Richie Ambrose

macguy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just came across this site while looking for something on old time players

http://aggressivecraps.com/

Is Richie still around? If so, how old would you say he is? He was quite a character and a good player. I remember playing him pushout and he would pushout on tough cuts shots and when you gave him the shot back spin them in.
 

curlyscues

we're watching
Silver Member
richie could flat out play

i first ran into him in a bar that was part of my regular rotation and known for gambling back in the early 70s.

back then i didn't know hardly any names and mostly didn't really care. i went into the galewood bar put up my quarter and was told it was a $50 table that night. there was quite a few quarters up, so i went outside for my usual "breath of fresh air" came back had a drink and it was my turn.

back then around here the bars played money breaks. i broke ran out, racked next player broke dry i ran out 2x more then a friend came up and told me who i had just played, 3 champs the first being "his words ambush ambrose". well now i know i am surrounded with champs, i can't make a ball and lose the next game. i'm up 100 so i don't tempt fate and quit while i'm ahead.

i find out later they are all in town for a high dollar tourney at the crystal cue the next day. so i go and watch the tourney and with a lot of heavey hitters, richie snaps it off.

after the tourney about 8 of them ring it up for 100 on the 9. now my memory kinda sucks (and is worse with names) but i do remember joe gold and willie munson were in it. richie drew first shot and ran 5 or 6 racks. poor willie drew last and was down around 1,000 before he got his first shot.

needless to say richie got everybodys money that week. (except mine ;) ). i also found out later on why my friend called him ambush ambrose as he had hit all the rooms aroud town ( there were 4 back then) and took everybody off.

M.C.
 

dardusm

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The first time that I ever met Richie was several years ago while I was there playing at the BCA nationals. I watched him play some bar table pool at the Riv during a gambling session. He has a sweet stroke and could still play at a high level.

A few nights later, I was doing some ill advised gambling :smile: at Circus Circus across the street playing some craps. I played the pass line took full strip odds with 2 come bets. Richie was playing place bets. The table wasn't very full and he was trying to "educate" me on the correct way to play craps. I explained to him the concept of house advantage along with the house advantage of come bets vs. the place bets. His argument was that the shooter would have to hit my number twice to bring my bet down. I countered that it going through the come was an advantage rather than placing the number, etc. It really doesn't matter in the long run because craps is a negative expectation game and everyone will lose except the casino. But he was passionate about his system, interesting to see his website.
 

punter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I remember Richie from the 1970's when he played at Goofy's gameroom in Houston. Texas Monthly did an article on him years ago. Richie always liked to fire his pool winnings in Vegas. Last I heard he was living in Vegas. Would like to hear how he's doing these days.
 

grindz

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i first ran into him in a bar that was part of my regular rotation and known for gambling back in the early 70s.

back then i didn't know hardly any names and mostly didn't really care. i went into the galewood bar put up my quarter and was told it was a $50 table that night. there was quite a few quarters up, so i went outside for my usual "breath of fresh air" came back had a drink and it was my turn.

back then around here the bars played money breaks. i broke ran out, racked next player broke dry i ran out 2x more then a friend came up and told me who i had just played, 3 champs the first being "his words ambush ambrose". well now i know i am surrounded with champs, i can't make a ball and lose the next game. i'm up 100 so i don't tempt fate and quit while i'm ahead.

i find out later they are all in town for a high dollar tourney at the crystal cue the next day. so i go and watch the tourney and with a lot of heavey hitters, richie snaps it off.

after the tourney about 8 of them ring it up for 100 on the 9. now my memory kinda sucks (and is worse with names) but i do remember joe gold and willie munson were in it. richie drew first shot and ran 5 or 6 racks. poor willie drew last and was down around 1,000 before he got his first shot.

needless to say richie got everybodys money that week. (except mine ;) ). i also found out later on why my friend called him ambush ambrose as he had hit all the rooms aroud town ( there were 4 back then) and took everybody off.

M.C.

Nice story Curly. There were some 'players' in G.R. back in those days!

Good to see you posting. Hope you're well.

td
 

curlyscues

we're watching
Silver Member
Nice story Curly. There were some 'players' in G.R. back in those days!

Good to see you posting. Hope you're well.

td

yes, we had a couple players back then. doug e. was the one who gave him that nick name after being snuck up on. and he wasn't easy to sneak up on. i know of only one other time and he got out before it cost him too much.

M.C.
 
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