Won my first $6000 in the middle, AMA

M

Mustardeer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.

*My biggest fear was that I was gonna get too sleepy ( match was scheduled for 9p we finished at 5am ). That ended up not being a factor at all, I was wide awake the entire match ( but the next day I was beyond exhausted.)

**The organizers handed me the cash at the end, I didn’t wanna count in front of all the sketchy railbirds there, I just put it in the pocket and split ( 6K easily fits in a pocket all hundreds ). The drive home was uncomfortable cause I was afraid it wasnt all there but ended up all there.

*We played for 7 hrs straight no food breaks. I drank a ton of water, he had a beer I think.

* He was in a bad game and was really not having a good time, it was painful to watch.

* I’m nowhere near pro speed but I knew I was stronger than him, I move much better, better cue ball, but our stroke is prob similar mine might be a tiny bit better. I didn’t think I had a chance of losing but it got almost close at one point. I was expecting to win 14-3 or 14-4 but I won 14-10. Closed out 4-1.

* The hardest part was staying focused for that long nonstop. Any time I took a shot for granted I lost that rack.

I dont wanna reveal identities but any questions just ask. This was my 1st time ever playing for that much.
 
B

BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Sounds fun but 7 hours straight to play 24 racks sounds exhausting. Over 17 minutes a rack. What was the game?

Way to grind it out though.
 
M

Mustardeer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
8-ball lol. I don’t care if it’s embarrassing I didn’t wanna take chances cause he can shoot. Basically the first set a month ago I played super aggressive and almost lost. I noticed towards the end that he doesn’t move well. That’s why I was willing to bet high. Create clusters on the break then just move and move till there’s an out or I get ball in hand. He shot super slow. I remember feeling bored at times but tried to stay focused. It worked.
 
P

PracticeChampion

Well-known member
Mustardeer said:
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.

*My biggest fear was that I was gonna get too sleepy ( match was scheduled for 9p we finished at 5am ). That ended up not being a factor at all, I was wide awake the entire match ( but the next day I was beyond exhausted.)

**The organizers handed me the cash at the end, I didn’t wanna count in front of all the sketchy railbirds there, I just put it in the pocket and split ( 6K easily fits in a pocket all hundreds ). The drive home was uncomfortable cause I was afraid it wasnt all there but ended up all there.

*We played for 7 hrs straight no food breaks. I drank a ton of water, he had a beer I think.

* He was in a bad game and was really not having a good time, it was painful to watch.

* I’m nowhere near pro speed but I knew I was stronger than him, I move much better, better cue ball, but our stroke is prob similar mine might be a tiny bit better. I didn’t think I had a chance of losing but it got almost close at one point. I was expecting to win 14-3 or 14-4 but I won 14-10. Closed out 4-1.

* The hardest part was staying focused for that long nonstop. Any time I took a shot for granted I lost that rack.

I dont wanna reveal identities but any questions just ask. This was my 1st time ever playing for that much.
Click to expand...
Awesome!!!

Focus is everything, and unfortunately I'm terrible at that part after awhile
 
M

Mustardeer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thx guys appreciate it. I’m generally a nit and prefer tourneys to action but he wanted to rematch 2k in the middle I told the venue nah 1k is fine, then he told the venue “he’s a pssy, ok fine set it up”. The room owner forwarded me the text, I wrote back “6k yes or no”.
 
ShootingArts

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!
Gold Member
Silver Member
Mustardeer said:
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.

*My biggest fear was that I was gonna get too sleepy ( match was scheduled for 9p we finished at 5am ). That ended up not being a factor at all, I was wide awake the entire match ( but the next day I was beyond exhausted.)

**The organizers handed me the cash at the end, I didn’t wanna count in front of all the sketchy railbirds there, I just put it in the pocket and split ( 6K easily fits in a pocket all hundreds ). The drive home was uncomfortable cause I was afraid it wasnt all there but ended up all there.

*We played for 7 hrs straight no food breaks. I drank a ton of water, he had a beer I think.

* He was in a bad game and was really not having a good time, it was painful to watch.

* I’m nowhere near pro speed but I knew I was stronger than him, I move much better, better cue ball, but our stroke is prob similar mine might be a tiny bit better. I didn’t think I had a chance of losing but it got almost close at one point. I was expecting to win 14-3 or 14-4 but I won 14-10. Closed out 4-1.

