The Magic Caf
Username:
Password:
[ Lost Password ]
  [ Forgot Username ]
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The Gambling Spot » » The Half Smart (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

 Go to page 1~2 [Next]
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Here is a concept you probably won’t read about or see from any other source but may be of interest to some - the concept of being a “half smart.”

Among hustlers that term is used to derogatorily refer to someone who professes to be quite knowledgeable about hustling concepts and methods but based upon his conversations, statements and/or actions make it obvious he does not know enough to justify his posture, directly or indirectly, as somewhat of an authority. In other words, a half-smart is a semi-knowledgeable chump with little or no real world experience in hustling but professes he has.

He knows just enough to get himself in trouble although he doesn’t believe that is possible. Interestingly, usually the half smart doesn’t realize he is a half smart.

Top hustlers don’t tip to half-smarts that they are knowledgeable or capable or that the half-smart is incorrect in his beliefs. Active hustlers play the “IG” because you really can’t “wise up a sucker,” and if he has any money he often can be taken off with a double-cross play or a straight play using methods he is not acquainted with.

The above refers mostly to the half-smart in the gambling context. These are usually people who often play the games on the square and can be classified as “rounders” who tend to hang around casinos, poker rooms and gambling games.

However, there is a whole new generation of half-smarts brought about by DVDs, internet forums and expose “experts.” These people are not involved in hustling and indeed many of them know little about actual gambling and either don’t gamble themselves or gamble on the square. Some may work in the gaming industry as dealers, floor men or in other such capacities which helps to create the usually false impression that they are “in the know.”

So a half smart is someone who has accrued varying degrees of knowledge or information about the subject matter, nowadays usually through the acquisitions of academic knowledge acquired through reading books and watching DVDs, hearsay conversations with others who have some limited knowledge of the subject matter and in some instances, although rarely, someone who has acquired experience through minor or small time hustling.

However, I want to make a distinction before I go further or create the wrong impression. There are many sincere people that have acquired knowledge in this manner but do not fall into the half-smart category. They are students, hobbyists, performers, demonstrators and the like and are on a continual quest to learn more and often become quite knowledgeable. These people have a passion for the subject and don’t represent themselves as being great authorities nor do they have an opinion on every nuance of gambling all the time. The difference is a half-smart has a false and unjustified attitude about his ability and knowledge and presents himself as someone who knows much more than he actually does. The biggest detriment working against him is he has a closed mind which prevents him from learning and progressing. Anything that challenges his preconceived notions presents a danger to him and he will do anything to “save face” and not expose his ignorance.

He usually has a psychological protective shield set up which prevents reality or facts from challenging his preconceived notions about the subject and damaging his psyche. Facts that prove he is wrong are ignored, distorted or sidetracked and cannot be admitted to lest in some bizarre way he perceives he “has lost” the argument. Sometimes he has an agenda in place to prevent criticism of his false or limited knowledge and ability since he does not have the ability to change his mind. Often half-smarts rely on criticizing those with lesser knowledge which empowers the half smart even further in a negative way.

Magicians, hobbyists and the DVD crowd are more likely nowadays to run into half-smarts because many magicians and hobbyists now possess limited and sometimes distorted knowledge of the subject, so they are more likely encounter half-smarts among their peers. Since these people are not really gamblers, they revel in their ability to spout nonsense under the guise of being knowledgeable since they have nothing to lose. Sometimes half smarts are proficient is doing various fancy moves with cards and that fosters the belief in the veracity of their statements. However, their opinions are basically meaningless and usually they rely on varying “authorities” to support their conclusions, or some “old time hustler” they know or they embellish their experiences which is usually quite limited. Since the people who they espouse their knowledge to have no real time experience themselves to separate correct information from nonsense, the half smart revels in his conversation in this regard and in many instances gains a “reputation” of one in the know. This of course satisfies his ego to no end.

Of course, this post does not refer to anyone on this BB. It refers to “others” outside the BB. I just thought that some of the more perceptive readers might find this to be of value in their discussions on card table artifice.

