may I...?
Mind if I sit?Rounders · 1998 — Capítulo 9 de 26 · 2'38" · B2
Michael and the Professor Discuss Poker, Explained: tight, but aggressive
A man sits down at a bar and hears "That was a nifty trick the other night." The praise comes with a jab about a "disappearing act." The talk stays polite, but he explains how he reads faces, then names the other man's style as tight but aggressive. The reply is a formal-sounding ban.
Qué pasa
Over drinks, one man sits down with another. One line praises a recent card trick, another needles a disappearing act from a group meeting. They talk about how the cards were read, why it was not magic, and what style to play. Then comes the line: "You are officially never invited to our game again."
Atento a
nifty trickdisappearing actdivulge secretspremium hands
00:00 / 02:38Espacio reproducir · ← → frases · R repetir
Ahora
Expresión de la escena
tight, but aggressive
selective but forceful
Michael repeats 'aggressive' to sharpen his read on the Professor's style, making it sound like a direct coaching call.
Her style is tight, but aggressive: few meetings, hard deadlines.
También en esta escena
- nifty trick
a clever little trick
- disappearing act
a vanishing trick; a quiet exit
- divulge secrets
reveal hidden knowledge
- premium hands
top-tier starting cards
- officially never invited
formally banned from future invitations
Todo lo marcado en esta escena
29 notas en 40 frases
In fast speech, let the d glide into 'if' instead of landing hard.
Mind if I sit?a clever little trick
The Professor opens with a light compliment about Michael's card move, using praise as a way into a question.
That was a nifty trick the other night.clever; neat — Light, slightly old-fashioned praise in casual talk.
That was a nifty trick the other night.draw cards to settle who gets it Here it means competing to hire him, not literally cutting a deck.
Marinacci and the D.A. were ready to cut cards for your services at that point.completely different
Of course, it was an altogether different trick, that disappearing act...a vanishing trick; a quiet exit
The Professor calls Michael's absence from the group meeting another kind of magic trick, teasing him without letting it go.
Of course, it was an altogether different trick, that disappearing act...owe someone a reason
- Yeah. Well, I figure I owe you an explanation. - Ah, not to me.Keep 'there's a' light; the article almost disappears.
I'm sure there's a good reason you left.fix friction between people
Instead of pressing him about the absence, the Professor advises Michael to repair things with the group first.
And smooth things out with the others.reveal hidden knowledge
I know a magician doesn't divulge his secrets, but...several factors together
It's a combination of things.a long-standing habit
That's... That's just an old habit with me, like breathing.respond to the cards
I watch the cards also, but I watch the players reacting to the cards.predicative clause: The how-clause completes 'That's' and explains the method behind his certainty.
That's how I knew the D.A. made his two pair, and Judge Kaplan missed the flush.the final community card
I was watching their eyes when they checked their river cards.reveal the whole truth
- Their faces tell you everything. - You watch the man.top-tier starting cards
Michael takes over like a coach, starting with the rule that the Professor should only enter pots with the best cards.
All right, here's the thing. You only play premium hands.a pair of jacks or higher
You only start with jacks or better split, nines or better wired, three high cards to a flush.holding a pocket pair — Poker jargon; outsiders may not follow it.
You only start with jacks or better split, nines or better wired, three high cards to a flush.worth putting money in
If it's good enough to call, you gotta be in there raising, all right?conditional clause: The if-clause sets the condition; the main clause gives the required action.
If it's good enough to call, you gotta be in there raising, all right?have got to — Casual speech for obligation; avoid in formal writing.
If it's good enough to call, you gotta be in there raising, all right?selective but forceful
Michael repeats 'aggressive' to sharpen his read on the Professor's style, making it sound like a direct coaching call.
I mean, tight, but aggressive. And I do mean aggressive. That's your style, Professor.treat it as a battle
I mean, you gotta... you gotta think of it as a war.someone like me
I don't blame you. Put a guy like me in a game like that, the cards don't even matter.imperative condition: The opening imperative works like an if-clause: put him there, and the result follows.
I don't blame you. Put a guy like me in a game like that, the cards don't even matter.The t in 'don't' often drops before 'even' in fast speech.
I don't blame you. Put a guy like me in a game like that, the cards don't even matter.go in without seeing the cards
Michael ends on a quiet boast: with him in the game, the cards barely matter, so he can play without seeing them.
