Really? You just got through saying how important it is to develop poker friends, and you can't give me the credit for having the discussions for those same good reasons? (obviously not the same way you would do it, but my motives could be the same) You think it has to be about my ego, to tickle my cerebral fancy, or to show off? No, it's about being able to talk strategy with someone because I don't have any friends who are seriously into poker.

If there's something I'm guilty of, it's the convenience of having those discussions at the table. But it's more than convenience. If I didn't talk strategy there, I wouldn't have those discussions with anyone. Plus, I'm not striking up discussions about strategy with randoms. I said it is one particular person when we happen to be at the same end of the same table. So about 1% or 2% of the time that I'm at the table that I talk to this particular person and a random or two might overhear. To me, that isn't hurting my action or image significantly.

I wanted to do a thread about the movie, and how it relates to
being a poker player for my thread #2k.

Venice asked me to do a well.
I have to admit that i wasn't altogether sure about what a well is at the time.
so, if you have some other suggestions, i would appreciate them.
I will try to expand on how Leone relates to poker in real life.

but... does art imitate real life, or is it the other way around?? does real life imitate art?
It's a chicken and the egg thing...

I'm not sure how interesting I am,
and I certainly don't deserve to be lumped together with the
real poker players that have done wells on 2+2.

In any case, it's a Mum Poker thread, which is a great idea, IMO. (and i think it thereforeit contains a lesson that the live poker scene in general needs desperately, considering all the
'game-ruining poker-nerd chatter' at the tables i've been hearing lately.)

Mum poker has everything to do with poker,
because it has to do with discipline.
It has to do with putting pressure on your opponents in the information war.
It's about training them that they are going to be making the tough decisions.
If you havent tried it, and been able to pull it off, then you don't know how strongly it effects how ppl perceive your image, and how powerful it is.

I'm sure some of you aren't even capable of sitting there all night and not mentioning either a suit, a rank, or a street??
so it's a moot point, in that case.

seriously: are you there for a one-on-one poker forum in public, or there to make $??

trust me, by running your mouth about poker (if there are rec players there),
you are costing yourself $
and you are letting the air out of the balloon in your game;
Ruining the game/ taking a dump in your own backyard.

if there are no rec players there, then youre either not playing LLS, or youre playing in the worst game in the world (you and 8-9 other poker nerds), and should look for a different game, IMO.


I saw this dynamic a lot on a recent 9 day trip to Vegas:

several poker nerds sit there talking shop saying retarded s#@*yt
like "then the good player did X,
and the bad player did Y, and then the good player did Z."
I sit there in shock as the obv rec players have looks of discomfort on their faces (unrecognized by the poker nerds, who are unaware of their surroundings, much less nuances, like the effect that they are having on others.)
...then I watch the velocity of chips decrease as and the rec players tighten up (to avoid embarrasment; or, to not be the 'bad' player that the nerds are derisively referring to.)
and, i start thinking about a table change.

If you think that taking shop, even under your breath, makes rec players want to gamble it up with you, then GL to you.
If you arent getting them to gamble it up with you, then you arent doing a good job, IMO.
they are there to gamble!
thats' why they are rec players!
duh!

I'm not here to twist your arm on the subject, just put in my .02.

Thread delivers, as I expected it would.

One of my favorite stories of the spaghetti western era with Leone is that Leone would regularly turn to Eastwood and ask in broken English, "Clint, this is how they do it in Hollywood, right?" Eastwood had never seen anyone ever film or tell a story like Leone. However, he was so impressed with Leone's ideas that he always responded, "Yes Sergio, this is exactly how they do it in Hollywood" so Leone wouldn't change a thing. It is almost impossible to overestimate the effect Leone had on Eastwood's career as a director.

I realize we live in a Jay Leno era where everything has to go from A to B in the straightest line possible for the masses to understand it. Stampler is encouraging you to look outside of the straight line and draw lessons not directly tied to poker. These clips shows the dynamics of reading an opponent and successful bluffing. Same move, different results.





And yeah, don't ask to see the bluff.

Thinking outside the box in poker?? No way man, just fold pre... Its standard.

APD.
I asked you to consider trying out Mum Poker recently in a PM.
you had PMed me about a hand that included some non-Mum Poker talk during it.
just wondering, have you given it a shot?
if so, how long did you last?
was it difficult to break the habit?

BRAG:

all I know is that ive convinced the nitty daytime regs in the 2/5 game at
the Bellagio
that I'm a rich guy, (far from the truth),
because
1] I use Mum Poker as a weapon.
2] I play recklessly against them (they are nits).

easy game.

if i'm sitting there dropping E-bombs (equity),
or R-Bombs (range),
then i know my hourly in that game is getting slashed.
there's no doubt in my mind.

is that enough poker talk for ya'll??

I havent even played since then. However I can tell you this. When I am by myself I am generally non poker talk. The times I do talk is when I am sitting next to poker buddy. With that said... I absolutely hate poker talk at the table. I have noticed that when I am playing my best I am entertaining people, not scaring people with odds and equity. So to answer your question no I have not done it since then, but I have done it.

Works for me!
I usually do well not talking poker when in a casino. I struggle more in underground games, where having a friendly persona is important, but I need to draw a line when someone tries to "talk poker" with me.

watch TMWNN.

the first thing he does is to find a friend in San Miguel.

...but he has the sense to pick someone that's not one of his potential targets.

Since most everyone is a potential target, that narrows his options down;
If he can find a way to get paid for your hide,
then you're another target to him.
he'a an equal oppurtunity gun-fighter,
and he's trying to do more than just do well.
his goal is to own it.
to execute flawlessly, ruthlessly, and to then move on,
and leave nothing but a wake of emptiness.
this is what a winning poker player does, too.

In LLS its even more crucial to find every source of profit that you possibly can, than in MS-HS; to leave no stone unturned.
it's
1] because of the rake; it represents a bigger % relative to what you stand to win at LS, and...
2] because you should be the best player at your table,
if youre doing the work on your game, away from the table, that they aren't.

What do you think of Kurosawa's film Yojimbo?

Kurasawa is the nuts.
Yojimbo is the OG. (original).
It's the same movie;
Even the Heros'
name is the same.

Your opinion on this: Yojimbo > Fistful of Dollars


So if you'd like to focus on poker outside of poker... what is the most +ev thing you do in your life that doesn't involve the cards at all?

Compared to the average poster, how often do you think you press the 'enter' key?

Who do you think would win in a fight btwn TMWNN (calculating / businesslike) and William Munny from "Unforgiven" (wrathful / lucky)?

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. Sometimes I'm a little slow, but I think I'm now pickin up what you're puttin down. Nothing tilts me more than the "real players" berating the fish. Table change!

Also sorry if I was being a bitch before.