Dorabelle....What if they are both "C" players?....Well, what might be considered an "advantage" for the gambler would still translate to an "advantage" even at a "C" level. Also there has been talk about "comfort level" of a bet. "IF" somebody doesn't gamble, the minute a wager is made on the outcome...they are out of their "comfort level". Now "if" they find out they can focus and play with the same ability as they play with "bragging rights pool", then they are "rare". Most "funzy" players execution level suffers when the "bet is on". The same is true for "comfort level" (i.e. $20 player betting $200). To become a "high stakes pool player"....one has to do it in "stages". You must be a good $10 player before you become a good $50 player (and on up the ladder). If you try to skip too many "rungs" (i.e. go from $10 to $200), your execution level will "suffer" til you get "used to" betting $200. Most (NOT ALL THOUGH) players that "high roll" are not interested in actually "playing". Rather than declining a game...they "high roll" the opponent. I have seen it "backfire" on some over the years, when the opponent "agrees". Now instead of just saying "no" to a $20 game, you have just "high rolled" yourself into a $500 game. Just let it be said that MONEY can be used to induce pressure on a player to make their "game" suffer. For more MONEY the pockets can get smaller. For enough MONEY, you can make the pockets actually "DISAPPEAR" (for you or them). I assume most of us play because we enjoy the game. A bet (wager) can increase the enjoyment of the game. If you bet, keep it to a level that you can "handle" if you loose. So in closing....the "gambler" will generally prevail against the "non-gambler" of the same "skill" level AND the "high stakes gambler" will prevail against the "low stakes gambler" (skill levels being equal).