He learned to bet on stoopball, paddleball, and checkers, which he played with other local kids, and with adults who went by nicknames such as Bitter Irving, Bookie, and Nervous Phil.

尼德霍夫和玩伴们玩街头棒球，扳手球和下棋的时候就知道如何下注，他还和大人玩，包括比特而·欧文，布基和紧张的飞利浦。