Do you ever receive that itch? The itch to wager, to head to the nearest betting house, to uncover a good stakes game of Hold em, to sit at a Black jack table for hours on end. I like that itch. And I like to scratch it.
I also love to watch individuals wager. No two poker faces seem identical. When I gamble I like to think I put on a poker face which is impenetrable. But I know I’ve certain mannerisms. For one, the only time I smoke is when I play poker or Chemin de fer. And then I smoke. But I smoke no matter if I am winning or losing, whether I have a excellent hand or bad.
I once bet in a very weekly poker game. The casino game was often 5 card draw. There was a player who wagered with us just about every week who always wore a hat. When he was dealt a beneficial hand, subconsciously, he would begin touching and playing with his hat. Needless to say, he in no way won.
The greatest poker gambler I ever saw was a guy who produced more actions and signals at a poker table than anyone I had ever seen. He was flawless in the way he dressed. Generally an high priced suit and tie, footwear shined and nails manicured. He was diligent in this manner. And he was usually brushing his pant leg or rubbings his hands or stacking his chips in tidy little piles.
I use to examine him for hours on end. I’d attempt to see if I could notice his tell. Picking fuzz off his vest- did this mean he was bluffing? Arranging his chips in a short pile – did this mean he had a very good hand?
Many years later I ran into him in a very bar in Chicago, il and we had a beer. I asked him if he were aware of all those movements he created or if they have been subconscious. He informed me that each little thing he did at a poker table was deliberate. He said that everyone is always checking out everyone else’s poker face. They are trying to detect the the tell.
So his method was to give them lots to assume about. His reasoning was if they had been thinking about him choosing a piece of fuzz off his shirt and what it meant they certain weren’t pondering about their cards.
His program was diversion. And it worked for him. Never give up a system that works for you.