Claire Longo, co-founder of a women-led poker club and a leading voice in AI, brings sharp focus and strategy to the table during a recent tournament. For her, poker is more than a game—it’s a training ground for mastering probability, decision-making, and confidence. Courtesy photo
By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com
When the women of Los Alamos gather on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday nights to play poker, they’re not just betting chips. They’re betting on each other — building confidence, connection and trust in a women-led club that is quickly gaining attention.
At the heart of the club is a mother-daughter duo: Claire Longo, an AI expert with expertise in mathematics and machine learning, and her mother, Colette, an adventurous mom of six with a strong knack for strategy. Together, they promote a poker club that focuses as much on empowerment and intelligence as it does on the game itself.
To Claire, poker is more than a pastime. It is a masterclass in decision-making under uncertainty, reflecting the same principles she uses in her professional work with AI startups.
“It’s about risk management, probabilistic thinking and reading dynamic environments — all skills I use daily as a software engineer,” Claire said.
Colette, who homeschooled all her children, is as comfortable discussing educational theory as she is analyzing a hand of Texas Hold’em. She was drawn to creating a club with her daughter that offers women a space to learn not only the mechanics of poker but also its deeper intellectual value.
“I’ve always believed learning should be hands-on, whether it’s in a garden, a classroom or around a poker table,” Colette said. “Poker teaches critical thinking, pattern recognition and decision-making under pressure — the same skills I emphasized while homeschooling.”
Colette Longo, with her daughter Claire at World Tavern Poker New Mexico Regional Championships in Albuquerque. Courtesy photo.
Looking for a place where women could develop those skills together, Colette and Claire connected with Cat Scarberry, a certified World Tavern Poker tournament director at Los Alamos VFW Post 8874.
“We saw a sign in town about a local poker club and were honestly a little nervous to walk in,” Colette said. “But when we saw a woman leading it, we felt more at ease.”
“We’re so glad we were brave enough to show up,” Claire added. “Cat was incredibly welcoming from the start.”
Cat, whom the two affectionately call “poker mom”, is a firm leader who brings positive energy to the room and manages two tables on any given night.
“For me, it’s about more than just the game. It’s about building a place where everyone feels welcome,” Cat said. “We’re a mixed group that supports each other and helps newcomers find their footing. We share hands, offer coaching and grow together. It’s free, educational and communal, but more than anything, we’re a family.”
Cat said she has been playing in the male-dominated poker scene for quite a while.
“Far fewer women play poker than men right now, and a lot of that comes down to old stereotypes. I’m really grateful to see more women stepping up to encourage others to join.”
Cat Scarberry, left, at the World League Poker Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Courtesy photo
Where Poker Meets Probability
The connection between poker and AI is not just philosophical; it’s mathematical.
Claire runs her own MLOps advisory firm, where she mentors and advocates for women in the AI industry. She pursues this mission under the bold personal brand Statistician in Stilettos.
“Everything in poker hinges on probability,” Claire said. “You’re constantly updating your belief about what your opponent holds based on new information — a process that mirrors Bayesian reasoning, one of the cornerstones of modern data science.”
From bluffing at the table to training machine learning models, understanding probability helps quantify risk, interpret patterns and drive predictions.
“But that’s just the start,” she added.
The Math Behind the Machine
As the conversation shifts from poker night to the power behind AI, Claire becomes enthusiastic. She points out that behind every breakthrough in artificial intelligence is an elegant framework of mathematics.
“You need linear algebra to work with vectors and matrices, which are the fundamental building blocks of neural networks. These networks are the core components of deep learning,” she said. “You need calculus to understand how models learn by minimizing errors through gradient descent. And you need statistics to interpret results, validate models and avoid drawing the wrong conclusions.”
This blend of abstract math and practical problem-solving drew her to the field and motivates her to get more women involved in both poker and AI.
“Math is the hidden language of power,” she said. “Whether you’re training an AI model or calculating pot odds at the table, it gives you a massive edge.”
Women, Tech, and the Table
The club is more than a place to play. It’s a training ground for sharper thinking and shared growth.
“It’s a myth that women don’t like competition,” Colette said. “They just haven’t always been welcomed into the rooms where it happens.”
By creating an environment that’s both strategic and supportive, she hopes to change that — one hand at a time.
The bar poker league has attracted everyone from local real estate agents and construction workers to software engineers and retirees. Some join to learn the game. Others, to conquer the math.
“We’ve had members who told me they hadn’t touched math since high school. Now they’re reading charts and calculating probabilities midhand,” Colette said. “It’s empowering.”
What’s Next in AI?
Asked about the future of artificial intelligence, Claire does not hesitate.
“The next big shift will be in AI systems that can reason, not just react,” she said. “We’re moving from pattern recognition to models that can make causal inferences and interact with the world more like a human would — more like a poker player would.”
She pointed to recent advances in causal AI, symbolic reasoning and multi-agent modeling as areas to watch.
“It’s not just about prediction anymore. It’s about judgment.”
She joked that the ultimate test of human-AI parity might not be Jeopardy or chess.
“It’ll be a poker night in Los Alamos, where no one knows if they’re playing against a real human or a really smart bot.”
Confidence Beats Imposter Syndrome
What started as a personal passion project is now growing into a vibrant, women-led space where intellectual challenge meets community. As the cards keep flying and the algorithms keep learning, one thing is clear: Claire and Colette are stacking the deck — not just in favor of women but for a smarter, more inclusive future.
Together, they are redefining what it means to lead with confidence, proving that intelligence, like poker, is best when played boldly and in good company.
“Even the best players lose,” Colette said. “The key is trusting your judgment, even when you feel unsure — especially as a woman in male-dominated spaces like poker or AI. Don’t apologize for being there. Learn and grow through action.”
“Every hand, like every experiment, is a chance to refine,” Claire said. “In AI, nothing is perfect the first time. You learn by building fast, failing publicly and iterating. The same is true at the table.”
The female-led Los Alamos World Tavern Poker League meets 2 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at VFW Post 8874, 1793 Deacon St. On Mondays, a mixed group meets at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 90, 1325 Trinity Dr. Both venues welcome women and men of all backgrounds, from curious beginners to seasoned strategists.
For more information, visit worldtavernpoker.com.
