What's your take on people that won't gamble?

I'm not a huge gambler (although I did it a lot a decade ago in my first stint as a pool player)...I may do some cheap sets now and then.

My take on it is this:

A person gambles at pool for two reasons: 1) They are trying to make some money or 2) They are trying to prove they can beat another player for the cash....

Me personally, I'm not concerned about #1 as I make plenty of money in my day job and #2 I don't care if I can beat someone else...I just enjoy playing. Don't get me wrong I'm extremely competitive, but my competitiveness comes out when I play in tournaments.

Personally, I don't see any purpose in taking the money I work extremely hard for and giving it to another person simply because they can beat me at a game...but that's just me...

When I do gamble now, I much prefer to do ring games with 3-4 other players...it's much more fun...doesn't kill your wallet and there's a nice sense of camaraderie between players...no one is playing too seriously, but we are playing to win...
 
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sjensen1207 said:
I'm not a huge gambler (although I did it a lot a decade ago in my first stint as a pool player)...I may do some cheap sets now and then.

My take on it is this:

A person gambles at pool for two reasons: 1) They are trying to make some money or 2) They are trying to prove they can beat another player for the cash....

Me personally, I'm not concerned about #1 as I make plenty of money in my day job and #2 I don't care if I can beat someone else...I just enjoy playing. Don't get me wrong I'm extremely competitive, but my competitiveness comes out when I play in tournaments.

Personally, I don't see any purpose in taking the money I work extremely hard for and giving it to another person simply because they can beat me at a game...but that's just me...

When I do gamble now, I much prefer to do ring games with 3-4 other players...it's much more fun...doesn't kill your wallet and there's a nice sense of camaraderie between players...no one is playing too seriously, but we are playing to win...
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Thanks for telling my version of the story. I see no need for me to gamble.... just no need. I love the rolling of the balls.
 
I like to play the game of pool. I like to bet on things. I am not a huge gambler, but still a gambler.

However, my time is valuable and I only get limited time out of the house. So when I go into a poolhall I want to play pool. If there are gamblers around that are close to how I play or better, I will play for small stakes. I hate the 'ask for a spot' nonsense and will avoid that talk. Too many times people are asking me for spots and its ridiculous and annoying. I figure if its cheap $20-$50 sets just get up and play. Back in Michigan there was nothing worse than driving an hour to a poolhall to not get any action due to requests for weight or out of line games. Screw the heckling and just play.

I would rather play someone than sit waiting for a game, so I will play just to play as well.
 
TWOFORPOOL said:
A lot of players would not get out of their chair (including me) for 20.00 sets its not worth their time and effort. Its going to take at least 100.00 sets to get my fat ass out of the chair.
I play pool for the love of the game and gamble very little anymore. You need to go back to the reasons you starting playing the game to begin with (for the love of playing the game). JMO
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Just curious which side of the fence your on? If you love playing the game what would time/effort have to do with it in regards to cheap sets.
 
I realize that I must be a simpleton, but I cannot understand why, if you love the game, you won't get out of the chair to play unless someone is putting money on the game?

It's simply lost on me.

Sure, if someone wants to play for money, whatever floats your boat. But to sit there, not playing, with tables available... Wow. Sure, I like to watch others play, too. But to not play unless there is money on it...

Just wow.
 
justadub said:
I realize that I must be a simpleton, but I cannot understand why, if you love the game, you won't get out of the chair to play unless someone is putting money on the game?

It's simply lost on me.

Sure, if someone wants to play for money, whatever floats your boat. But to sit there, not playing, with tables available... Wow. Sure, I like to watch others play, too. But to not play unless there is money on it...

Just wow.
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It's really very simple...100% of the gamblers would rather soft action.. only about 3 to 5% will still get in the box in a tough game with the mentality that tough action is better than no action.
 
Is this turning into a pool civil war with the gamblers on the south side and the non gamblers on the north side or vise versa? I think we need to have a hug the opposite player type day. All gamblers hug a non gambler and all non gamblers hug a gambler....there much better.

As for me I can do both. I appreciate being able to gamble to put myself in pressure situations (and maybe make a lil dough), but there are times I want to just play pool with my friends and kick it. Sometimes I drink water, sometimes I drink some tasty alcoholic beverages. I am thinking we can coexist just fine.

