Beyond Poker: Fedor Holz – When the Game Becomes Philosophy

Fedor Holz – a name that redefined what a modern poker professional looks like. In 2016, he dominated Las Vegas, but just a few months later, he announced he'd be slowing down. Not for lack of success, but rather because he became intrigued with why success happens and how to translate this 'internal guide' into life beyond the tables.

The Connection Between Poker and the World

Holz grew up in the era of solvers, data, and community learning. His career was rooted in systematicity from the start. He quickly transitioned from online tournaments to live high rollers, collecting titles and final tables. Yet, he didn't lock his approach into a box labeled 'just for pros.' Instead, he began translating it into language understood by athletes, entrepreneurs, and students alike.

That's why the most interesting aspects of his work today lie outside the game itself. Holz and his team focus on habit-building to reduce emotional swings, training full presence before performances, and transferring the 'A-game' into non-sporting situations.

As a young grinder, he established rituals even when his bankroll was still fragile. Early rising, a quick mental warm-up, precisely planned blocks of study and rest. This routine became the backbone even when he was playing for millions. The summer of 2016 confirmed that a combination of technique and mindset works. After peaking, he consciously decided to slow down. Holz openly spoke about wanting to explore the mind and process more, rather than chasing results.

*"The right mindset is key. When I lose, I have my ritual – engage logic and keep playing."*

Projects Beyond Poker

Even when he announced retirement to the poker community after his big wins, it wasn't about endless holidays, sun, beaches, and drinks. Fedor swapped poker tables for offices, computers, and meetings, leading to several intriguing projects:

Primed Mind
Audio trainings focused on quick mental resets before important performances. Not empty motivational phrases, but guided protocols: breathing, visualization, bodywork, attention recalibration. Used by players, athletes, company founders, and students.
Pokercode
A community and educational platform that combines solver know-how with training regimes and team culture. Instead of talent myths, it offers structured study, feedback, and work routines. Pokercode connects players aiming for long-term performance.
Primed Group
An umbrella for content, training, and collaborations beyond poker. The goal is the same: transferring decision-making principles under uncertainty to business, sports, and education.

*"You can be as good as you want at poker, but if you're not disciplined at the table and off, you'll never get anywhere."*

How Mindset Works in Practice

Luxe high roller, the last three tables. The river changes everything. An opponent goes all-in. There's noise all around, but nothing in Fedor's movements suggests panic. He places his fingers on the edge of the table, takes two deep breaths, and refocuses on the game. He organizes the information, cuts out emotion. Call. The decision rests on presence, not 'gut feelings.' This type of calm is exactly what he teaches to carry beyond poker.

Holz's approach scales well because it addresses a universal issue – decision-making under pressure with incomplete information. A baseball batter, a swimmer before diving in, a manager facing a crucial decision, or a doctor before a tough surgery. Full presence is essential everywhere.

Thus, Fedor prepared universal steps for everyone, not just poker players, to reduce emotional variance and maintain awareness:

A minute-long protocol before performance: focusing on breath, quick visualization of the first important situation, a clear intent
Energy management: emphasis on sleep hygiene, short reset blocks during the day, avoiding aimless scrolling
Debrief after performance: post-performance reflection and analysis, focusing on learning rather than just winning

*"I believe there should always be a reason behind what you're doing... for me, it's always been hard to do something without a 'why.'"*

Today and Tomorrow

Holz still plays in select major series while mentoring and building teams. Primed Mind expands its library of topics, Pokercode adds new formats and partnerships. On the outside, it seems like he 'sacrificed' part of his career. Internally, he effectively scales things that can't be expanded simply by volume – presence, discipline, and the ability to learn.

This is Holz's world – small, repeatable steps. He took transferable principles from the game and built projects around them. He helped normalize mental training. He brought it from the periphery of preparation to the center. He turned the romantic notion of luck into craftsmanship. And he showed that the A-game isn't just a collection of lucky days but the result of small habits that keep your focus where you want it.

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