distract ur oppenent

I don't remember their names, but let somebody else please tell the story of the grandmaster, extensively preparing a cigar, but not smoking, and just threatening to smoke, what was very distracting.  (Was it Nimzowitch?)

Fifty years ago in my chess club, someone was often humming the Frisian Hymn and tapping with his shoes on the floor.  (Frisian from Friesland, a part of the Netherlands).

Tal was the heavey smoker I think but did he do that?

No, the story is older...

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/nimzowitsch.html

Hi, Kyle, thanks for sharing that article about (not-)smoking a cigar ! A great extensive article by the way !

And yes, threatening instead of doing is often a strong distraction for a chess player, so we answer the question of this forum as well.

Being a non-smoker myself, I never had problems with heavy smokers, but in those years (1955-1985) my clothes were terribly badly stinking when coming home late in the evening...

coincidentally, here in st Louis, there is a cigar bar right next door to the club, so playing outside can be nauseating 

ive lost after an "academy award winning performance" as well.  i was a 300 point underdog and won the exchange due to a back rank tactic...i liquidated into the won ending.  My opponent then "hung" his pawn, quietly swore under his breath, put his hand on his forehead, yada yada yada....i casually took the pawn and proceeded to lose my rook to the bishop fork.  whats funny is that there was another pawn i could have taken, so had i noticed his ruse, i could have feigned to take his poisoned pawn only to revert back and take the other......out acting the actor! 

but nope....i failed