If there was a rating system for gambling.

[Island Drive]

In league play, they do what they do.

 

[Black-Balled]

Well, a lot of the Fargo ratings are based on tournament play, which is close enough to gambling. Playing $50, $500, $1,000 to enter a tournament is not much different than playing one on one. I think tournaments are even more pressure since if you lose, you are out, no playing a second set, or a 5th set or coming back another day.

This is as much of a guess as the questions about if the players from X year can beat the players from Y year.

Some aspects are the same and I fail to see how one could find tourney/ matching up NOT much different.

In my experience, one plays a few sets a day in a tournament...while one gets 50% of the shots for the whole playtime when matching up.

In a tourney, you gotta bring it right away and matching up, you can play till your backer runs out of money.

Please note: I am still interviewing backers.

 

[Black-Balled]

Did you mention that to the Fargo people as a known ranking. That's the only way we stop crap like that.
If you knowingly play below your level to enter events or gamble with people that you are way the better of, there are no consequences.

Uhh, this is American pool, sir.

I think you may have dialed a wrong number.

 

[Cuedup]

Uhh, this is American pool, sir.

I think you may have dialed a wrong number.

I think when the opinions expressed about 'handicap maintenance' and the cheating of the ratings systems are compared and contrasted with the opinions expressed on the 'would you call a foul on yourself' thread it provides interesting fodder for discussion.

 

[garczar]

I've talked to a few Good players this past yr JJ. They know how to work that system and Keep there Fargo rating way below their skill level. Just get on a league and work it' to your advantage, they do it all the time to keep their scores 50-70 pts lower that what should be.

Not near as easy as it sounds. They caught a few trying to scam their FR here in Ok. and they got a lifetime ban afaik. Tough to stall/lay it down over a long period of time with so many people watching you. Word gets around pretty quik. Nothing in pool happens in a vacuum.

 

[hang-the-9]

I have buddies who can play even with me for hours -for free.
When there is money on it, my level of play goes up while theirs goes down.
If there is no penalty for missing, I don't care if I miss. It's like playing my wife.
When we shoot a few games while we are out, I don't run racks on her because the score doesn't matter.
If the score is determined by $, then it matters to most everyone.

This may be true that there is no penalty for missing without money on the line, but that also takes away from the fact it's a fun recreational activity and turns it into a game to make money at or to "beat" someone. I never play to go out to beat someone, but to have fun and play as good as I can, no matter the outcome. I'd rather make 3 fun/hard shots in a game and loose than win because someone missed a 9 ball on me. Never understood the cheering some people do when they win because the opponent scratched or left them a single ball to make or something that they did not earn on their own. I mean what kind of jerk would cheer or jump around when someone scratches on the 8 ball? Sure they or their team-mate won, but celebrating a win like that is just a jerk move to me. Gambling turns a fun thing into something players try to cheat at by hiding skill, sandbagging in leagues, etc...

I think part of the reason I am trying to keep improving after 30+ years of playing is so when I come up against some a-hole sandbagger I am good enough to beat their ass no matter the handicap I need to give up to them. Oh you can run out a rack but are a 4 in APA? Well F-U, you'll see the next turn at the table when you are down 3-0 and you are behind 4 balls to kick.

 

[Cuedup]

Theres pool players and theres gamblers that need action to play pool.

Sometimes they meet in the middle for cheap sets.

 

[JolietJames]

This may be true that there is no penalty for missing without money on the line, but that also takes away from the fact it's a fun recreational activity and turns it into a game to make money at or to "beat" someone. I never play to go out to beat someone, but to have fun and play as good as I can, no matter the outcome. I'd rather make 3 fun/hard shots in a game and loose than win because someone missed a 9 ball on me. Never understood the cheering some people do when they win because the opponent scratched or left them a single ball to make or something that they did not earn on their own. I mean what kind of jerk would cheer or jump around when someone scratches on the 8 ball? Sure they or their team-mate won, but celebrating a win like that is just a jerk move to me. Gambling turns a fun thing into something players try to cheat at by hiding skill, sandbagging in leagues, etc...

I think part of the reason I am trying to keep improving after 30+ years of playing is so when I come up against some a-hole sandbagger I am good enough to beat their ass no matter the handicap I need to give up to them. Oh you can run out a rack but are a 4 in APA? Well F-U, you'll see the next turn at the table when you are down 3-0 and you are behind 4 balls to kick.

I've never seen a gambler cheer a scratch by their opponent.
I've only seen that stuff from low-level league bangers, and I could not care less about that crowd.
I know more league players who have bagged in the apa than I know players who have not.
After paying so much into that league with little ROI, the temptation to cash in big one time and get out is huge.
The only time you will see real pool played on the up and up is everyone playing even.
I played against pros and players much better than I was when I was coming up.
I think pros went to 11 and all amateurs went to 10, in some cases.
The point is that you either donated your money each time or you tried like heck to improve.
Those days are gone now with any handicapping system.
Everyone gets a chance to win, regardless of effort.
It's the American way.
Gambling may be the only pure pool out there today for amateurs.

 

[Island Drive]

Not near as easy as it sounds. They caught a few trying to scam their FR here in Ok. and they got a lifetime ban afaik. Tough to stall/lay it down over a long period of time with so many people watching you. Word gets around pretty quik. Nothing in pool happens in a vacuum.

Pueblo CO.....