Opinions regarding a former top pro playing in and dominating a Poolroom‘s weekly handicapped tournament?
- Thread starter ChrisinNC
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Wait, what?
Good Question!!!
Update – after playing four weeks in a row and winning three of those, the player in question has not played the last two weeks. Possibly related is the attendance was up to 48 in this week’s tournament, a considerable increase in participants from previous weeks.
I’m not sure whether the TD may have finally respectfully asked the player to take a break, or it’s just a coincidence that he has not shown up the past 2 weeks.
What's the skill range of the locals? I think earlier in the thread you said some of the spots were something like a 10-2 game spot? I'd play Shane that way.
Though I see your point somewhat, I still disagree because we all know 9-ball can, and unfortunately be, anybody's game. Slop, luck, etc. Sure, the higher skill should be the winner the majority of the time. But... (and there's always a but), there have been occasions when I used your strategy and my Fargo 450 opponent banged, got lucky in some unexplainable way, and I LOST. While racking for the next game, tail between my legs, the little voice in my head said, "why didn't you play that first shot like you would have played it with Gorst?" So, it was back to my original game plan. Play the table. Play to win. Again, unless it's with your kids, a 2nd date, your grandfather in a wheelchair, yada yada.
I used to win a lot of tournaments. If I won one I may not go back to that event for a few weeks. Or I would at least skip a week. If it was regularly played tournament and I won two in a row I would skip a few weeks.
I used to go in a little circuit back in the early 90s hitting various events about once a month along with another good player. We agreed to split what ever we made 60 40 with the best that night taking 60 percent. One of us most often won, and if not we might go back the next week until one of us won.. So we limited how often we played various events.
The pro should moderate himself lest it get to where it has been when my son and I showed up at events a few years back some people would drop out and then bet on the side for us.
I used to go in a little circuit back in the early 90s hitting various events about once a month along with another good player. We agreed to split what ever we made 60 40 with the best that night taking 60 percent. One of us most often won, and if not we might go back the next week until one of us won.. So we limited how often we played various events.
The pro should moderate himself lest it get to where it has been when my son and I showed up at events a few years back some people would drop out and then bet on the side for us.
Agree with your first sentence Maha, but RESPECTFULLY, not your 2nd. Played a 44 man double-elim 10-ball tourney last night. 4 different opponents I knew nothing about when we met at the table. No idea "how" they played other than their 600+ Fargo numbers on the big screen. One played like a 700, two played like their rating, and one I slaughtered and would have pinned the 425 ribbon on him. Fortunately, I beat three of the four. So case in point, one does not always know how a person plays unless they've played them, watched them, or otherwise. And as you and I, and the rest of you pool freak readers out there all know, one has good evenings and bad ones. So no judgment here on anyone. It's life in pool land. So back to my original position: I play (in competitive and tournament situations) the table only, and play it to the best of my abilities. It really doesn't matter if they are 700+ or 400-. I am going to play defense if it's low percentage, and offense when I feel the shot and know I can still get position. You may disagree, and that's okay.
Off topic, what time did the tournament start, end, W race length, L race length, size of tables, and #of tables? 44 man double elimination 10 ball on an evening sounds like a recipe to be done at 8am to me.
well if you have no idea of them then of course you only play your game but every time they take a shot you learn a little. and why not use that.
just knowing their fargo gives you a good idea on how to play a person.
obviously you dont consider playing any shot different depending on how your opponent may react back at you with his shot. or even with say a choice of safeties to play which he will do more poorly against.
but in anything do what works best for you. good luck.
just knowing their fargo gives you a good idea on how to play a person.
obviously you dont consider playing any shot different depending on how your opponent may react back at you with his shot. or even with say a choice of safeties to play which he will do more poorly against.
but in anything do what works best for you. good luck.
8pm start. Over at 1240pm. True double elim. Depending on HC, W races were from 2 up to 6. L races were from 2 up to 5. 9' Gold Crowns and a few 9' Gandys (grrr). Approx 12 tables with fairly new Predator cloth. (The other 10 tables were for paying customers and a handful of bangers which the TD kept neatly in the corner!) LoL The Fargo field (approx): 10 450's +/-, 20 550's +/-, 10 650's +/-, 4 700's +
Hope this helps.
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Yes. 1240AM. Thanks Bob! STILL tired. But no cigs or vaping so eyes okay. (*_*)I hope that was 12:40AM.
Wow! Good job to your TD! I would have bet the house you'd be done 3AM at the earliest.8pm start. Over at 1240pm. True double elim. Depending on HC, W races were from 2 up to 6. L races were from 2 up to 5. 9' Gold Crowns and a few 9' Gandys (grrr). Approx 12 tables with fairly new Predator cloth. (The other 10 tables were for paying customers and a handful of bangers which the TD kept neatly in the corner!) LoL The Fargo field (approx): 10 450's +/-, 20 550's +/-, 10 650's +/-, 4 700's +
Hope this helps.
Yeah, he runs a tight ship. As soon as a match is scored, players are usually "on deck" like in baseball. Say's if you're not at the table after 5 min when your match is called, with cues prepared and ready to lag, it's a forfeit. Brings out the professionalism and respect for the game. I kinda like that.
Maybe the guy's teaching a class in pumping up; currently in phase two: road trip.
If there are 30 people still coming to play, I don’t see an issue. If there are too many complaints, put a skill level limit in, but don’t just ban a single guy. Personality, I play in tournaments for the fun of playing, not to win. But if there are too many strong shooters and I just rack, I would eventually stop showing up.
Apologies, I didn't mean to sound like I was crapping on your take. Just that it read as very scripted, reviewed and ran through the ChatGPT diplomatic algorithm. Definitely not the language you normally see on AZB to describe a negative aspect of a situation.
We do agree though. Although I lean more toward the Euros simply being better vs the Americans not having a secret handshake
I'd like to add something to the above that came to a head for me over the last week or so.
Based partially on reflection on my comments in this thread. I've decided to add that I will no longer be mortgaging against my own game in giving up weight to make a game. However there is situational criteria to this. Note, I'm not a heavy gambler in any terms. When bets get serious it's only when I'm stepping up in weight class.
When will I give up weight:
- When a bet is so small it's equal to table time and maybe a drink. This number I was already willing to give up just by being in the room, so I see no actual bet in this case. $10-20
- When the player that I'm negotiating with has an established plateau, and I know the likely hood of them beating me in a even race exceedingly unlikely.
- When someone just wants to gamble. I have no need for their money, so why risk mine.
- When someone wants to tout a win over me. You want to tell everyone in the room that you beat JV..?.., then actually do it and don't pretend a participation ribbon is the same as a trophy.
- When a player who is developing wants to "step out of their weight class" but needs to hug a weighted blanket when doing so. When I was cutting my teeth I played straight races to actually get a measure of my ability. Under enough weight you alter how you play weaker players. A "winning" result doesn't tell you anything imo. It literally costs nothing to get a game with me, so if you're afraid of losing your money then don't bet it. At that point all you risk is pride and the stronger player has more to loose.
I like this quite a bit. I go back forth on gambling, and pretty much always have. The pool world seems to exist in this perfectly strange universe, where the people that I don't mind losing money to -- can't beat me so it's hard to make a game, while a lot of those that can beat me -- I have a hard time giving them a shot at the money I've earned while they lived off their girlfriend's dough. Of course there are honorable players that play better than me and I'd probably be a better player had I gambled more often but a large part of the culture I've just always found annoying. Guess the stars just didn't align for me. Honesty, I may be reaching the end of my pool playing days. I either need to start playing a lot more, or find something else to do with my time.