With some experience, all it takes is one or two posts to have a pretty good idea as to where someone is coming from, what he really knows about this subject and if he is sincere in his endeavors or just a “half-smart.”

Of course, all of the above is just my opinion -- and what do I know anyway? Smile
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Smile
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
yellowkid
View Profile
New user
15 Posts

Profile of yellowkid
Lol, it seems that the only half-smarts around here are the people who think it's importent to tell everybody all about half-smarts.
it's obvious by your posts that you've never hustled in your life Mr. Caglistro, lol! but you'd sure like everybody here to think you did.
your posts make you sound more like a cop, lol!
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-02 18:21, yellowkid wrote:
...it's obvious by your posts that you've never hustled in your life Mr. Caglistro, lol! but you'd sure like everybody here to think you did.
your posts make you sound more like a cop, lol!

Very perceptive and you have exposed me as the fraud I really am.

Congratulations on your tremendous insight and I can’t wait for your seventh post as I’m sure it will be equally as enlightening. lol
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
I love full smarts myself. That's because I know more than all of them put together. That's because I know one thing that they don't and that's all I need to get their money. They will have a smart ass after they have met me.

:)

“It's no good knowing a lot. You have to know more than everyone.”

- Johnny Gough
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-02 20:40, tommy wrote:
I love full smarts myself. That's because I know more than all of them put together. That's because I know one thing that they don't and that's all I need to get their money. They will have a smart ass after they have met me.

Wow! I hope I never have to go up against you. Thanks for the warning up front. Next time I am in the UK, I will definitely steer clear of you. In fact, I might not even go to England anymore just to be safe. Smile

Incidentally, this “one thing” you know, it isn’t one of those “moss covered” ruses out of Erdnase, is it – like playing with a deck that is short eight cards?

By the way, I never heard of a “full smart.” Is it possible to be a full smart, implying that one knows everything about card table chicanery? Assuming there is such a thing as a full smart, if someone is only say three-quarters smart, should they still be wary of you or do you only decimate full smarts? Smile

Quote:
On 2012-10-02 20:40, tommy wrote:
“It's no good knowing a lot. You have to know more than everyone.”

- Johnny Gough

I already know that one…”Ignorance is bliss…”

This is much too confusing for me.
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Yes I see that it is much too confusing for you Cag. I will dumb it down a bit for you later. In the mean time just go and have a nap. Smile
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-03 12:03, tommy wrote:
Yes I see that it is much too confusing for you Cag. I will dumb it down a bit for you later. In the mean time just go and have a nap. Smile

Thanks for being so cooperative in your future posts.

How did you know it was time for my nap? lol
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Smile

Lets suppose you are going to have a bet on the Ben v Bill boxing match. That you are not an expert on boxing. That all the smart boxing experts in the world are weighing up who will win – Is it Bill or is it Ben - However you know more than all of them smart boxing experts, as you know that Bill is going to take a dive and them smart fellows don't! The moral of this story is, that you don't need to be such a know-all to get the money, you just need to know more that everyone. Same goes for cards etc. If you can come up with your own play by thinking for yourself, then you have something. Then, my boy, you don't need to know it all, don't you know.

:)
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
yellowkid
View Profile
New user
15 Posts

Profile of yellowkid
Lol, your wasting your time talking to goofballs tommy
Caglistro has NEVER hustled in his life, all his posts give him away as a complete fake
in fact he prolly spent most of his life putting hustlrs in the bin
he got the lames in thi s forum hooked pretty fast though, lol!
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Interesting theory. The Gambling Commissionaire perhaps? Smile
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
I thought my post on half-smarts would get someone to complain in outrage but did not contemplate a complete imbecile like the yellowkid bouncing onto the BB, someone who has never made a meaning post in this section and obviously has absolutely no credibility whatoever.

Tommy, is this clown your buddy? Smile
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Nope ...... if I wanted a friend, I would get a dog.

