Gamble or Not

Kickin' Chicken said:

I enjoy being in action but I am sure I'm in a minority of pool players.

If you go into most pool halls it is a small % of people playing who get into action.

As JohnnyR said, though, in bars with tables, more gambling does seem to go on but in my experience, those are usually for smaller $$$.

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I think your right these days.

Culture and social norms have changed. People in general are much more risk averse now and gamble less. Casino gaming revenue is dropping as a % of gross income.

When was the last time you heard someone say “I’ll flip you for it?”.

Even within gambling people are more risk averse. “Rack your own” is a perfect example of that. Nobody wants to take the risk of getting slugged by the other guy. So even while gambling people are trying to control more of what they can to reduce chance or variance. Run it twice playing poker is more the normal nowadays.


Having said all that, I don’t know what Facebook is and I call
“Tails” for what everyone can stand!

Hope your good man, happy holidays

Fatboy

I grew up in a pool hall and was playing the best players around for money when I was a young teenager. When I was around 16 years old, I was playing snooker and one-pocket for $100 a game with the old dudes who wouldn't play me 9-ball.

After those pool hall years, I gambled pretty much every day for years and years every where I lived, inside and outside the USA.

During those years, I'd rarely ever play anyone for nothing. I'd play by myself, rather than bang balls around with people who didn't have a chance of winning. When I played for nothing, I didn't care who won (though I usually won 99% of the time), so I didn't have any pressure and I thought it was a waste of time for ME.

I always enjoyed playing the game, but playing for nothing back then didn't bring out my best game. I always liked playing people who played "run-out" pool because it made me keep my mind on the game and I stayed focused.

Today, I play for nothing with my buddies and enjoy playing, but I don't care who wins.

Gamble or not, if you are not playing for the love and spirit of the game you are wasting your time. I have not played pool in quite some time and I recently had a drink with a friend in a bar. The place had like 3 bar tables and they were placed so that they took my gaze and focus off of my friend. My friend said to me, "you love pool, don't you?" I turned and looked and said, "yeah, i guess i do. there is just something mesmerizing about the game, i guess." Then I realized it was becoming a distraction from my friend and turned away and added "plus I wanted to see if any of those people were worth approaching to gamble with." It has always been able to lure my spirit.

IMO SOMETHING needs to be riding on the outcome whether its $$$, dinner, table-time, something. Playing another person for fun is an absolute waste of time imo. Either practice, play the ghost or bet something.

garczar said:

IMO SOMETHING needs to be riding on the outcome whether its $$$, dinner, table-time, something. Playing another person for fun is an absolute waste of time imo. Either practice, play the ghost or bet something.

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I quit "practicing" many years ago. "Practice" is for people who don't know what they are doing. "Warming up" and getting the feel for the table is another matter.

What are you practicing for?

Do you plan on entering the US Open and placing in the money?

Do you plan on going on the road and taking down the best in towns and cities around the country?

I don't mind gambling, but it's not like I'm looking to making a living out of it.

The last time I played a "friendly" game in a bar that started out for "drinks", I left with around $600-800 and it wasn't "friendly" anymore for some reason.

whiteoak said:

I wanted to ask a question that may get me laughed out of here but ... Do any of the knowledgable folks here play tournaments and play recreationally but aren't gamblers? Its not a loaded question,judgemental, or troll post but just curious.A cue maker once told me that pool is a gamblers game and if you weren't a gambler you were in the wrong sport. Any thoughts on it? Thanks In Advance,Mike

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There are grey areas for gambling.

Just because you see someone "wager" doesn't mean they are gambling.

The true gambler likes to play "anyone" at "anytime" at "anything".

Only a "nit" will "wager" at "specific" games and with "specific" people.

The "amount" wagered has little to do with it. It's mostly about the following:

Do you know your opponent's skill set?
Does your opponent know your skill set?
^^^^^^^....best game....weak areas of certain games...back, knee etc..etc problems

Does your opponent know how deep your pockets are?
Do you know how deep your opponent's pockets are?
^^^^^^^ basically, how much can you or your opponent lose before it's "to much"
^^^^^^^ will determine how you and your opponent handles stress during a game.


There are many other variables but, the above are the IMO...the most important to be aware of.

BTW, I've always liked to play people that are married.

Nothing puts pressure on someone more than "responsiblity"....

All the above and more is why 99% of all winners are determined before the game is played.

Jeff

HawaiianEye said:

I quit "practicing" many years ago. "Practice" is for people who don't know what they are doing. "Warming up" and getting the feel for the table is another matter.

What are you practicing for?

Do you plan on entering the US Open and placing in the money?

