New to Playing for The Money

Andrewk1988

Andrewk1988

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm far from a great pool player, or even a good one. But as I've started spending time in poolrooms more and more, I've become infatuated with the "action" that goes on. I'm a wee bit of a gambler by nature, and playing for money just fits the bill for me. It puts something on the line, and I'm learning, in a lot of cases puts pressure on my opponent more than me.

My question is who do I play? I am average in the room that I go to. There are players who I can't hold a candle to, players who I run over, and players who I can play sets for hours with and nobody will get up more than a couple sets.

It seems like a lot of the attitude here is "play the best, and hand em your money. It's how you learn, kid." But it also seems like these are the better players who like having worse players fill their pockets. I like the competitive back and forth matches, but I also like the confidence booster of wrecking guys and then asking them to hand it over afterward.

Long winded, but that's where I am on the subject. What's everyone's thoughts for a guy newer to the scene?
 
Andrewk1988 said:
I'm far from a great pool player, or even a good one. But as I've started spending time in poolrooms more and more, I've become infatuated with the "action" that goes on. I'm a wee bit of a gambler by nature, and playing for money just fits the bill for me. It puts something on the line, and I'm learning, in a lot of cases puts pressure on my opponent more than me.

My question is who do I play? I am average in the room that I go to. There are players who I can't hold a candle to, players who I run over, and players who I can play sets for hours with and nobody will get up more than a couple sets.

It seems like a lot of the attitude here is "play the best, and hand em your money. It's how you learn, kid." But it also seems like these are the better players who like having worse players fill their pockets. I like the competitive back and forth matches, but I also like the confidence booster of wrecking guys and then asking them to hand it over afterward.

Long winded, but that's where I am on the subject. What's everyone's thoughts for a guy newer to the scene?
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nothing builds confidence like winning
play most games that you can win

play some tough games with the better players getting as much weight as you can to see what they do
try to imagine what would you shoot if you were them
if they shoot something as a surprise you might ask them why did they shoot that over what you would have shot
they may or may not give you a straight answer
\but since you are donating they might and you will learn
 
Skill level means a lot less than being able to get yourself into action(as far as action goes). Who cares if you can run racks if you can't find anything better than a $2 game. If you can learn how to get people into games/match up, that'll make up for everything else.. it's just a matter of winning after that. ;) Matching up also means being able to finagle spots when necessary. Find a comfortable spot that one of the stronger players will agree to and you'll usually be able to get it regularly. The same thing applies in reverse and can be used to gage your own ability to keep your eye on that target. That's my experience anyhow..
 
Thanks guys. I have a good ability to get people to play with me. Whether they know how I shoot or not, I just have a bit of a slick tongue, so to speak.

I want to ask for weight, but I'm not really familiar with the "proper" way to go about it, or even what all the terminology means exactly.
 
Handspan

Andrewk1988 said:
Thanks guys. I have a good ability to get people to play with me. Whether they know how I shoot or not, I just have a bit of a slick tongue, so to speak.

I want to ask for weight, but I'm not really familiar with the "proper" way to go about it, or even what all the terminology means exactly.
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The old handspan (moving the cue any direction the width of your handspan) is a great spot. Could be every shot or a certain amount of times per game or match. You dont hook yourself and your opp can't hook you! Out of line? Handspan gets you back in line or off the rail. In a match it would be like a get out of jail free card. Although a huge spot it could be adjusted anyway you like. As in not on the money ball or no handspan when your are leading in the set. Maybe no handspan when down to last three balls. Now if you could get the eight, the break, games on the wire, and some form of handspan you could rule the world LOL.
 
It sounds like you have a great opportunity in the room you frequent. Play the guys you can beat for the cheese, rob 'em, then take your winnings and lose it to the guys that can/will rob you. You get the satisfaction of winning some, the lesson-learning matches you lose to better players, and at the end of the night you've broken even!

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
It sounds like you have a great opportunity in the room you frequent. Play the guys you can beat for the cheese, rob 'em, then take your winnings and lose it to the guys that can/will rob you. You get the satisfaction of winning some, the lesson-learning matches you lose to better players, and at the end of the night you've broken even!

Maniac
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thats what I was thinking too.
 
when gambling, when someone spots you a ball or two how does this exactly work? everyone i have always played for money against was straight up. for example: if someone where to spot me the 8 ball in a 9-ball game...

not thread jacking. adding to the getting weight scenario.
 