:)


“The main thing is, pay attention. Pay close attention to everything, everything you see. Notice what no one else notices, and you'll know what no one else knows. What you get is what you get. What you do with what you get, that's more the point.” - City of Ember
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-03 13:21, tommy wrote:
The moral of this story is, that you don't need to be such a know-all to get the money, you just need to know more that everyone.

Grammatically and structurally the sentence makes little sense but I assume what you are trying to say here is you have to know more than the people you are playing against. I think that goes without saying.

Quote:
Same goes for cards etc. If you can come up with your own play by thinking for yourself, then you have something. Then, my boy, you don't need to know it all, don't you know.

Having an angle unknown to the others is a principle that has been in effect since the cave man was rolling rocks and betting on the outcome. Really nothing startling or new here. Smile

Many a half smart had an angle that he thought was unknown to the others only to be taken off by someone who knew more than he and was capable. If someone else it he game knows more than the half smart, than the “magic bullet” angle apparently unknown to others just might not be strong enough.

I have been in a number of games that someone was working only to be taken off by more knowledge and capable hustlers. They don’t say anything, play the “IG” and get the money. It happens all the time.

But talk is cheap, especially on a BB like this. Anyone can say anything since proof is not demonstrable.
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them, and little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum

So what's new?
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
acesover
View Profile
Special user
I believe I have
821 Posts

Profile of acesover
Knowledge in of itself is useless. You must know how to utilize it. Smile

John (acesover)
If I were to agree with you. Then we would both be wrong. As of Apr 5, 2015 10:26 pm I have 880 posts. Used to have over 1,000
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-04 17:45, acesover wrote:
Knowledge in of itself is useless. You must know how to utilize it. Smile

John (acesover)

I second that.
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Smile

“The most valuable commodity I know of is information” according Gorden Gekko

The most worthless commodity I know of is information that everybody knows.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfS8LyeUyM&feature=fvst

What I use I could not nail if it were used against me and if you can fool yourself what more can you ask for?

:)
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
Cagliostro
View Profile
Inner circle
2478 Posts

Profile of Cagliostro
Quote:
On 2012-10-04 18:12, tommy wrote:
What I use I could not nail if it were used against me and if you can fool yourself what more can you ask for?
:)
You are the greatest!!! I am happy to learn that you can fool yourself. The real test is, however, can you fool anyone else??? Smile
tommy
View Profile
Eternal Order
Devil's Island
15717 Posts

Profile of tommy
Smile

Yes sure talk is cheap, especially on a BB like this. Anyone can say anything since proof is not demonstrable as you Cag. But lets just suppose the felow, quoted below is not lying::

Quote:
On 2012-01-26 18:29, Cagliostro wrote:


I went into the Marine Corps shortly thereafter so as not to be drafted in the Army, and while stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro at Santa Ana, CA, I used to travel to Gardena and sneak into the card rooms there (I was not 21 yet). While playing there I figured out two moves to beat both the Draw poker game and also the Low Ball draw game. One was completely original and I have never had anyone pick up on it or suspect it, nor have anyone ever written about it or exposed it. I subsequently found out the Low Ball move was being used by other hustlers in the big games played by a few of the big name poker names of today.




Note you say “One was completely original and I have never had anyone pick up on it or suspect it, exposed it.” and so note, not even the “Top Cheats” of Gardena nailed it. So not simply stick with this one move getting the money at draw throughout the 60s 70s and 80s? What I am suggesting is that a fellow in thiis very position is a “Top Cheat” because he has something, something the others do not have and he can get their money and everyone elses at the game with it. Gardena was a tough test and flew there safely then would capable of used in most places.

Whatever the case may be, I believe it would be more interesting to talk about how we go about arriving at a completely original move. The thought process and so on. Without exposing the move itself of course.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.

Tommy
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The Gambling Spot » » The Half Smart (0 Likes)
 Go to page 1~2 [Next]
[ Top of Page ]
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved.
This page was created in 0.06 seconds requiring 5 database queries.
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café
are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic.
> Privacy Statement <

ROTFL Billions and billions served! ROTFL