The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win

by Maria Konnikova

What I do have, I continue, is my background. “I have a PhD in psychology. I studied decision making—the sort of stuff you do every day, but from a theoretical perspective.” “A psychologist. Now that’s interesting. That could be really helpful in poker.” He leans over the table, lanky elbows framing his egg-white omelet. “I think you’re approaching it from the area of most value, especially of most differentiated value. All the other guys are very math-based, very data-based. This area is way more open.

Summary of MK’s starting point, her on-ramp, so to speak.

In Range, David Epstein reflects on the nature of the outsider: “Switchers are winners,” he writes.

Erik is especially intrigued by my language ability.

In many ways, poker does resemble language learning. After all, there is a new grammar, a new vocabulary,

psychology really is the most fascinating part of the game,” Erik says, interrupting my thought process. “What specifically about decision making did you study? Like Kahneman?” “Actually, my graduate adviser was Walter Mischel—you know, the marshmallow guy?”

“Oh wow. That’s exciting. Self-control is huge in the game.”

picking up of von Neumann’s challenge: poker as a lens into the most difficult and important life decisions we have to make, an exploration of chance and skill in life—and an attempt to learn to navigate it and optimize it to the best of our potential.