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 Regarding Dukesoccer, from Education of a Poker Player
Couldn't help but think of this excerpt from the old book "Education of a Poker Player" when reading the posts. In this passage, Monty, the operator of the local poker room catches a cheater. The cheater, Lolly, explains that there is very little moral difference (if any) between cheating and outplaying.
From “Education of a Poker Player”
When Lolly didn’t answer, Monty yelled, “Where’d you learn to deal seconds?”
“I don’t know what you mean." Lolly answered innocently.
“You can tell me about it or I’ll break both those beautiful goddamned hands of yours.”
The stranger eyed Monty’s huge fists but showed no fear. “All right,” he said in an even voice, “I was dealing seconds. How did you know?”
“They make a slight swish when you pull them from the deck, as you damn well know. How much did you win? The kid says you took out one hundred dollars.” He turned to me. “Bring in his chips.” I brought them and told Monty they added up to 425.
“Where’d you learn these tricks?” Monty asked.
“From my Uncle Charley. He was a magician.”
“Don’t you ever feel sorry for the suckers you fleece?”
“No I don’t. My method is painless. I give them the ax. You bleed them to death slowly.”
“Curious philosophy for a card sharp.”
“Not for a realist. You remind me of a friend I hunt ducks with. He says it’s unsportsmanslike to kill ducks with large caliber shotguns. He uses a 20 gauge, a small bore, and kills more ducks than I do with my blunderbuss. I wonder whether it’s less painful to die by his gun than mine. The ducks might give a surprising answer.”
“At least the players get a gamble here.” Monty insisted.
“Between themselves they do. Not with you playing.”
“Why not? I told you the game is on the level.”
“With one exception. You won’t play unless you know you have the best hand. I won’t play unless I know I have the best hand unless I deliberately want another to win. Will you play with a weak hand?”
“Hell no”
“Will a sucker?”
“The sucker doesn’t know what a good hand is. That’s the reason he’s a sucker.”
“Monty,” said the stranger, “I heard the kid call you that-it’s an old matter of debate. Something like how many angels can stand on the point of a needle. You win on superior experience and finesse; I win because I’m a card manipulator. You deal with percentages; I deal seconds. Essentially we’re no different. In the end we both bleed the sucker.”
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Originally Posted by Corey
