You're at the local dive bar, Monday night. You've got a good buzz going, and you're in a real good mood. You're headed to Vegas for a week! You'd love to place some WC wagers, but you're a huge square. You look around you at the bar - mouth-breathers, the lot of them.
What do you do?
If you decide to strike up a conversation with the gentleman next to you, click here:
Spoiler:
The gentleman says he's not big into soccer, but some long-forgotten ancestor of his lived in modern-day Germany ("I'm half-German") so he might as well root for Germany. The bartender chimes in with some godawful joke about not drinking Stoli because of the Russians. That reminds you how much you hate Russians, and you start wondering if you maybe you should life hedge by actually betting on Russia to win.
If you believe in life hedges, click here:
Spoiler:
You bet on Russia, who makes it out of the group stage but loses in the quarter-finals. Your girlfriend has stopped looking at you like she used to. You don't talk anymore like you used to. You daydream about giving J-Lo a facial. Your adventure is over.
If life hedges are for pussies, finance types, etc., click here:
Spoiler:
You go with your gut and bet Germany. They make it all the way to the finals, where they lose to Colombia on penalty kicks. The entire country of Colombia goes up in flames from the celebration riots, but at least that helps stem the tide of Venezuelans pouring over the border. You go back to your old routines, return to your local dive bar, and live out the rest of your days in peace.
If you open up 2p2 instead, click here:
Spoiler:
You post about your upcoming trip to Vegas, and ask if there are any sharps posting plays. On Twitter maybe.
If sharps DO post their plays on the internet, click here:
Spoiler:
The sharps tell you to bet Colombia, at any price. After all, if the bet wins the odds were good. Colombia wins. You parlay your winnings, and Colombia keeps winning. They go on to win the world cup, and you go on an epic bender and overdose. So it goes.
If sharps DON'T post their plays on the internet, click here:
Spoiler:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
FOR THE FILLING:
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
1 ½ cup smooth, sweetened peanut butter, like Jif or Skippy
1 8-ounce block full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
? cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional)
Directions
1. Make the crust: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Have a nonstick standard 9-inch pie plate ready, or generously butter a 9-inch standard pie plate. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, flour and salt. Add butter, stirring and mashing with a fork, until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
2. Transfer the crumbs to the prepared pan and press them evenly into the bottom and sides until crust is about 1/4-inch thick. Bake crust until it looks dry and set, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. Make the filling: In a large bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks using an electric mixer at medium-high speed. Set aside. In another large bowl, beat the peanut butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla and salt on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Use a large rubber spatula to gently fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Chill uncovered for at least 4 to 6 hours, until filling is set.
4. Make the topping, if using: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and the butter together in short bursts, stirring often. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a small plastic bag, and cut a 1/8-inch hole in one corner. Drizzle the chocolate over the top to make a decorative pattern. (You may have some left over depending on your taste.) Serve immediately.
The sharps tell you to bet Colombia, at any price. After all, if the bet wins the odds were good. Colombia wins. You parlay your winnings, and Colombia keeps winning. They go on to win the world cup, and you go on an epic bender and overdose. So it goes.
Nice story, bro.
Hope James doesn't get 'Escobarred' back in Bogota..
Russia to advance is a lock and South Korea to not advance is looking pretty close to a lock. Go me!
Unfortunately I bet on Nigeria to advance after reading some article online by the Soccermatics fellow about how undervalued they are. That particular bet is not off to a good start, lol.
tough spot today but I think Croatia may win despite all the people they are sitting. I see a lot of people taking Nigeria in a longshot as well to upset/tie
Bet $446 to win $100 on Germany to beat South Korea tomorrow, lol. Steep price to pay but I just don't see that not happening. If South Korea somehow manages to tie, you all have permission to make fun of me.