Is That a Stack of Chips in Your Pocket…or Are You Just Glad to See Me?
Have you ever walked up to a craps table and noticed that one of your friends or associates is there; so you immediately engage them in conversation…only to find out that they are the shooter?
Does saying, “Oops, sorry to throw you off of your game…gee, I hope that 7-Out wasn’t because I just bear-hugged you, slapped you on the back, and commented on how much weight you’ve lost since the last time we saw each other” help to ease the pain of the blunder?
I read an awful lot of Trip Reports where people talk about the chit-chat they carry on during their own hand…or ones they have with a skilled shooter when he is shooting.
Sometimes it’s something innocuous like, “Wow, the dice are behavin’ well tonight”, or “Keep it goin’ bud, you are doin’ great”.
Sometimes it’s a little more detailed like, “Your right-die is flipping off-axis as soon as it hits the backwall, you might try re-aligning your third-finger a bit; oh and the two dice are starting to split in flight, so you should ease off on your thumb-pressure as well.”
Sometimes there’s a bit of an impatient reminder that one of the non-shooters bets haven’t been hit yet, or there’s gentle encouragement to repeat the PL-Point and soon because the person doing the talking has finally worked his way up to full-Odds.
Sometimes it’s just idle chatter about the weather or nervous banter about needing the cocktail waitress ‘cause “We’re sobberin’ up over heeeere!”
Let me ask you this:
What is the purpose of ANY conversation you are having with a skilled shooter while he is shooting?
Is it to calm him down and get his mind off of the game?
Is it to rev him up and get his mind onto the game?
Is it just nervous chatter from you to fill the lull in conversation while he is trying to make money?
Is it because you are excited and you want him to be just as excited as you are?
Again, ask yourself, what is the purpose of ANY conversation you are having with a skilled shooter while he is shooting?
Most skilled shooters complain about the fact that it is hard for them to maintain any kind of throw-to-throw-to-throw consistency let alone any kind of reliable hand-to-hand-to-hand performance.
How much of that do you think is attributable to the meaningless conversation that goes on between many of those throws?
How much of that is attributable to conversations or comments that the shooter himself starts up between throws?
If you are the kind of shooter who can unreel a steady stream of 20-roll hands while reciting Hamlet’s soliloquy, juggling ashtrays and doing a dead on impression of Henny Youngman…all at the same time and all without breaking a sweat; then go ahead and yuk it up with the crew and your tablemates.
However, if you can’t do all of that, especially the steady stream of 20-roll hands part; then shut up and concentrate on your shooting.
If you are the kind of player who doesn’t like to make money, and doesn’t like to see friends or associates win money either; then continue distracting the shooter as much as possible when he is shooting.
If you are the shooter, you may think that acting all casual and such is the way to stay under the radar while you are shooting; but frankly, chances are that the radar is only going to detect a shooter who nervously rambles on about nothing…all while LOSING.
Focus on each and every throw that you make as if it is THE throw.
When that throw is finished; start focusing on the next throw because that one is THE throw, and so on.
If you want to talk to the shooter who is in the middle of what looks like a pretty decent roll; how about waiting until it’s over. Almost anything you have to say can wait until then.
Likewise, if you are the shooter, any idle comments you make that don’t contribute to your game ARE NOT NEEDED. They just divert your focus…and your potential profit.
So whether it’s just idle chatter, nervous banter, near-worthless chit-chat, or to find out where the gang is having dinner tonight…it can probably wait until this hand is over.
Good Luck and Good Skill at the Tables…and in Life.
The Mad Professor
Copyright © 2007