* The hardest part was staying focused for that long nonstop. Any time I took a shot for granted I lost that rack.

I dont wanna reveal identities but any questions just ask. This was my 1st time ever playing for that much.
Click to expand...


Congratulations! There can be a pretty high pucker factor the first time you lay a big chunk on the line. I totally understood the time to play each game too. I played a very similar game of barbox eightball for as much or more than I usually bet in a year! Neither of us had the cash on the spot so I first had to consider why and how I would get paid assuming I won which wasn't a certainty. Either of us could run an open table but like you I figured I moved and broke out clusters better than he did. Not a lot of rules in place so I had decided to soft break if I won the lag. His best chance of winning was to rebreak the stack but fortunately he didn't. Now we were both carefully picking off balls being more concerned with not leaving a door wide open for the other player if we missed than making a ball at the start of each inning. The game took at least fifteen or twenty minutes, really seemed like over thirty but we weren't on a clock. Making my first three or four balls and his shooting accounted for most of the time. I had opened up the last half of my balls and the eightball so I had a clear path to run the last three or four balls. That game was exhausting, as tiring as playing for hours. Reminded me of a twelve lap preliminary dirt track race I won. Very close every inch of the way and I was so spent I had to lean on the car a few minutes before walking off when the race was over.

Every time you bet big or get in a big tournament the mental and emotional side gets easier. I was a small business owner and I figured that was a much higher bet than what I usually bet on the pool table anyway. A few people tried to high roll me over the years, couldn't be done! When I willingly went along with any bet offered the other player backed down. Five hundred, a thousand or more a game was just popping off unfortunately. I could get in fifty a game action pretty regularly and a hundred a game once or twice a year,

When I played long sessions I would wash my face with ice water every couple of hours, face, hands, back of my neck. Running very cold water on your wrist for just a couple minutes can make a difference too. The Dupont solution, better living through chemistry, isn't recommended. It will let you down in an awkward time. I have had opponents run out or get their mixture way off. They thought they were playing like King Kong when they were really playing like a ding dong!

Congratulations again and if you could write a detailed report, less names of course, it would be enjoyed by many I believe. Writing it down while fresh will help you remember it also!

I think y'all need another rematch too, for the same or bigger stakes! You could put ten in the middle now and be playing mostly on winnings, the rest would come from money you had already bet once. Easier on the gizzard! I liked playing by the game because the original bet was often small and all I had invested playing for twenty a game or more. Be it a person, track, or casino, nice to be playing on your opponent's money! I never considered it mine until the dealing was done. Steadied my nerves.

Hu
 
claymont

claymont

JADE
Gold Member
Silver Member
Mustardeer said:
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.
Click to expand...
What's "in the middle" "AMA"?
 
fastone371

fastone371

Certifiable
Silver Member
Mustardeer said:
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.

*My biggest fear was that I was gonna get too sleepy ( match was scheduled for 9p we finished at 5am ). That ended up not being a factor at all, I was wide awake the entire match ( but the next day I was beyond exhausted.)

**The organizers handed me the cash at the end, I didn’t wanna count in front of all the sketchy railbirds there, I just put it in the pocket and split ( 6K easily fits in a pocket all hundreds ). The drive home was uncomfortable cause I was afraid it wasnt all there but ended up all there.

*We played for 7 hrs straight no food breaks. I drank a ton of water, he had a beer I think.

* He was in a bad game and was really not having a good time, it was painful to watch.

* I’m nowhere near pro speed but I knew I was stronger than him, I move much better, better cue ball, but our stroke is prob similar mine might be a tiny bit better. I didn’t think I had a chance of losing but it got almost close at one point. I was expecting to win 14-3 or 14-4 but I won 14-10. Closed out 4-1.

* The hardest part was staying focused for that long nonstop. Any time I took a shot for granted I lost that rack.

I dont wanna reveal identities but any questions just ask. This was my 1st time ever playing for that much.
Click to expand...
Congratulations, that's a nice tidy little profit. But I bet the fact that you came, played, and kicked ass is more valuable than the money.
 
Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Mustardeer said:
Walked away with 6K on Friday, it was a rematch. The 1st set was for 1k in the middle, I won that one hill hill. Not everybody here played for that much, thought I’d share in case anyone is curious or has questions comments.

