitive mindset often see more success at the poker table, as they are more likely to dedicate the time and effort needed in order to secure big wins. 

Conclusion

Video gamers often enjoy and succeed while playing poker because many of the skills learned through video gaming transfer directly to the poker table. Video gamers are often strategic thinkers and adaptable to changing environments, both of which are vital in poker.

Additionally, video gamers are comfortable making quick decisions, assessing risks, and reading their opponents. They also bring a competitive mindset to any game they play, which sets them up for success when playing video games, poker, or any other game.