Playing card games isn’t just a pastime. It’s also a great way to bond with family and friends, or get to know new acquaintances better. The activity also remains extraordinarily popular; the card game market generated some $5.6 billion in worldwide revenue in 2020 alone. And when you consider the range of classic card games out there –– from poker, solitaire, and Blackjack, to the likes of UNO and Monopoly Deal –– perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise.
But are fun and bonding all there is to it? Perhaps not. When you dive into these games a little deeper, you might just realize that there are tons of life skills to learn from them as well.
1. Boosted Hand-Eye Coordination
Hand-eye coordination refers to the human ability to complete activities that require the simultaneous use of both hands and eyes. And while we often associate it with sports, it’s something that can be honed with cards as well. For instance, Gamerules.com describes the game Slapjack as being quite fast-paced and requiring quick reflexes. This and similar games can definitely aid in developing your coordination and improving your reaction time, which is great for carrying out everyday tasks like typing, driving, and even cooking.
2. Going All-In
According to Poker.org’s list of common poker terms, the term “all-in” refers to putting all of your chips into the pot. In other words, it’s putting everything you have left into what you hope will be a winning effort –– metaphorically speaking, “giving it your all.” The same concept is valued when it comes to everyday challenges, like completing a project or task you have to overcome. It’s about fully committing to something in order to succeed. But the lesson isn’t necessarily to take this approach whenever one faces a challenge or need. In poker, players weigh odds and scenarios carefully before going all-in. It’s a lesson in how to assess situations and determine when it’s necessary or worthwhile to put more weight into an effort.
3. Confidence
Believe it or not, card games can help us become more confident in our day-to-day lives, too. As we mentioned in our ‘How to Feel and Look Good Every Single Day’ post, confidence depends heavily on one’s state of mind. In cards, as you improve and become a better player, you can also become more confident taking risks, handling responsibilities, and asserting yourself in various situations (going all-in on a poker hand being an example here as well). Similarly, it’s important to learn how to handle the ups and downs of day-to-day life and trust that you’ll make the right decisions when confronted with challenges.
4. Improved Memory
On a more specific note, many studies have shown that card games are great for your brain. Because most games require strategic thinking, problem-solving, and memorization to an extent, your cognitive abilities in these areas are effectively exercised when you play. It’s not a stretch to say that playing certain card games can boost certain abilities as a result –– including memory.
5. People Skills
Playing games allows you to meet different people with different playing styles. There are players who are more on the careful side, those who are natural risk-takers, and those who thrive on consistent application of developed strategies. Through constant interaction with this kind of diverse range of people, your social skills are likely to improve. You’ll be able to communicate better, come up with new anecdotes, and understand different perspectives better. You may even find that you’re better able to understand people without their needing to say anything at all –– a skill that’s important in games like bridge, or certain types of poker.
Overall, there are many useful life lessons and takeaways you can draw from being an avid card game player –– so don’t be afraid to pick up a deck and start shuffling!