*My biggest fear was that I was gonna get too sleepy ( match was scheduled for 9p we finished at 5am ). That ended up not being a factor at all, I was wide awake the entire match ( but the next day I was beyond exhausted.)

**The organizers handed me the cash at the end, I didn’t wanna count in front of all the sketchy railbirds there, I just put it in the pocket and split ( 6K easily fits in a pocket all hundreds ). The drive home was uncomfortable cause I was afraid it wasnt all there but ended up all there.

*We played for 7 hrs straight no food breaks. I drank a ton of water, he had a beer I think.

* He was in a bad game and was really not having a good time, it was painful to watch.

* I’m nowhere near pro speed but I knew I was stronger than him, I move much better, better cue ball, but our stroke is prob similar mine might be a tiny bit better. I didn’t think I had a chance of losing but it got almost close at one point. I was expecting to win 14-3 or 14-4 but I won 14-10. Closed out 4-1.

* The hardest part was staying focused for that long nonstop. Any time I took a shot for granted I lost that rack.

I dont wanna reveal identities but any questions just ask. This was my 1st time ever playing for that much.
Click to expand...
That’s the best feeling ever

usually all the money is there, I’ve been lucky and never been shorted. Smart move counting later. Unless you can use the back office as a count room-some pool rooms will let you do that. Again I was never shorted.

next day is more brutal than anything for me. Unless your in action constantly then you get used to it. Imagine we go play for $500 right now-your are on cruise control. I’m not because I ain’t been in action in a long time. Point is now that you booked a solid win-congrats. Carry that win into your next game. Remember how I said it will be easier/less taxing on your mind and body. You’ll get “action tough” by staying in action. Make good games, don’t be a degen. ;)

The focus thing is one of the main reasons gambling improves your game. Many people who knock action don’t know this or why action WILL improve your game. Well this is why. Would you have gotten those hard long hours in playing for free? Never! Action forced you to play hard longer. The more you do that the better player you become. Don’t matter if you are a C player B player or A+++ player. Action helps. Some guys don’t need action to play but that’s a rare instance IMO.

Don’t worry about how the other guy feels. In “hustling” pool your putting on a show and want your opponent to feel good and have fun that’s the hustle. In pure action, pray he’s miserable, feed off that and win! It’s just not professional to have empathy for a guy losing. Be polite when it’s over, say “thanks for the game” and carry on. He might come back for more. So hold yourself high before during and especially after the win. Because if he does come back for more-don’t discount his will to win. And don’t think it’s a lock for you. Be strong like you were. Sometimes beating a guy the 2nd time can be harder.

Those are a few of my thoughts after 30 something years of pool gambling. I’m far from the best player or gambler. But taint my first rodeo😉

Well done and congrats!! Keep that $ in action, get stronger and report back. Makes my heart warm to know there’s still true gambling in pool somewhere.

well done!

Fatboy Approved**

best
Fatboy

**very few posts earn the coveted “Fatboy” seal of approval. So congrats on that. 😁😁
 
Last edited:
B

BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Mustardeer said:
8-ball lol. I don’t care if it’s embarrassing I didn’t wanna take chances cause he can shoot. Basically the first set a month ago I played super aggressive and almost lost. I noticed towards the end that he doesn’t move well. That’s why I was willing to bet high. Create clusters on the break then just move and move till there’s an out or I get ball in hand. He shot super slow. I remember feeling bored at times but tried to stay focused. It worked.
Click to expand...
I didn't mean to sound insulting as there's nothing wrong with grinding it out. It's actually a very smart strategy that too many amateurs refuse to consider. Tough to keep your focus playing that way though, or I should say it's tough for me. You think you're focused like a laser beam, but your mind and body tend to disconnect.

Nice shooting.

One other thing of note as I've seen quite a few larger stake matches between what I'd say are good to great amateurs -- most of us railbirds have been spoiled by too much professional runout pool, so we too often expect to see nothing but that. The reality is so much different, as pool is so freaking difficult. Leaving Fargo Ratings out of it, and just talking about our local hotshots, even they too often think they are supposed to be running out every rack. It just doesn't happen.

So my hats off to you for taking a more humble and more profitable approach to this matchup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top