Lena Evans’ latest project blends poker with brain science, focusing on how the game enhances decision-making
Lena Evans, the founder of Poker League of Nations and a two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner, has released a new book titled The Poker Powered Brain: Play the Game. Train Your Brain. This latest project brings together some of the biggest names in the poker world and aims to show how the game can help sharpen mental skills.
The book blends poker strategy with brain science, focusing on how the game can enhance memory, focus, decision-making, and emotional control. To bring this idea to life, Evans gathered insight from a wide range of top players, including WSOP Main Event champions, WPT winners, and Hall of Fame inductees. Contributors include Phil Hellmuth, Maria Ho, Barry Greenstein, and Greg Raymer, among others.
Evans first learned poker in her forties, drawn in by its complexity and how it challenged her mentally. She found that playing regularly helped her stay sharp and emotionally aware. This experience led her to look more closely at the game’s cognitive benefits, especially for women and older adults—groups often left out of conversations around mental fitness.
The book is more than just a guide to poker; it’s part of a broader effort to promote brain health. Evans also partnered with supporters of women’s neurological wellness, including advocates for Alzheimer’s awareness, to highlight how games like poker can support mental longevity.
To celebrate the book’s release, readers who buy it between May 1–7 will be entered for a chance to win a private lesson with one of its collaborators. Evans and her team also plan to bring the book to poker events, where fans can meet the authors and discuss the mental side of the game.
Evans hopes this project will show that poker is more than a pastime—it’s a powerful tool for personal growth.
