First Rule.

[ProfessorBen]

I spoke up.

"C'mon guys, First Rule."

The first rule about Fight Club is :" You don't talk about Fight Club".

It was about 2-3 orbits since I had sat down at the 30 game sandwiched between those kinds of players that make a thinking player terrified when the words were uttered. I don't know whether I was trying to gauge a reaction, let them know I was a 2p2er so we would avoid each other, or actually meant what I was saying, but I said it. The mere whispers of the words "two plus two" - though not meant for my ears - were enough for me to speak. I knew that they would know what I was talking about.

The first rule about 2+2 is :" You don't talk about 2+2".

When I was pressed on. After all, those who understood, already knew what I was talking about. People eventually forgot the subject, the game eventually broke and we had the discussions that 2p2ers do. Immediately, I felt like a douche bag for being a condescending son of a bitch. If 2 players want to talk about 2p2 with each other at the table, they should be able to. I apologized and didn't think about the matter further.

A few hours later as the sun was rising, I was sitting in a 10/20 game lamenting the fact that the nits and loose-passives were walking in, robbing me of my shorthanded practice and dominance when I noticed the most peculiar sight that set me on life-tilt. One of the guys waiting and waiting for the 20 game to open aid one of the words I never, ever, ever want to hear out of a live 40 year old fish tell another fish.

"blah blah blah blah Pokertracker."

I must've been mistaken.

"Two point eight big bets for every hundred hands"

Obviously, how much he was losing...

My confidence in the limit poker economy hadn't been as broken as it was in this exact instance since the UIGEA shakedown. Obviously, I was sleep-deprived, shocked, and down-right paranoid at this point, but I've thought about it a little further. If they can find out about PT, why not PAHUD? Why not Winning in Tough Hold'em Games? why not 2+2 itself? Where does it end?

The following are a list of "First Rule" transgressions I partook in or witnessed this weekend.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Paged Scary_Tiger, Brandi Hawbaker, Salazar, Rick Astley on the Foxwoods floor.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Someone in our group recommended SSHE to a random guy at the table.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] I discussed hands for over 3-4 hours at the table with Hobbs.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Called random players "LAgtard", "calling station", when relaying hands to people who came to visit me.
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Heard the words "2+2", specific screen names mentioned at the table.

Obviously, some of these things are harmless and too hilarious to pass up doing. In fact, there is nothing wrong with most of these things. The fish at the table were all on the other side and there was no way they could even have possibly heard them speak. But the fact that some of less innocent sins in this list occurred should never happen.

So if you must, feel free to tell your best friends, your sister, the hot waitress you're trying to set your wingman up with about 2 plus 2. Just stop telling the fish at the table. Please.

[ProfessorBen]

First response was:

jugador7mejor: lol
jugador7mejor: paging rick astley is standard
jugador7mejor: fu noob

[img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Fnord]

Lots of people don't understand where the money comes from and have a vastly inflated view of how well they match up against other aware players in a negative sum game.

[NinaWilliams]

[ QUOTE ]
First response was:

jugador7mejor: lol
jugador7mejor: paging rick astley is standard
jugador7mejor: fu noob

[img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

lol im so sad that I missed this [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

EDIT: congrats on crushing the 30 btw

[surfdoc]

I had a semi-long and drawn out argument with mikel about this which ended the way most of our arguments end. He overtalks me and I just give up and let him think that he is right. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I actually agreed with your line in that there are many "fishy" regulars in our local game that take the game seriously and play everyday. They don't take it far enough though and really dig in the way we do. I think if they did it would dramatically affect our bottom line. Mike argues that they already know about 2p2 and the books and they are just too lazy or stupid to use the information. I think he has part of it right but a couple guys are pretty competitive and they seem to be growing fairly tired of the mikel, surfdoc, Howmany, Joetall, and Deathdonkey (although he is not a reg) dominance. They are starting to notice we hang out together and share ideas together and the final common thread is that we all read and study 2p2 books, and participate actively in the forums and we all win. Win a lot.

So as far as "hey did you see that thead" stuff goes I don't like it. I don't like 2p2 being brought up at all. I think our edge in limit HE is small enough and it is tough enough to continually win. We don't need that gap closed in any way.

[Fnord]

Fish feeling like they're being excluded is bad. Be nice to them. Don't berate their play. Curse their bad luck when your good hands hold. Help them get racks when they're running good. Talk about stuff other than poker that they want to talk about. Buy 'em a drink every now and them. Do your part to make them continue to enjoy going to your game getting the worst of it.

That's how I treat people who give me four figures (and for some of you a lot more) a month.

[Hass]

LOL. The last table I was at were strategy was the main topic went like this.

Lagtard jackass that I think is the most worthless person on the planet: You should have raised there. (to his lagtard friend who is almost as intolerable as him)

Lagtard friend: What are you giving lessons? Go read a poker book.

Lagtard jackass: Hell no, poker books are for donkeys.

Rest of table: Nodding their heads, agreeing with every word lagtard jackass had to say.

Me: sitting quietly like always, smiling a little inside.

There are many that think it is dumb, pointless, or just waisting time to read books or learn strategy. I would say that the majority of the regulars in my game know how to play decent but chose not to. Of course there are the ones that couldn't beat 3/6 if their lifes depended on it.

I'm not too worried about it, but I also never talk strategy at the table or ever mention 2p2 or any book that I have ever read.

Howard Beale and I have talked about a few hand while either one or both of us is sitting in a game, but alwyas very quietly and descretely(sp).

[that_pope]

You and I spoke a bit last time we were seated at the table together. You were trying to recruit new 2+2 members, I was ashamed.

[Hass]

[ QUOTE ]
You and I spoke a bit last time we were seated at the table together. You were trying to recruit new 2+2 members, I was ashamed.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was? I don't remember that.

[Howard Beale]

You could tell 'everybody' about 2p2 and it would hardly matter. Most of our opponents think they play either just fine, think it's all mostly luck or just want to gamble. If they would've taken the time and made the effort to get better they would've bought some 2p2 books which, IIRC, touts the website on them somewhere.

A quick story:

Years ago 2 players in an 08 game were leafing thru the old Poker Digest (last issue, actually). I asked them who their favorite authors were and BOTH of them said they didn't read the articles so I say 'WHAT!!! Are there lingerie models in there that you're looking at?' And they said they were just passing the time.

I wouldn't worry about the games getting tougher because somebody hears about 2p2. So, so few of them are willing to put in the effort.