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    The Art of the Perfect Poker Face

    43 min
    |
    |
    Jan 21, 2026
    PsychologyCommunicationSelf-Growth

    Explore the science behind maintaining an unreadable expression and detecting others' tells, from evolutionary advantages to practical techniques for mastering your own poker face in high-stakes situations.

    The Art of the Perfect Poker Face

    Best quote from The Art of the Perfect Poker Face

    “

    The best poker players aren't robots—they're people who've learned to use their emotions as information rather than letting emotions use them.

    ”
    R

    Generated by Rudra

    Input question

    Poker face

    Host voices
    Jacksonplay
    Milesplay
    Knowledge sources
    Unmasking the face
    The Biggest Bluff
    #POSITIVITY
    Emotions Revealed
    Read People Like a Book
    Flipnosis

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    Featured book summaries
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
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    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Award winning collection
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    Featured Topics
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Best books by Year
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
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    Featured authors
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    Unmasking the Perfect Bluff

    0:00
    0:20
    0:40
    0:46
    1:01
    1:10
    2

    The Science of Tells

    1:34
    1:34
    1:42
    2:02
    2:10
    2:32
    2:58
    3:17
    3:23
    3:41
    3:50
    4:09
    4:19
    4:38
    4:40
    4:59
    5:07
    5:09
    5:18
    5:37
    5:45
    5:45
    2:58
    6:18
    6:23
    3

    The Baseline Advantage

    6:37
    6:45
    7:01
    1:42
    7:21
    7:32
    7:47
    7:58
    8:14
    6:23
    8:41
    8:48
    9:09
    9:12
    9:31
    1:42
    9:53
    10:04
    10:19
    5:18
    10:44
    2:58
    4

    The Pressure Cooker Effect

    11:08
    11:19
    1:42
    11:45
    11:54
    12:10
    2:58
    3:18
    12:46
    13:05
    1:42
    13:28
    13:36
    13:50
    2:58
    5:09
    14:18
    14:36
    6:23
    14:57
    15:05
    15:21
    5:18
    15:42
    12:46
    16:04
    1:42
    5

    Reading the Room

    16:27
    16:37
    16:49
    1:42
    17:07
    17:16
    17:30
    17:33
    17:52
    17:58
    18:11
    18:18
    18:37
    1:42
    19:01
    2:58
    19:21
    14:18
    19:42
    19:49
    20:07
    1:42
    20:29
    20:37
    20:49
    20:55
    21:12
    5:18
    6

    The Evolutionary Edge

    21:30
    21:43
    1:42
    22:08
    14:18
    22:31
    22:39
    22:56
    6:23
    23:19
    23:24
    23:42
    23:52
    24:11
    24:19
    24:34
    5:18
    24:55
    25:06
    25:23
    25:23
    25:24
    25:28
    25:47
    1:42
    26:07
    26:13
    7

    The Bluff and Beyond

    26:26
    26:36
    26:51
    1:42
    27:16
    27:26
    27:43
    27:51
    28:07
    28:16
    28:28
    28:39
    28:53
    2:58
    29:16
    6:23
    29:35
    29:41
    29:55
    14:18
    30:16
    1:42
    30:42
    24:19
    31:01
    31:15
    8

    Your Personal Poker Face Playbook

    31:34
    31:35
    31:45
    32:09
    1:42
    32:32
    32:40
    32:59
    1:42
    19:42
    33:19
    33:43
    2:58
    34:13
    14:18
    34:31
    34:39
    35:01
    1:42
    35:21
    35:28
    35:45
    35:50
    36:06
    36:11
    36:33
    1:42
    36:57
    31:15
    9

    The Deeper Game

    37:23
    0:20
    37:50
    1:42
    38:25
    14:18
    38:51
    1:42
    39:13
    28:39
    39:35
    39:48
    40:07
    40:18
    40:37
    6:23
    41:00
    41:11
    41:26
    41:36
    41:49
    42:01
    42:15
    42:24
    42:37

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