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#611: Liv Boeree, Poker and Life — Core Strategies, Turning $500 into $1.7M, Cage Dancing, Game Theory, and Metaphysical Curiosities

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Jul 28, 2022

Guest

Liv Boeree

Liv Boeree, a successful poker player and game theory enthusiast, shares her journey from astrophysics to high-stakes poker. She reveals insights on turning a mere $500 into $1.7 million and discusses the psychological complexities of competitive poker. Liv draws fascinating parallels between poker strategies and investment decisions, emphasizing the importance of emotional control under pressure. The conversation also touches on navigating uncertainty, the influence of social media on perception, and the role of intuition in performance.

01:38:52

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ANECDOTE

Poker Beginnings

Liv Boeree's poker career began with a reality show where she learned to play.
Despite a meltdown on the show, she discovered her passion for poker after winning a small tournament.

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ANECDOTE

Unconventional Early Career

Before turning to poker, Liv Boeree pursued various jobs, including goth modeling and cage dancing, to make ends meet.
She applied for a reality show about poker to avoid getting a "real job."

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ANECDOTE

First Tournament Win

In her first poker tournament, Liv Boeree entered with minimal funds and ended up winning.
This early success fueled her confidence and passion for the game.

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From Metal to Poker: Unconventional Journeys

06:28 • 8min

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The Allure of Poker: A Journey of Strategy and Emotion

14:35 • 17min

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Poker Strategies and Investing Insights

31:50 • 4min

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Mastering Poker: Strategies and Mindsets

36:03 • 17min

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The Tension of High-Stakes Poker: A Journey to the Final Table

53:00 • 3min

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Stress and Intuition in High Stakes

55:42 • 12min

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Navigating Uncertainty: Science, Skepticism, and Personal Experience

01:08:05 • 22min

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Humorous Reflections on Names and Upbringing

01:29:53 • 2min

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Endnotes of Self-Care

01:31:38 • 7min

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Liv Boeree, Poker and Life — Core Strategies, Turning $500 into $1.7M, Cage Dancing, Game Theory, and Metaphysical Curiosities | Brought to you by Wealthfront automated investing, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.

Liv Boeree (@Liv_Boeree) is one of the UK’s most successful poker players, winning both European Poker Tour and World Series of Poker championship titles during her professional career. Before poker she studied astrophysics and now focuses her time as a TV host and YouTuber specializing in game theory, futurism, and rationality. She also gives seminars on high-stakes decision-making, and recently spoke at the annual TED conference about the application of poker thinking to everyday life. In 2014, she co-founded Raising for Effective Giving (REG), a nonprofit based upon the philosophies of effective altruism that has raised over $14,000,000 for its carefully selected list of maximally cost-effective charities.

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[06:41] Youthful obsessions.

[11:14] How poker entered the picture.

[18:55] The qualities that made Liv excel at poker from the start.

[27:22] Liv’s advice to a newcomer wanting to learn poker.

[34:04] What Liv’s eight-week poker education curriculum might look like.

[42:11] Failure points that might discourage someone during this curriculum.

[44:07] Red mist, white noise, and fast math.

[50:18] Volcano-induced tournament participation and self-regulation.

[59:07] A skeptic’s experiences with the unexplainable.

[1:14:59] How does Liv rationally coexist with these experiences?

[1:18:49] How to become a better skeptic.

[1:24:59] Inadequate Equilibria and Moloch.