bankroll exploit GTO variance Nate Silver explores poker psychology, discussing how poker functions as a "controlled addiction" and the mental states that drive peak performance. He shares insights on professional poker mindset, decision-making under pressure, and the balance between strategy and intuition. Nate Silver emphasizes poker as peak experience pursuit, discusses GTO vs exploitative play balance, and flow state importance. Strategic Mindset & Flow State: Silver describes poker tournaments as "chasing peak experience" and compares it to "chasing the dragon" Flow state creates different operating system where players process information more intuitively Professional poker requires balancing GTO strategy with exploitative adjustments based on opponent reads Live poker allows for image management and flexible playing styles depending on table dynamics Bankroll management becomes crucial when playing stakes higher than your comfort zone The importance of not over-optimizing and maintaining work-life balance in poker careers Solver training helps track improvement through EV scores, even when making exploitative deviations