Do veterans make for good poker players?

There are estimated to be around 20 million war veterans in the USA. These brave men and women come from all sections of the US military, from the army to the navy and air force. Of course, once they leave the forces, they have to find ways to survive on civvy street. Some war veterans choose to play online poker to make money – many use a BetMGM online promo code to help them win more. Serving in the forces is great for building up some really useful personal skills that can be used in later life, as well as when in the military. Some of these are perfect for playing poker successfully and can help make veterans some of the toughest opponents to face – online or in person.

But which skills make veterans such good poker players?

 Good under pressure

 Serving in the military could involve a number of roles across many different theatres of war or postings. Any veterans who have spent much time in the military will, at some point, be almost guaranteed to be placed in stressful situations with high levels of risk attached. This is the same for all army roles – from frontline infantry troops to pilots, sailors, mechanics and all other roles you could serve in. This is actually one of the best transferrable skills a military career gives to veterans and sets them up to be great at the game. As they are used to being able to handle stress and risk, they will stay in control of their emotions to make the right call when stakes are high.

 Quick thinking

 Poker is a pretty fast-paced game which needs seriously quick thinking at times. This could be when reacting to what other players do in a hand or trying to quickly work out what your next move should be. Those who have served in the military have an advantage as they will have spent years having to think on their feet and react to what is happening around them. This ability to spontaneously take in what is going on and to quickly make the right call helps make veterans good poker players.

 Can keep things in perspective

 Whatever role a veteran has served in, from the USAF to the Marines, they will probably have to deal with some truly upsetting and harrowing things during their career. Even backroom staff could be affected through hearing of terrible incidents or seeing haunting images from their time in service. While this is naturally hard to deal with, it also provides a real perspective on life for when they leave. Having this sort of perspective allows veterans to not get too down when they lose a hand and generally keep things in proportion. In the long term, this can help them be more successful overall at poker.

 Experience

 As with everything in life, experience is a critical factor in being a good poker player. While serving in the military keeps people very busy most of the time, there is the chance for regular downtime when not on patrol or active. This downtime is often filled by playing cards which sees a lot of veterans quite adept at poker when they leave. This experience gives them a natural edge when playing and is something they can bring to the table in order to succeed.

Used to following a plan

 One of the most important traits of any good poker player is discipline. It can help not only while at the table but also while away from it. Possessing good discipline, for example, can ensure you put in the hours to get better at the game and to fold when you know you should! Putting all of this together can really help you win more often at poker and to be a decent player. Veterans have a real edge as they have superb discipline instilled in them from their service days and are used to sticking to an agreed plan or system.

 Veterans make for awesome poker players

There is no doubt that serving in any military role can help give you key skills for playing poker. As the above shows, a military career can really build up some crucial talents that not only help when serving but also when at the poker table. This is great news for lots of veterans who can sometimes struggle to find normal work after leaving the forces. By using the skills they have to win money at poker, it gives them a real lifeline if work is scarce or is a way to supplement their main income.