What do you consider Cheap?

Cool thread, nice topic.

Leads well to one I've wanted to start about the difference between "battles", friendly low $ horsing around, and trying to steal a score.

Neil said:
Cheap? It all depends on where you are at, and the kind of money that room has in it. Around here, race to 7 for 20 is standard and serious. Yesterday, after 2 sets I was even with a guy for 7-20. I asked him to raise it to 40, and he said he wanted the 8. I said o.k, and he said no! And, this is a guy that I have been playing for 20 years!

On the nest table were two guys playing race to 3 for 20-60. (they changed it up almost every set it seemed??) That is the biggest game I have seen around here in years.

Cheap is also relative. One guy can be betting 50 a set, and only have two barrels. He is betting everything he has. Another guy might be betting a thousand a set, but he has 100 barrels to throw. Which guy is betting cheap?? I say the guy with more money is.
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I agree completely. Back when I was playing and trying to beat other kids out of money, I loved $5-10 a game, $20 a set to start and let them jack themselves into doing something stupid.

I was pretty solid at those stakes, esp against the local youngin's and on smaller tables.... which is to say, I wasn't that good, but I was in cheap action day in and day out.

I gave up the game for about 16 years and just picked it up again last Summer.

Now I am more about improving my game, and yes, since it's relavent, I"m broke. :sorry: So I play cheap sets or tournaments when I can, and power league so I get pressure matches against like speed players, but can't lose rent money I don't have anyway. :grin: $20 a set against an unknown opponent is about right to get my broke ass blood flowing properly.

But a few years ago when things were rolling, if I had been in pool I would have been happy to fire 2-3 $50 sets at the local short stops if that was what it took to get them to beat on me. I would have looked at it like lessons.

But yes, I would have asked for a spot after the first couple (assuming they were one sided) to make BOTH of us sweat the bet and play hard.

I agree, "cheap" is defined by what's in your pocket.
 
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I think races to 5 for $20 are pretty normal and sure beats collecting dust, most players will play for these stakes rather then do nothing at all. If I am real bored and a player wants to play a set for 5 or 10 I will just to hit balls. Here are my wins and losses for the year so far, a couple of dollars here and there, some are side bets, actually all 3 of my $100 or more losses are. This year is the first time I have kept track of all my wins and losses in pool, its very interesting to look at and know where you stand. :)

Wins

$100
$200
$100
$40
$100
$100
$10
$5
$60
$100
$60
$50
$40
$20
$5
$10
$870
$30
$5
$20
$40
$200
$10
$40
$30
$50
$160
$40
$50


Losses

$100
$10
$15
$50
$20
$20
$10
$15
$20
$20
$100
$200
$40
 
Fast Lenny said:
I think races to 5 for $20 are pretty normal and sure beats collecting dust, most players will play for these stakes rather then do nothing at all. If I am real bored and a player wants to play a set for 5 or 10 I will just to hit balls. Here are my wins and losses for the year so far, a couple of dollars here and there, some are side bets, actually all 3 of my $100 or more losses are. This year is the first time I have kept track of all my wins and losses in pool, its very interesting to look at and know where you stand. :)

Wins

$100
$200
$100
$40
$100
$100
$10
$5
$60
$100
$60
$50
$40
$20
$5
$10
$870
$30
$5
$20
$40
$200
$10
$40
$30
$50
$160
$40
$50


Losses

$100
$10
$15
$50
$20
$20
$10
$15
$20
$20
$100
$200
$40
Click to expand...

After Number Crunching you are in the GREEN:wink:
 
I think the answer on cheap is less about what the starting bet is and more about what you are willing to risk for the session. I think for most people, winning or losing more than $100 in a session gets their attention.

This is the way I like to work it. I like starting out at $20 sets to start. I do not mind upping the bet as the session goes along and you get a feel for your game and your opponent's game. The big thing is to know how much you are willing to put on the line and how long you are willing to play.

If $200 is the max I can afford to lose tonight, then I do not think that is cheap even if it takes ten sets to get it from me. To me, cheap is the guy that plays for any amount of money and quits after one or two sets. I cannot tell you how many times that I have climbed into the box with a guy that thought he was hotSH$T on the pool table, get down $40 or $50 and quit. Those guys are cheap and lack gonads in my opinion. As Fatboy said, if that amount of money affects your life, then do not gamble with it. For me, losing more than $100 aggravates me, but is not the end of the world.

