I agree that it's possible that Verbal was hoping not to have to tell Kujan about Soze. The screenwriter wants the audience to wonder about it. But it's not certain one way or the other.

Also, as some spoiler video on youtube pointed out, when Dave is later shaking Verbal for the truth, Verbal blurts out "I AM Keyser!" before it gets buried in the crying and Dave's insistence that Keaton was Keyser.
I can't find a Youtube of this. Do you have a link to a video? Because I say it doesn't happen in the movie.

I don't know if he trips him up, but he clearly finds out more than Soze would like. The story Kint wants people to believe is the one he made to grand jury. The facts in it checked out, I'm assuming that would be the 5 of them meeting at a line up over the arms robbery, the exposing of the NYPD, the murder of Saul Berg. He doesn't want the police hearing about Keyser Soze, or that they were on the boat with anything but dope. He didn't plan for anyone to make it out of the harbour alive. But he is able to quickly size up what Kujan wants (a story to fuel his obsession with Keaton) and takes him on that journey using names from the board behind him. It's possible he's used names on the board as a substitution for real people. It's possible he's completely confected entire parts of his story. He's eventually forced to work Soze in and so does it in a way that Kujan can link back to Keaton, which is all he's interested in anyway. Kint basically gives Kujan enogh rope to hang himself. But he's always in control of where the story goes because, as Kujan tells him at the start "I'm smarter than you, and I'm going to get what I want out of you whether you like it or not." Kujan's basically told him that he wants to hear a story about Keaton, and Kint tells it in such a way that Kujan believes he is drawing the information out of him reluctantly when really Kint's just leading Kujan exactly where he wants to go.

Of course he doesn't say that. What a ridiculous notion.

I'm trying to find a Youtube vid of Verbal blurting out "I am Keyser Soze" but can't find one. Meanwhile, I've watched the movie countless times and it's not in the versions(s) I've watched.

Are you getting confused with the "I did kill Keaton."? I really don't think he blurts out he is KS.

Also, as some spoiler video on youtube pointed out, when Dave is later shaking Verbal for the truth, Verbal blurts out "I AM Keyser!" before it gets buried in the crying and Dave's insistence that Keaton was Keyser.
Where is this youtube clip? I've tried finding it without success. I've watched the film countless times (I used to teach it for Film Studies) and I don't ever recall Verbal saying that, so I'd be very interested in viewing that clip, to be honest.
As for Verbal's reaction, I don't think he was expecting the name to crop up at all in the questioning, so was thrown to that extent - or it was a preconceived reaction as if from someone who didn't want any of this to be linked to Soze because of who he was. Verbal played the part of a character who did not want to be linked at all to Soze by the police. However, bearing in mind that the whole point of his story was to make Kujan believe that Keaton was Soze, I think he would have introduced Soze's name at some point anyway - this way, he didn't have to.

He does, however, say "I did it. I killed Keaton" during the scene before he starts crying. If you listen, you can hear it.
Doesn't he say "I did. I did see Keaton"? I've seen this movie plenty of times and I have never heard him say he killed Keaton.

It's never said. He does, however, say "I did it. I killed Keaton" during the scene before he starts crying. If you listen, you can hear it.

I don't think he ever says it, we are just supposed to make the connection at the end seeing the image on the FAX plus the fact that as Verbal walks he loses the limp. At least that is the way I remember it and I saw it again just a couple of weeks ago.
Dave

Where does verbal say he is Keyser?? He never says that I tried watching it to see and I don't see him ever say I am Keyser.

The 2nd greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing you he was cornered for a second.
Hahaha perfect. But yeah Verbal was in control of the situation all along, I think. Kujan was being played the whole time. Remember Verbal was trying to pass himself off as a weakling.

LOL !
Totally solid point

The 3rd greatest trick the devil ever pulled was covering his own tracks by making you think his slip ups were intentional.
They don't call me Col. Homer cause I'm some dumbass army guy!

I think Verbal was genuinely cornered for a second
The 2nd greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing you he was cornered for a second.

I think you're 100% right in both cases.

I couldn't agree more, Binkconn.
I've been thinking the same thing since I saw the movie for the second time.
First time you don't think about it but, when you watch it again, knowing what the finale is going to reveal, you can't help but wondering.