There is an undeniable connection between poker and real-life decision-making. Success in both depends on a blend of logic, emotional control, and self-awareness. In their chapter 'Decision Making' from the new book The Poker Powered Brain, Kristen Foxen and Lena Evans highlight how poker teaches us to thrive under uncertainty, manage outcomes beyond our control, and learn continuously from our choices.
The chapter also explores the mental and physical habits that support stronger decisions – mindfulness, reflection, and discipline. Foxen and Evans emphasize that strong decision-making is not just about knowing what to do but also about executing under pressure and evolving through experience.
Decision Making
In both poker and life, decision-making is essential. Every choice — whether at the card table, in business, or our relationships — requires a blend of logic, intuition, and emotional control. Poker is a proving ground where we learn to make decisions based on incomplete information, just as we must in real life. We rarely see the whole picture, so we gather what clues we can: betting patterns, timing, body language, and our opponents' tendencies. Then we decide, often with a mix of logic and gut instinct.
What separates strong decision-makers is the quality of their decisions and how they handle the outcomes. A solid decision can lead to a bad result. This is true at the poker table and in life. What matters is accepting outcomes, learning from them, and maintaining clarity for the next move. Obsessing over things we cannot control weakens our future decisions. The key is to focus on the process over the result.
Patience is critical. When luck seems to favor everyone else and your chips are low, it is tempting to make risky plays. Resist. Wait for your moment. The phrase 'a chip and a chair' means that you can win as long as you are still in the game — discipline and patience matter.
Poker sharpens decision-making skills by demanding critical thinking, emotional control, and strategy. Regular play boosts cognitive function: attention, memory, and problem-solving. It also fosters self-awareness. Reviewing past games reveals mistakes and helps us grow. Emotions can sabotage us, so we must learn to stay calm even under pressure. We must also recognize when emotional factors, like tilt, distort our judgment. For example, fear of folding the best hand may cause us to call when we know we are beat.
Cognitive bias plays a significant role in poor decisions. Biases like selective perception and confirmation bias can skew our thinking. We may notice only information that supports our beliefs, or interpret facts in a way that confirms them. In poker, this might look like assuming an opponent is bluffing because they have done so before, even if the current situation does not support that read.
Bad decisions can also result from limited information, pressure from others, or sheer habit. For example, players might call too often simply because they always have. Strong decision-making requires awareness, reflection, and a willingness to adapt.
Poor choices off the table can ruin even the best players
Beyond hands and strategies, poker demands solid decisions about what games to play, when to play, and how to manage money. Poor choices off the table can ruin even the best players. Many talented players go broke due to poor bankroll management. Strong decisions must extend beyond the felt.
Poker is humbling. It is not just about knowing the right play but executing under pressure. Even pros make mistakes. Foxen reflects on a televised final table where she called despite knowing she was beat. Her emotions overpowered her logic. That experience pushed her to work with mental game coaches to strengthen her mindset and emotional control.
Even without a coach, we can do the work. Physical health supports mental clarity — diet, sleep, and exercise are foundational. A healthy body supports a sharp mind. Stressful environments, like poker tables, call for mental frameworks: questions to focus the mind during big decisions. Ask yourself: What am I representing? What would I do with a strong hand? How often do I need to be right to call? These habits ground our thinking in logic and reduce the power of stress.
Another overlooked factor is game selection. Choose games that match your skill level and bankroll. Sometimes the best learning comes from tough competition, but if your bankroll is at risk, it is smarter to take the easier route. Always make these decisions logically, not emotionally.
Decision-making is the only part of the game we can truly control. Outcomes are uncertain, but success will follow if we consistently make good decisions.
Here are a few practical tips to keep improving:
- Gather all the information you can.
- Know your goals and values.
- Evaluate each option carefully.
- Use tools like decision matrices when appropriate.
- Get perspectives from others, especially those who think differently.
- Practice mindfulness to reduce stress and distraction.
- Reflect on past decisions to learn from them.
- Commit to your choices and follow through.
Decision-making is a skill. Like poker, it improves with focus, discipline, and practice. Keep working at it, and you will become a stronger poker player and a better decision-maker in life.
You can buy The Poker Powered Brain, by Lena Evans and 15 world-renowned poker professionals, including Kristen Foxen, now.