Do you plan on going on the road and taking down the best in towns and cities around the country?

I don't mind gambling, but it's not like I'm looking to making a living out of it.

The last time I played a "friendly" game in a bar that started out for "drinks", I left with around $600-800 and it wasn't "friendly" anymore for some reason.

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I practice to get better than I currently am. I go through phases of practicing, working on specific things, shots,stance, grip, etc...my game usually drops during this point, and then I work through it and come out playing a bit better, I rest on my laurels or whatever for a while and just play for enjoyment or money/tourneys...repeat.

I want to be the best pool player on the planet. I have no illusions here lol...but that’s what I practice for, just to be better than I am because the better I play the more satisfaction I get.

Gamble. Mainly cheap but go higher on occasion. I have a friend I play cheap sets with regular... normally just pass the same 50 bucks around over and over again.

I'll try anyone in a race to 7 for 50 to see what happens and possibly adjust and raise from there.

I shoot in tournaments too. Those end up being a lot of fun. The BSing between matches and stuff I enjoy even though the time between can take a while.

whiteoak said:

I wanted to ask a question that may get me laughed out of here but ... Do any of the knowledgable folks here play tournaments and play recreationally but aren't gamblers? Its not a loaded question,judgemental, or troll post but just curious.A cue maker once told me that pool is a gamblers game and if you weren't a gambler you were in the wrong sport. Any thoughts on it? Thanks In Advance,Mike

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If I can be considered "knowledgable" the answer is yes.

I found a few decades back, that I didn't enjoy taking someone elses money. Just didn't feel right to me..... I liked even less losing any of my $ to someone else!! So, it was a lose/lose for me. I quit doing it.

It probably wouldn't bother me to play for small stakes that wouldn't hurt anyone, as it's not really the gambling (we all gamble in one way or another whether it's 401k, real estate, etc.), but easier for me to just say no.

td

HawaiianEye said:

I grew up in a pool hall and was playing the best players around for money when I was a young teenager. When I was around 16 years old, I was playing snooker and one-pocket for $100 a game with the old dudes who wouldn't play me 9-ball.

After those pool hall years, I gambled pretty much every day for years and years every where I lived, inside and outside the USA.

During those years, I'd rarely ever play anyone for nothing. I'd play by myself, rather than bang balls around with people who didn't have a chance of winning. When I played for nothing, I didn't care who won (though I usually won 99% of the time), so I didn't have any pressure and I thought it was a waste of time for ME.

I always enjoyed playing the game, but playing for nothing back then didn't bring out my best game. I always liked playing people who played "run-out" pool because it made me keep my mind on the game and I stayed focused.

Today, I play for nothing with my buddies and enjoy playing, but I don't care who wins.

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Well said, exactly the same for me(the whole post word for word)

Fatboy said:

Ralf Souquet doesn’t like to gamble. He has played for $ only a couple times and said “I didn’t like how it made me feel” he was playing for $5 he also said. He told me this a couple times over the years, he’s a good friend and I respect him for his beliefs.

Gambling on pool isn’t for everyone. Ralf who is among the greatest of all time is living proof.

For me it’s the only reason to play pool.

2 people, 2 opinions, 2 different skill levels. Same game.


That I think says it all. It’s not necessary for some and is mandatory for others. There’s no right or wrong answer. And I don’t judge.

But all due respect to Ralf if I played 20% as good as he does I’d be in action until my fingers fell off.

Best
Fatboy

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Eric, I agree with every word you said. Put me in your camp, I just about have to be playing for something, if I am not practicing.

Tournaments, I really like to play in. You lose there, you have to go home.:wink:

yes and no

For the first six months I played and bet on pool I gambled nightly. After that I was wagering and I didn't sweat it very much. I knew I was going to win a lot more than I lost. For the next ten years it was a very rare night that I wasn't on a pool table with money being passed back and forth.

I genuinely loved making the balls do what I wanted them to, still do. I can hit balls by myself for hours and be content. I can play with other people likewise. I had three levels of pool, dates friends and family, local small timers, and road players. With dates, friends, and family, I banged balls around. No reason to crush them. With local hustlers I was going to win more than I lost but if I let the ponies run I would soon run out of people to play. Road players, I could let the ponies run and have real fun. After the opening dance, no game playing. We both put everything on the table we could and the devil take the hindmost!

Playing road players was the most fun I had in pool. As for gambling, I would bet anything the other player wanted to put on the table. It could be argued that I was gambling playing road players but then again I was so far ahead lifetime playing pool that I could never get in the red again. With that attitude I rarely felt anything resembling pressure.