Andrewk1988 said:
I'm far from a great pool player, or even a good one. But as I've started spending time in poolrooms more and more, I've become infatuated with the "action" that goes on...
Click to expand...

Please share with the rest of the class, where oh where is this pool hall with all the action you speak of? :grin-square:
 
Knowing how match up means alot when getting in action. Hang out and see how its done. If you get the right spot it can all work out for you and you dont even need to be a world beater..:thumbup: .. But then again even if they give you the breaks and the eight for the spot it dont mean nothing if you dont know how to break and get to the table..:D ..so if your gonna get in action you should learn what your doing....<< ED
 
Andrewk1988 said:
My question is who do I play? I am average in the room that I go to. There are players who I can't hold a candle to, players who I run over, and players who I can play sets for hours with and nobody will get up more than a couple sets.
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I was in this situation when I started playing for money. There were several guys I could go back and forth with, a ton of guys I could destroy, one or two guys I couldn't even compete with, and a handful of guys who I couldn't beat, but I could almost keep up with.

That last category is the one that really brought my game up. Playing those guys taught me how to beat those guys, and I got a LOT better in the process. Got to the point where I could compete with the best players who frequented that room. Really strengthened my tournament game too.

I lost a bit of money in the process, but everyone I play knows I only play cheap, so it didn't add up to a whole lot. I never really matched up with the guys I could rob. Didn't seem worthwhile, except when it was just knocking them around for fun.

-Andrew
 
jcs003 said:
when gambling, when someone spots you a ball or two how does this exactly work? everyone i have always played for money against was straight up. for example: if someone where to spot me the 8 ball in a 9-ball game...

not thread jacking. adding to the getting weight scenario.
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means the 8 ball is your 9. So if you make either the 8 or the 9 you win the rack.
 
jcs003 said:
when gambling, when someone spots you a ball or two how does this exactly work? everyone i have always played for money against was straight up. for example: if someone where to spot me the 8 ball in a 9-ball game...

not thread jacking. adding to the getting weight scenario.
Click to expand...

I'm out of the house now, when I get home later I'll address this in some depth if no one else has.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
No matter what you decide to do with your gambling - take the added excitement and passion that you gain from the matches and take it with you to the practice table. Don't get too caught up in constantly looking for action. When you do compete pay attention to what you need to work on and focus on that when you practice. I know it sounds simple, but a lot of guys stop practicing once they start gambling.

Good luck.
 
Personally, I think you will get better by playing everyone.

Give some weight to the lesser players, get some weight from the better players.

You need to learn how to win against all types of opponents. Some people are not good front runners, some people can't win if they don't start quick, etc, etc.

The ones I learned from the most early on were the players that would beat me in a race even though I was sure I could "outshoot" them. It didn't take long to figure out that they just managed the table better than me and didn't give anything away.

The more you learn and put away, the tougher you'll be.
 
Alex Kanapilly said:
Personally, I think you will get better by playing everyone.

Give some weight to the lesser players, get some weight from the better players.

You need to learn how to win against all types of opponents. Some people are not good front runners, some people can't win if they don't start quick, etc, etc.

The ones I learned from the most early on were the players that would beat me in a race even though I was sure I could "outshoot" them. It didn't take long to figure out that they just managed the table better than me and didn't give anything away.

The more you learn and put away, the tougher you'll be.
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Good advice. And if your going to play for the cash , don't be shy about playing safe. I don't know the stats but it seems to me that as many
wins come about as a result of a good safety as they do from a good shot.
 
So you have a little gamble in you do you?? Then do just that regardless of who you play... make it close to an even game as you can where you HAVE to play to win.... Play as cheap as it takes to keep your interest....

Playing nothing but the guys you can beat is not gambling... It's lock smithing or being a nit.... Heartless

Offering a spot to the players you can beat will teach you to not give games away out of stupidity.....

Playing the guys you play even with only... That works as long as you push them and they push you... Lots of players don't progress so you might paint yourself into the corners....

Playing the guys you can't beat makes you a sucker and likely they won't really want to help their good old cash cow progress... Not until they are deep in your pocket and they want to help before you quit them at least.....

Getting a spot from the guys you can't beat will earn you more respect than being a sucker and as long as you are always willing and clear about constant adjusting they will likely share some wisdom since they know if you get a little better the spot will adjust and who knows maybe you will bet higher..... This should teach you focus and how to capitalize on others mistakes......

The guy that is always wiling to get into the box and work out a fair spot is always the guy everyone likes... Even if it's on the cheap you won't ever be called a nit or a sucker... You will be called a pool player......
 
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