I love poker. Texas Hold 'Em is my poker game of choice, but I'll play any type- Video Poker, Omaha, it doesn't matter. However, most Poker tournaments are Hold 'Em and I've learned to play the game well. I've also learned not only a lot about poker, but a lot about life just by playing poker. Even though I'm just learning the lessons to transfer from the game of poker to the game of life, I wanted to share them in the hopes of not only helping myself, but hopefully helping others see things in a new way.

Hopefully, those of you reading this have a basic knowledge of the game of poker. If not, head on over to http://pokerstars.com for the basics and not so basics, plus some great tips and a place to play since this article is not a poker lesson!

Being bipolar, I do not always play poker as well as I could or should. Whenever I get manic, I lack the judgement to make the proper calls and I'm a very sloppy and reckless player. Whenever my mood stabilizes- to a manageable degree anyway- I reflect back on past plays I've made and I'm constantly analyzing my game play. I take a lot from each hand I play, whether I realize it at the time or not.

I've learned to get a sense of when a player is bluffing or whether they have a real hand and are betting legitimately. I've learned that even though my hand may look good as hole cards, if someone bets big and I call them, I stand a big chance of losing the chips I've earned already, thus, it's better to fold my hand and wait for the next one.

So what does all this poker talk have to do with life? A lot, I believe. Here is what I've learned to date:

Take your time! There have been many times I've been playing a tournament and have been high stacked, close to the end. I'll draw good hole cards, and then someone will bet much higher than the minimum bet. It's very tempting to call that person with the rich anticipation of gaining a huge stack of chips, but on the other hand, if I do call them and lose, I could lose my entire stack, thus losing the tournament itself. It's much better to fold unless I know I'll still have enough chips if I lose to make my final goal of placing high in the tourney.

Apply that to life by not jumping at the first chance of everything without carefully weighing your options and the consequences of your final decision. In the end, if you jump forward without fully analyzing all avenues, pros and cons, you could lose everything you've worked hard for.

Read people. Never assume you fully know someone. I don't chat much when I'm playing because it breaks my focus, but I'll say hi if I see a name I know and exchange light small talk. And there are some players with whom I've become familiar enough to know how they play: if they bluff, do they bet high every hand, and so forth. However, I never take my knowledge for granted. I'll use it as a handy tool when I'm choosing how to play my hands against those people, but I'll never assume they'll do exactly as I expect. I've been bluffed by some of the seemingly nicest people and lost big.

Apply that knowledge to life by never taking people at face value and always keeping an open mind, no matter who that person may be.

As contradictory as this may sound to what I said previously about not going "all in" without weighing the pros and cons, there are times when we must take a chance or lose it forever. Things are not always as they seem, in poker or real life. That person betting high may be bluffing, and if I would still have a good stack of chips even if I lose, but I know there is a good chance of winning that hand and coming out way ahead, sometimes I will take that chance. Of course, with each hand, there are always several factors to mull, same as with life and each situation we face.

Sometimes, it may be to our benefit to go "all-in", and take a chance that we will come out ahead. It may be our only chance.

I like to slow play my hands. Many people who play will get dealt a high pair, or a high suited hole deal and go all in before the flop. (The flop is the first three community cards which are dealt and can help you determine whether to play your cards or fold). Most of the time, they lose on the very first hand of the tournament. I very seldom raise before the flop because I just don't know how those next five cards will come out and whether my good hand will be good enough. So I wait for the flop to see how things go.

I apply that to life all the time. I'm more of a wait and see how things go because when I plan things, they usually do not go accordingly. I like to take life as it comes. This doesn't work for everyone, of course. But playing that way showed me that I need more motivation in my life.

I also love to trap people when I know I have the highest hand and will win, no matter what. I'll either not bet at all or I'll bet low and let someone else think they have the higher hand and bet higher, thus giving me a higher chip stack.

How does this apply to life? Mystery and control of your own life, believe it or not. Sometimes it's better to make people wonder something about you. You're still in control of your life and your own decisions, and you are in charge of the plan of action for the moment. You call the shots, and you know exactly what will happen at that particular time, or in that situation.

These are just a few of the lessons of poker- and life- I've learned. As I play more, I'll learn more and hope to share more. In the meantime, I hope something I've shared will help you!