Fast forward after a twenty year break in pool. Neither the time or desire to focus on pool like I once did. I had hoped to get back 85% of my game at which point I was going to start betting again. Never got to 85% so I never started betting.

I don't believe betting helped my game at all, probably hurt it because I spent so much time putting forth less than my best effort. Perhaps if I had bet thousands at a time things would have been different but because I genuinely enjoyed playing I was very content to grind for fairly low bucks. Zero risk and looking over an evening's effort I generally made twice as much an hour or more than I made at my day job so life was good. A couple times I was out of work for months and had to make my living playing pool. I did, paid my mortgages on two properties and lived just the same as always, but it wasn't fun when pool was a business.

Hu

CocoboloCowboy said:

I hate the word Gamble it implies your taking a chance. To me that is foolish, as skill wins over luck most of the time.

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You sound like my ex-wife. We were just starting out, and I was making grocery money playing pool after losing my job. I was up about $800ish on the month and feeling pretty good about it, but had a bad day at -$200. When I got home, I shit you not, she said in all earnestness, "You lost? Why don't you just play on days that you're going to win?".

If you're waiting for lockup situations you're not going to get much action. Most of that money came from guys I'd play month in and month out. If they weren't coming out ahead on a fair basis, that would have dried up in a hurry.

MattPoland said:

Great question. Improving in pool requires playing better players so that you can see what is possible and playing with stakes so that you can care enough to improve. Practice with purpose builds skills but without serious (SERIOUS) competition you’re just banging balls. You don’t need to gamble a full paycheck but you must gamble a dollar, a drink, $5, $10, $20, etc...whatever amount you can easily afford to lose (don’t be an addict) but make winning matter. Only then will you buckle down, pay attention, and seriously improve.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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I've gambled all my life since the 60' .The idea that 'you have to play better players to get better' is a myth started by 'better players' !
Playing better players all you learn is how to lose !
WATCH better players is the way to learn !
If I play someone I can beat, I will show him nothing. I'll stall and try to keep him as a customer !
Two good players playing each other can't stall usually. You get to see their best games ! Thats where you learn ! Then go see if what you see can help your game.
Why lose money to someone you can't beat who you will learn nothing from !!!!

Gambling is a vice that hurts most people

just yesterday Kicken Chicken gave me 3 to 1 on the money his $300 to my $100
On a Oklahoma football bet

Next thing you know he wanted to get paid

my wife had to send the money viia paypal

I got a lecture about gambling

she said "you never win when you gamble,stick to pool

When she is right,she is right

Pool is not so much gambling as it is getting the best of it

betting when you have a big probability of winning

If you don't understand this one thing,you are in for trouble

TATE said:

I always prefer to play for something if the match is fair.

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Good luck finding one of those. Many players are lock artists and would prefer to steal. I'd rather take my money to the racetrack personally. Having said that, I do love a good ring game...with the right mix of people, I like the energy around the table and yes, one can win some cash....or lose I guess lol.

deanoc said:

Gambling is a vice that hurts most people

just yesterday Kicken Chicken gave me 3 to 1 on the money his $300 to my $100
On a Oklahoma football bet

Next thing you know he wanted to get paid

my wife had to send the money viia paypal

I got a lecture about gambling

she said "you never win when you gamble,stick to pool

When she is right,she is right

Pool is not so much gambling as it is getting the best of it

betting when you have a big probability of winning

If you don't understand this one thing,you are in for trouble

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Mmhmm. It’s why we should ban all Sports from the action room. This be a pool forum and if we cut out the easy temptation of football leaks, maybe more pool action will start taking place. Save your money to spend on pool people!

I gambled when I was younger and loved it.

Now....I play at the same bar against the same people. I play 2 tournaments a week and win more times than not. Not trying to humble brag but I'm just better than the people at that bar. I know these people and what they do for a living and I just don't want to take their money.

With that said, I really don't have a desire to go to another bar and play for money either and I don't play any other night other than the tournament nights even though I go in there 2 more nights a week. I just ghost at the house....and I use a house cue.

I'll play anybody for table time or for whatever amount I am willing to pay to enter a tournament. I don't consider either of those situations to be gambling.

If someone wants to play it can be for fun or a small bet.
I just like to play.
And like others I'm done with tournaments.
Way too time consuming.
I played in a large tournament (59 players) years ago and played and won my first match.
I then got a bye and had to wait 3 boring hours to play again.

Another time I played in a smaller tournament with a $20 entry.
I came in 3rd after 11 hours and won $85.00.
After deducting the $20 entry and eating I came out about $55.00 ahead.
The only tournament that I played in that I enjoyed was a 9 person round robin 9 ball.
I won that one and got $100.00. It took about 4 hours.