Titanic Thompson, a legendary gambler and hustler, skillfully manipulated both the odds and his fellow gamblers. He was not a con artist but rather an expert poker player who could read cards and people with equal accuracy. Thompson was closely associated with several notorious figures, including Arnold Rothstein, who was murdered after a card game in New York that Thompson had organized.
Proposition Bets and Tricks
One of Thompson’s favorite pastimes was making proposition bets on anything from the turn of a card to the number of watermelons in a farmer’s truck. He would offer seemingly impossible wagers that fellow gamblers just couldn’t resist, such as betting he could hail a cab in under a minute during rush hour traffic. In reality, Thompson had a confederate in the taxi to make sure it was in the right place at the right time.
Thompson’s most impressive proposition bets were based on feats of skill that seemed impossible when described at the outset. He had a talent for throwing things with strength and accuracy, such as sailing a playing card further than Ricky Jay on his best day or filling a hat with 52 cards from across a pool hall. Thompson would bet on anything and everything, from throwing peanuts or walnuts over houses to throwing needles so they would stick in the ceiling and skewer a fly in the process.
Transition to Pool and Golf Hustling
As the “good old days” of high-stakes poker waned, Thompson turned to hustling pool and golf to make a living. He was unmatched in the pool hall and could line up suckers for more hours than there were in a day thanks to a litany of seemingly crazy handicaps he would offer. As a golfer, he was considered to be amongst the best players in the country and could easily have turned pro, but he preferred the thrill of a hustler’s life.
Titanic Thompson lived out his days as a much-sought-after golf partner by gamblers eager to have a story to tell about losing to the legendary hustler. He could rope anyone into taking a much bigger bet than originally intended and would often beat them with seemingly impossible handicaps. Thompson was a fascinating character in hustler history, and his stories have become gambling lore.
Thompson’s Reputation and Legacy
Titanic Thompson was known for always having “the best of it” in any situation. His reputation drew in gamblers who wanted to take part in his proposition bets, even though they never had a chance of beating him. Thompson had an unbeatable knack for winning almost any proposition he made, whether by developing an unusual skill, orchestrating a situation, or concealing secret knowledge. However, a few times in his career, his wagers would backfire with hilarious and expensive consequences.
Despite this, Thompson remained a master of his craft, and his skills were so renowned that even famous golfer Ben Hogan once said, “Only a fool would play him at a game he suggested.”
Titanic Thompson’s ability to win almost any bet he made was a testament to his cunning and intelligence. He knew how to manipulate situations to his advantage and always had a trick up his sleeve.
In the end, Thompson’s legacy as a gambler and hustler remains unmatched, and his name continues to be synonymous with the world of high-stakes gambling. Through his legendary bets, unmatched skills, and cunning mind, Titanic Thompson will forever be remembered as a fascinating figure in the world of gambling and hustling.
