Folding Aces, Winning Life: How Poker High Stakes Logic Sharpens Your Decision-Making DNA

Let me travel back to Las Vegas, last summer. The sun blazed outside in a heat wave, but inside, the air was frigid, nearly a perfect opposite of the casino’s ferocity. Clearly different from the Poker High Stakes, glittering environment of the rest of the casino, I was sitting at a poker table, sporting a hoodie and trousers. The sound of slot machines and chip clinks filled the floor around me, but in the poker room, the silence was almost spooky.

For a poker player, the gentle clicking of chips being moved by the players was the most exquisite sound in the world.

The Poker High Stakes Were High

This was not just any game. With 10,000 participants drawn from all around the globe, it was the World Series of Poker, the premier event. The winner would walk away with $10 million, and we had paid $10,000 to enter. The Poker High Stakes were extremely high, and the atmosphere was tense.

And then it happened—I found myself in one of the toughest poker scenarios I had ever faced.

The Hand: Pocket Aces

I was dealt the best starting hand in poker. Naturally, I raised a sixty-year-old American opponent when he placed a bet. Then, to my astonishment, a German man my age, seated behind me in the small blind position, simply called. That was uncommon and not usually advised. The American man also called, and now three players remained. The dealer set out the flop—a Jack, a Seven, and a Nine.

I started to wonder: Do I still have the best hand? I placed a small bet since I had an overpair, but it was still the best one. That’s when the German man moved all-in. He had more chips than I did. Suddenly, my tournament life was about to change.

Poker and Life: The Overlapping DNA

Outside of this poker game, top Norwegian managers rely on me as a trusted adviser. In my professional life, I do not dress in jeans and hoodies. My job is to counsel on wise business decisions, and I wear a suit. Over the years, I have realized that life, business, and poker are not all that different. At their core, they share the same foundation:

• Strategy
• Tactics
• Information gathering and application

Whether it’s betting your chips at the poker table, investing millions, or buying your first house, the fundamental dilemma remains the same: How do you know what the right choice is?

Three Essential Lessons Poker Teaches for Life and Business

Lesson One: Sort Out the Information That Matters

In poker, you analyze:

• Your opponent’s behavior
• Betting patterns
• Their physical tells

In business, you must distinguish between:

• Critical data
• Market trends
• Irrelevant noise

Whether you’re an athlete, a teacher, or a CEO, success depends on:

• Tuning into the right knowledge
• Ignoring distractions

Returning to the table, I considered: stack sizes, player positions, possible hand ranges, and live tells. I had made past calls based on subtle cues like noticing someone’s pulse quicken.

Lesson Two: Understand How Others See You

At the poker table, how my opponents perceive me is crucial.

Do they see me as tight, passive, aggressive, or creative? My small flop bet—less than 25% of the pot—could be seen as weakness. If my opponent thought I was bluffing, he might go all-in. In business and life, the same rule applies. How do people see you? Does a CEO see themselves the same way employees do? Do investors, media, and customers share that perception?

Understanding how others see you helps you navigate business and life more effectively.

Lesson Three: Decisions Matter More Than Results

Poker is a game of volatility. Even when you make the right decision, you can still lose the hand. The key question is: If I make this decision 100 times, will it be profitable in the long run? In life, too, you can:

• Follow the right process and still fail
• Succeed even when making bad choices

It’s about making the best decisions—not just chasing good results.

The Vegas Decision: Folding Pocket Aces

Back to Las Vegas—I finally folded my Pocket Aces. Why? Based on my analysis, I concluded that my German opponent had a stronger hand. He likely had three-of-a-kind, and I lost half my stack. At that moment, it felt terrible. But in retrospect, I realized it was the right decision.

Sometimes, the right decision doesn’t feel good immediately.

Final Thoughts: A Masterclass in Decision-Making

Poker is not just about gambling. It is a game of:

• Skill
• Psychology
• Calculated risks

The lessons from poker—filtering vital information, understanding perception, and prioritizing smart decisions—apply to business, relationships, and personal growth.

Whether you are:

• Negotiating a deal
• Making a career move
• Facing personal crossroads

Success depends on focusing on the right process—not just chasing wins.

The True Poker High Stakes of Life

Like poker, life rewards those who play the long game.

• Good decisions compound over time
• Winning every hand isn’t necessary—making the right choices is

Next time you’re in a high-pressure situation, ask yourself: Am I betting on noise, or on truth? The Poker High Stakes are always higher than they seem. Think wisely. Be patient. And remember—sometimes, the folds you make bring the biggest rewards.