80 Comments
Oct 15Liked by Maria Konnikova

1) Congratulations! Well done! Wonderful. But... but nothing! This is awesome.

2) Vesper Lynd is the best Bond girl.

3) Your job is to take every advantage and fully exploit the rules as they are today. If someone doesn't like that, then your job helps them identify what, if any, rules are worth changing next time.

4) Now you can play the $125 daily at Aria whenever you damn well please and you can tell assholes to kiss your ass. Both fun.

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author

Thank you, Chris :). Vesper *is* the best. And yay, Aria!!

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Congrats again on winning.

This was a very nice piece. In my view, you are being overly kind to Chad. He is in the business of entertainment and self-promotion, and has consistently put those goals above basic decency in my view. I do not think he is good for poker, and I'm sorry you had to get out in his crosshairs right as you hit a career milestone.

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author

Thank you so much, Matt. I really appreciate it.

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Oct 15Liked by Maria Konnikova

Congratulations! And hey, Mr. Chad, you've convinced me to upgrade to paid here.

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founding
Oct 15Liked by Maria Konnikova

Likewise. Bonus points for the writing tie-in to Auden. 👏

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author

Many thanks!! I really appreciate the support.

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author

Thank you so much!!

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Oct 16Liked by Maria Konnikova

Nothing but... Congratulations!

Love your writing, keep on kicking buts. :) :)

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author

Thank you!!!

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Oct 15Liked by Maria Konnikova

Holy shit congratulations! Thanks for bringing us along!

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author

Thank you so much!

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Oct 18·edited Oct 18Liked by Maria Konnikova

Congrats Maria beautifully articulated. I always enjoying seeing you at the tables. Its absolutely imperative that we have strong characters like you call out this kind of bullying both online and at the tables.

I dont even understand the appeal of Norman Chad. He's constantly making outdated remarks about women on his stream. Talking about his multiple marriages like its some kind of badge of honour. He also has 0 insight about the game and its nuances. Its 2024 we deserve commentators who are open minded and have some degree of insight about how the game is played.

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author

Thanks so much, Toby. I appreciate it - and you!!

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Oct 16Liked by Maria Konnikova

Congratulations, Maria! Excellent win, excellent post. What a total douche you are, Norman Chad. I would have never expected this from you. And you forgot one more state, Pennsylvania.

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author

Thanks for the support, Lisa.

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Oct 16Liked by Maria Konnikova

In no particular order, the bracelet is amazing (congrats), The Biggest Bluff is amazing (couldn’t put it down), and this post is amazing (wonderfully articulated rant). Keep grinding and finding success!

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author

Thank you, on all three counts!!

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Oct 15Liked by Maria Konnikova

Congrats on your win Maria! Just shake off the haters and enjoy the hard earned bracelet!

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author

Thank you, Max!

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Congratulations!

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Thank you!

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Congratulations!!! That’s amazing.

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Thanks so much!

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Oct 17Liked by Maria Konnikova

Sick burn!!

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Okay. You convinced me to resubscribe. I didn't make it a week. :)

I'm thrilled for you. I know you made it a (recent?) goal to only complete in bracelet events. This is a huge win for you.

It's ad nauseam, the superiority complex men hold over women in poker—really inside the gambling arena in general. This reminds me of when I first started dealing many years ago, no women were allowed to deal craps. I think that's what inspired me to see how far I could go in the business... so after achieving dealing dice at Aria, the rest was... shall we say downhill from there. And I retired soon after.

This is an excellent, well written article. (Screw Norman Chad, luckily I didn't see his response the day I noted your win. )

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author

Thank you so much, Patti.

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Oct 17Liked by Maria Konnikova

Congratulations Maria.

You will see that his “ Rag ‘“ will become a “ positive Streisant effect event “ for you .

I enjoyed reading how you magnificently de-engineered and exposed Mr Chad , count me in as a supportive stranger for now and remind me when we meet to never get on your shit list.

Bravo Maria.

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Thank you. I appreciate it!

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I just want to say that I'm so sorry that someone felt he had to downplay your victory.

You won.

You used the rules to win (as everyone should).

You even shared what you did with the community (when you could have hidden it).

I came here because @CHARLESDUHIGG linked to this article in his first Substack Note. I kept reading because you did an excellent job writing, making me want to read more. And judging by the comments and likes, I am not alone.

Yet another victory for you.

Be well.

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author

Thank you so much. That means a lot!

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founding
Oct 17Liked by Maria Konnikova

Ms. K., victories are never tainted with bullshit, nor is there any need for an asterisk :-) While we adore your passion and feel your pain, in a phrase of this era, you must never allow anyone to steal your joy. I am much more favorable to cash games, but your victory is every bit as legitimate as the one who leaves the cash game table with the lead. Both parties played the game the best :-) We definitely hope you did celebrate not only a victory for yourself and your team, but for those who have learned from your example and cheered you every step of the way. Never forget that you are not merely good, but great for this game. Here's to many more beautiful bracelets to come, all of which will be fully legitimate however you earn them :-) Congratulations, your maturation as an exceptional poker player, online or otherwise, continues to be a wonderful story.

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author

thank you so much; this is really lovely of you to say!

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