I'll play it blind.Michael and the Professor Discuss Poker, explicado
What's really going on
The surface is two poker players trading notes over a drink. Underneath, praise and pressure arrive together: one line calls a card move a "nifty trick," the next calls a "disappearing act" from a group meeting. Asked how it was done, the reply is plain: "I was watching when the cards came out." Then the focus shifts from cards to people: "Their faces tell you everything." Another line advises "tight, but aggressive" play and raising when a hand is good enough to call. The ban that follows, "You are officially never invited to our game again," has an official ring, and the answer, "the cards don't even matter," accepts it with a shrug of confidence.
Theme
SecretsOne line asks the magician to divulge his secrets; the answer is that reading players, not magic, did it.
Pride"I'll play it blind" closes the scene on a calm, confident boast.
Escucha con atención
- Mind if I — In fast speech, let the d glide into 'if' instead of landing hard.
- there's a — Keep 'there's a' light; the article almost disappears.
- don't even — The t in 'don't' often drops before 'even' in fast speech.
That was a nifty trick the other night.A compliment on the card-reading stunt: it looked like a clever piece of magic rather than ordinary play.
- Their faces tell you everything. - You watch the man.The point is not the cards alone; the useful information is in how people react and what their faces give away.
I mean, tight, but aggressive. And I do mean aggressive. That's your style, Professor.Advice on style: enter few hands, but when you do, raise hard; aggression is meant to be part of the plan.
You are officially never invited to our game again.A formal-sounding ban from the regular game, coming right after the talk about reading the table.
I don't blame you. Put a guy like me in a game like that, the cards don't even matter.The speaker understands the ban: with a player like him at the table, the cards would hardly matter.
I'll play it blind.A boast: he is willing to play without even looking at his cards.
Preguntas sobre esta escena
Why does the talk mention a "disappearing act"?
It sets the clever card trick against an absence: "that disappearing act... you pulled today at your group's meeting." The same person who read the table also left a meeting.
Why does the talk move from cards to faces?
Because the explanation is about reading people: "I watch the cards also, but I watch the players reacting to the cards." In the line's own words, "Their faces tell you everything."
What does "play it blind" mean here?
It means playing without looking at your cards. The final line is "I'll play it blind," after the claim that with a player like him in the game "the cards don't even matter."
What style of play is recommended?
Play few hands, but when you enter, raise rather than just call: "If it's good enough to call, you gotta be in there raising." The style is "tight, but aggressive."
How is the offer of an explanation answered?
The reply is "Ah, not to me," followed by "I'm sure there's a good reason you left" and advice: "You'll just have to work harder. Prepare."
Rounders · 26 capítulos
Todos los capítulos →
Siguiente · Capítulo 10can't run from who we areThe Prodigy Who Left the Yeshiva
Capítulo 1make a run at itBuying Into Teddy KGB's Game
Capítulo 2represent that you have somethingPoker Night With the Judges
Capítulo 3read his hand blindReading a Hand Starts a Fight
Capítulo 4get cleaned outMike Picks Up an Old Friend
Capítulo 5crack the gameMike and Worm Fleece a Private Game
Capítulo 6cut this room upMike and Worm at the Card Game
Capítulo 7shear a sheepSlow Roll at the Russian Game
Capítulo 8the juice is still runnin'Grama Threatens Worm
Viendo · Capítulo 9tight, but aggressiveMichael and the Professor Discuss Poker
Capítulo 10can't run from who we areThe Prodigy Who Left the Yeshiva
Capítulo 11the rakeMike Gets Dumped Outside
Capítulo 12tellsMike Returns to the Card Room
Capítulo 13juiceA Friend's Debt Comes Due
Capítulo 14throw in your cardsMike Fumbles Oral Arguments
Capítulo 15run someone upPetra Visits Mike About Worm's Debt
Capítulo 16in hockMike Finds Worm at the Gym
Capítulo 17good for itMike Vouches for Worm
Capítulo 18wait someone outCigar Talk at the Poker Table
Capítulo 19total fishPitching the Binghamton Game
Capítulo 20let the cards do the talkingMike Joins the Police Poker Game
Capítulo 21get outta DodgeTwo Men Argue Over Skipping Town
Capítulo 22go into hockKnish Refuses to Lend Mike Money
Capítulo 23put it all on the lineThe Johnny Chan Story
Capítulo 24vouch forMichael Asks for a $15,000 Loan
Capítulo 25let it rideHeads-Up With KGB
Capítulo 26alligator bloodA Poker Player Doubles the BlindCapítulo 9 de 26 · quedan unos 47 min