One other thing to consider is the level of player you are playing against. I often get into matches with better players knowing I will probably lose. Once again, I know what I am willing to lose to that person. More often than not that player knows he is going to win as well. What do I get out of it? It is called paying my dues and learning. If I lose $100 to the better player and learn something from him and then use that to win $200 against other players within my ability level, then I think I have made a good investment. The better player knows I am going to stay in the box and eventually he will probably get his $100. A final thought on playing better players, is that over time you can tell if you are improving by how you perform against better players. Around here at least, those better players do not mind this concept. They know that playing a few "cheap sets" when it is a virtual lock for them is better than sitting and waiting on the potential big score that is more likely a true gamble. They are also more often than not very kind to me in answering questions and giving me tips. They know I am working hard to improve and not scared to give them a ride.

So, ask yourself, am I willing to risk 2 sets at $20 per or 10 sets at $20 per. That will answer your question about being cheap. I think if we are talking 2 sets at $20, then you are probably better off not asking for a game. If you are willing to risk $200, then stick to your terms for the game and ignore any jerk that calls you cheap. You are just risking your nut on your terms. it is no different than negotiationg a spot.
 
Greatblzofire said:
I think the answer on cheap is less about what the starting bet is and more about what you are willing to risk for the session. I think for most people, winning or losing more than $100 in a session gets their attention.

This is the way I like to work it. I like starting out at $20 sets to start. I do not mind upping the bet as the session goes along and you get a feel for your game and your opponent's game. The big thing is to know how much you are willing to put on the line and how long you are willing to play.

If $200 is the max I can afford to lose tonight, then I do not think that is cheap even if it takes ten sets to get it from me. To me, cheap is the guy that plays for any amount of money and quits after one or two sets. I cannot tell you how many times that I have climbed into the box with a guy that thought he was hotSH$T on the pool table, get down $40 or $50 and quit. Those guys are cheap and lack gonads in my opinion. As Fatboy said, if that amount of money affects your life, then do not gamble with it. For me, losing more than $100 aggravates me, but is not the end of the world.

One other thing to consider is the level of player you are playing against. I often get into matches with better players knowing I will probably lose. Once again, I know what I am willing to lose to that person. More often than not that player knows he is going to win as well. What do I get out of it? It is called paying my dues and learning. If I lose $100 to the better player and learn something from him and then use that to win $200 against other players within my ability level, then I think I have made a good investment. The better player knows I am going to stay in the box and eventually he will probably get his $100. A final thought on playing better players, is that over time you can tell if you are improving by how you perform against better players. Around here at least, those better players do not mind this concept. They know that playing a few "cheap sets" when it is a virtual lock for them is better than sitting and waiting on the potential big score that is more likely a true gamble. They are also more often than not very kind to me in answering questions and giving me tips. They know I am working hard to improve and not scared to give them a ride.

So, ask yourself, am I willing to risk 2 sets at $20 per or 10 sets at $20 per. That will answer your question about being cheap. I think if we are talking 2 sets at $20, then you are probably better off not asking for a game. If you are willing to risk $200, then stick to your terms for the game and ignore any jerk that calls you cheap. You are just risking your nut on your terms. it is no different than negotiationg a spot.
Click to expand...

Well said. :wink:
 
Neil said:
Cheap? It all depends on where you are at, and the kind of money that room has in it. Around here, race to 7 for 20 is standard and serious. Yesterday, after 2 sets I was even with a guy for 7-20. I asked him to raise it to 40, and he said he wanted the 8. I said o.k, and he said no! And, this is a guy that I have been playing for 20 years!

On the nest table were two guys playing race to 3 for 20-60. (they changed it up almost every set it seemed??) That is the biggest game I have seen around here in years.

Cheap is also relative. One guy can be betting 50 a set, and only have two barrels. He is betting everything he has. Another guy might be betting a thousand a set, but he has 100 barrels to throw. Which guy is betting cheap?? I say the guy with more money is.
Click to expand...

i'd be pissed man! the guy asks for weight and you offer to give it to him and then he turns the game down?! that's some of that old Bull Sh!t

sets 5/$20 -7/$50 10-20 dollar a game 1 pocket are what consider acceptable. that's what i generally like to do. if i had more dough or could make a better game i'd bet more
 
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