Generating Alpha Podcast Episode 26: Annie Duke - Bestselling Author and Former Professional Poker Player
Jul 3, 2025
Annie Duke, a former professional poker player and bestselling author, dives into decision-making under uncertainty. She shares her unique journey from cognitive science to the poker world, revealing how her academic background shaped her strategy. Annie discusses common biases in decision-making, the importance of recognizing when to quit, and introduces frameworks like expected value that can apply to everyday choices. Her insights on assessing risk and the psychology behind decisions make this conversation both fascinating and practical.
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From Card Games To Pro Poker
- Annie Duke describes growing up in a card-playing family and first exposure to poker through her brother in college.
- She started playing during a grad school break, did well immediately, and never returned to academia to pursue poker professionally.
Poker Reveals Cognitive Science In Practice
- Poker vividly exemplified cognitive biases and uncertainty that Annie studied in grad school, especially self-serving bias.
- She later merged cognitive science and poker lessons into talks and her book Thinking in Bets.
Predictable Risk Patterns At The Table
- Players fluctuate between risk-seeking when losing and risk-averse when winning, a pattern linked to prospect theory.
- You can roughly predict players' styles (tight/loose, aggressive/passive) from context but must update with observed actions.
