“The Biggest Bluff:” on luck, life and poker

Author and psychologist Maria Konnikova used high-stakes poker to explore luck, skill and decision-making. Along the way she become a professional poker player.

Listen 48:59
(photo credit, Landon Speers)

(photo credit, Landon Speers)

Guest: Maria Konnikova

MARIA KONNIKOVA, an author and Ph.D in psychology had a run of bad luck, but oddly found that poker was the perfect vehicle for her to explore her interest chance, skill, and human behavior. She went all in on No Limit Texas Hold’em under the tutelage of a renowned Poker champ, eventually becoming a poker pro, winning $300,000 and playing in the World Series of Poker. Konnikova writes about her journey with cards in her new book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win. We’ll talk to her about luck vs. skill, reading people, competing in a male-dominated sport, and the life lessons she learned along the way.

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