Maria Konnikova: From bestselling author to the poker champion!

If you haven’t heard the name Maria Konnikova yet, you will most likely live behind the moon or simply have nothing to do with psychology or poker. Otherwise it would not be to explain how this name could have passed you. Everyone is talking about the Russian -born young woman, because she has not only made it into the bestseller list of the New York Times, but has also been convincing for two years at international poker events.

First academic, then a successful gambling

From a person who is on the Elite University Harvard you wouldn’t really expect this person to seek a career as a poker player. but sometimes the most impossible things happen. gambling will surely be able to confirm this. a 35-year-old woman from the usa with russian roots is currently proving that this is not just a hollow phrase. maria konnikova is called this woman by name that is currently an integral part of the poker media-and of course there are his reasons. actually, maria konnikova is a psychologist and writer who with works like Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes or The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It … Every Time even made the bestseller list of the new york times. the name maria konnikova is suddenly on everyone’s lips. we present the russian-american author who is currently mixing up the poker scene.

But for one of theirs new writer’s works, that I The Biggest Bluff Konnikova wanted to call the psychology behind the famous bluff – and learned poker for this purpose. For less than two years she took lessons at Poker legend Erik Seidel. And apparently the duo harmonized excellently. During this time Konnikova earned a modest sum of international poker tournaments 275.000 US-Dollar, the equivalent of almost 245,000 $ .

Victory at the PCA: Konnikova amazes poker world

The young woman impressively stated that Konnikovas are not just a coincidence or luck National Event des PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) to the proof of the bahamas, which she was able to win last year. but how is it possible even with professional training that a beginner will win big poker tournaments in less than two years? konnikova itself cannot really explain this, with the 35-year-old now giving insights into the secret of her game. at the beginning it was only about researching her new book. konnikova have that Interaction of happiness and individual skills want to examine. Poker, which is a card game in which both chance and strategy and ability decide on victory and defeat, was the perfect subject of investigation.

“I started playing poker when I researched for a book. I was interested in the topics of “happiness” and “skills”. And: How much in our lives do we control ourselves? How much not? And can we distinguish that at all? I came to the poker because I saw it as a metaphor for life and thus fitting to examine these topics. ”

In the meantime, however, the excursion planned as a book research into the world of the poker has become a certain extent, because Konnikova has at least initiated both her writer’s work and her academic career as a psychologist for the time being. Instead, she travels the world To take part in large poker tournaments.

Poker, win and learn for life?

The fact that Konnikova is currently one of the Most celebrated poker players If there are not too many acquaintances anyway, it appears all the more curious, considering that the academic has never had to deal with poker before her training. The psychologist even surprised that she developed a real passion for the card game in such a short time.

“I didn’t know anything about poker when I started. So I had no idea if I would have fun. I also didn’t know if I would be good at it. I just didn’t know what I was doing. However, it turned out that the answer to all these questions was ‘yes’. I have developed an incredible passion for poker. And I came to the conclusion of seeing Poker as a basic tool for everyone who wants to learn to make better decisions. ”

Ultimately, of course, the monetary advantage should also have played a role, because not many people will be able to claim that within a less than two years of training six -figure amount to have deserved. whether konnikova with poker earns more money in the end than with her work as a successful writer will probably only be shown in a few years. but having success in two completely different areas should certainly not turn out to be a disadvantage. but konnikova not only wants to make money with the poker game, but also develop humanly and in character. according to konnikova, poker is comparable to many parts of life. there, like here, you only have incomplete information about your environment and have to make it the best. if you want to be good in the poker, you will be good have to deal with uncertainties – just as in real life.