Even though I do have a pool table in my house, not everyone does so it is their right to pay for table time without gambling or drinking in a pool establishment.
 
Neil said:
If that's all you have, it's more gambling than you betting a hundred!
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So true Neil....and that's the guy I'll avoid playing like the plague. Who wants to take someone's last $20?! I did it one time in a bar a few years ago, and felt so bad about it I staked him against someone else, and just let him keep all the winnings....
 
ChicagoRJ said:
How does this relate to you?? You are some small time player looking for a nickel and dime game AND you are the one is offended ??

Well, you can't find a game for $20,... Boo Hoo. Well, get some more cash together, and play a real set for $500.
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This is on the money lol
 
Neil said:
It doesn't bother me at all. I once was in a pool room and a very, very, drunk sailor wanted to play anyone one game for a thousand! No one, not even the Hells Angel guy that was there, would play him. He asked several times, and we all said no. Half hour later, he gave the thousand to the waitress for a tip!

Sometimes, some people just want to go off.
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did the sailor and waitress mysteriously "disappear" for a bit?? lol, sorry, couldn't resist.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
why don't you just say no. you gotta win it back the same way i won it. what sense would it make for you to spend 2 hours earning it to give it back(+some) in 5 minutes?
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that's never happened to me in person - and yeah, if i was ever playing someone for anything and they ask to double it - nope. i'm done. if you're down 2 or 3 sets, why would you want to double it unless you're laying down until you can get bet high enough to make it worth your while.

but my point is, people shouldn't do that to begin with. they think they're being slick, like con men. it's freaking annoying. i hate that i feel like i have to do a background check on people who ask to play to see if they're legit or working an angle.

like i said before, if people were straight up about it, i'd do it more often.
 
stljohnny said:
that's never happened to me in person - and yeah, if i was ever playing someone for anything and they ask to double it - nope. i'm done. if you're down 2 or 3 sets, why would you want to double it unless you're laying down until you can get bet high enough to make it worth your while.

but my point is, people shouldn't do that to begin with. they think they're being slick, like con men. it's freaking annoying. i hate that i feel like i have to do a background check on people who ask to play to see if they're legit or working an angle.

like i said before, if people were straight up about it, i'd do it more often.
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1 of the funniest pool stories i've heard was told to me by a New Orleans pool player named Downtown Eddie Brown...Eddie "A black fellow" said a well known Black pool player "Mark Tadd"comes to the sport palace in New Orleans years ago & Eddie recognizes him right off the back..Mark ask Eddie to play some $100 dollar sets...Eddie says sure..never letting on that he knew who Mark was...Mark loses 3 sets in a row & tells Eddie...I can't beat you but you got my nose open..U want to play for $500..Eddie breaks his stick down & says...You Mark Tadd,,,that Black guy from California...I don't want to play u nothing..Mark"being light skinned" says I aint black... I'm Mexican...Eddie spouts back..Man "U a n.gga just like me & u been HAD TADD...to hear Eddie tell the story is funny as hell.:D
 
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stljohnny said:
that's never happened to me in person - and yeah, if i was ever playing someone for anything and they ask to double it - nope. i'm done. if you're down 2 or 3 sets, why would you want to double it unless you're laying down until you can get bet high enough to make it worth your while.

but my point is, people shouldn't do that to begin with. they think they're being slick, like con men. it's freaking annoying. i hate that i feel like i have to do a background check on people who ask to play to see if they're legit or working an angle.

like i said before, if people were straight up about it, i'd do it more often.
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#1. You can't be afraid to take off scores.

#2. If someone is begging to go off, you should oblige them.
 
I dont gamble, but when I pull out my money to pay for something people are always asking me to gamble. I will usually have 1500-3k on me and when I tell them know, I get the look "who the "F" are you to deny me a chance at your money" I dont feel I have to gamble to be in a pool hall.
 
ftgokie said:
I dont gamble, but when I pull out my money to pay for something people are always asking me to gamble. I will usually have 1500-3k on me and when I tell them know, I get the look "who the "F" are you to deny me a chance at your money" I dont feel I have to gamble to be in a pool hall.
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AMEN A GREENIE 4 U.:thumbup:
 
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