Aaahhhh the coins..

P

PlynSets

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've had a major debate going on with my roomate for quite sometime. He doesn't gamble much, and I have spent most of my past gambling. Only one of the pool rooms out here has wires above the lights with little balls on them to mark games, so in most instances players in San Diego use coins on the table to keep track. Starting at the center diamond on the head rail, and working your way in opposite directions respectively towards the center diamond on the foot rail. Aside from all that I wanted to get AZBilliards take on a simple rule of the coins that was taught to me, and if you think it's fair or not.

The rule actually goes, if you didn't move your coin before the next game starts well then you didn't win the game. By that I mean it doesn't count..

Playing a race to 5 and the score is 3:3 and you win the game start the next game and half way through realize you didn't move your coin it stays 3:3.

I've kind of modified that rule personally to If the coin doesn't move after your opponent comes up to shoot in the next game then it doesn't count..

In any event, does anyone else play like this? Or is it just me?

The guy that taught me alot about gambling etc.. Used to say all the time when we were playing sets, if I would raise an argument that I forgot to move my coin. "That's what the coins are there for, to keep track of the games.. How am I suppose to remember back to who won what etc.. That's what the coins are for, they tell you the actual score of the set, you don't move it, it doesn't count."

What's your take?

DJ
 
We use the coin system here but I never heard the rule that your win doenst count if you dont move it before the next game starts.

We also put coins under the rail to mark having the next game if you are playing on a coin op table.
 
I've never heard of a rule about moving your coin or the game not counting. I was taught to have a routine for moving my coin so it's automatic, as to avoid disputes. There are a lot of moves involving coins and I've seen a lot of arguments over that stuff - so I can appreciate that rule.
 
PlynSets said:
The guy that taught me alot about gambling etc.. Used to say all the time when we were playing sets, if I would raise an argument that I forgot to move my coin. "That's what the coins are there for, to keep track of the games.. How am I suppose to remember back to who won what etc.. That's what the coins are for, they tell you the actual score of the set, you don't move it, it doesn't count."

What's your take?

DJ
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The guy who taught you about gambling was an angle-shooting nit!

If someone forgets to move their coin, does it change the fact that they won the game? I will give just about anyone the benefit of the doubt in this situation regardless of the stakes we are playing for (sometimes even if I know they're lying). This has probably cost me money over time, but I've come out far ahead in the long run by being known as someone who always plays a fair game.
 
gromulan said:
The guy who taught you about gambling was an angle-shooting nit!

If someone forgets to move their coin, does it change the fact that they won the game? I will give just about anyone the benefit of the doubt in this situation regardless of the stakes we are playing for (sometimes even if I know they're lying). This has probably cost me money over time, but I've come out far ahead in the long run by being known as someone who always plays a fair game.
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I dunno about being a nit.. I've been in the situation myself playing a race to 7 where the score is something like 4:2 and some guy comes out of the blue saying he forgot to move his coin 3 games ago..

Hence the rule.

I will give just about anyone the benefit of the doubt in this situation regardless of the stakes we are playing for (sometimes even if I know they're lying). This has probably cost me money over time,
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That last part baffles me. So if your playing a set with someone and it's 6:5 for say a hundy or there abouts. Your on the hill, and he's on 5.. He wins the game so now the score should be hill / hill, but he looks at you and claims he forgot to move his coin on the previous game, and that win should've in fact taken the set all together. Your not 100% sure either way, but if you had to guess you believe the score to be correct at Hill / Hill now.

Your telling me that you would just happily concede the last game of the set?

RD
 
I don't think either rules are very fair. Besides I think both players should be well aware of the score, not simply playing aloof.
 
Yeah, if you're playing someone that is forgetful, you ought to consider playing someone else. Where I'm from, no one forgets the score. It is rare. If someone pulls a "what's the score" trying to raise controversy over the coins or the count - it's a move.

Either they are going to try an mootch a game off of you, or it's a sharking tactic.

Now, if the person breaks and is about to sit down and goes back up and was like "forgot to mark last game"...no biggie. But to complain over an unmarked game a rack later, let alone 3 racks later, is absurd. Although I've seen score corrections after a rack.

You should play with people who are sportsmen. Who will offer to mark it up for you if you forget and you should do the same. It is considered slimy to try and win because of inaccurate scorekeeping. Sure, it's the opponents responsibility, and maybe yeah, they ought to be punished for negligence...but that's cheap for you.

You don't want to be cheap. Also, you don't want to be Mr. GoodGuy, while your oppenent is a douchebag who wouldn't do the same for you. Therefore, it is wise to play decent people like yourself who value competition, not necessarily the win-at-all-costs.
 
In a short race, I have no trouble keeping track of my opponent's score, and if they try to pull a fast one and say that forgot to move their coin, I will know if they did or didn't. If they forget to move their coin I will move it for them and tell them.

The only time I've seen someone forget to move their coin is when something distracting happens right before they do so. Like right after they win a game, someone starts talking to them, etc. But otherwise, everyone is pretty alert to where their coin is at.
 
Bola Ocho said:
Yeah, if you're playing someone that is forgetful, you ought to consider playing someone else. Where I'm from, no one forgets the score. It is rare. If someone pulls a "what's the score" trying to raise controversy over the coins or the count - it's a move. ...
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I try to remember to say the score after each rack as the coin is moved.
 
The guy who taught you about gambling was an angle-shooting nit!
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Ahhhhh the old you snooze you lose attitude...... :rolleyes:
If I were playing and forgot to move the coin on one of my games, then remembered and moved it and it was disputed. I would politely disagree, if it were pushed I would unscrew my cue and leave. If there is no honor between you and your opponent..... you need to find a better class of opponents.
We used to play alot of ahead sets and just use one coin. Both people were VERY aware of where that coin was at all times..... :D Maybe thats an option for you.
Chuck
 
PlynSets said:
That last part baffles me. So if your playing a set with someone and it's 6:5 for say a hundy or there abouts. Your on the hill, and he's on 5.. He wins the game so now the score should be hill / hill, but he looks at you and claims he forgot to move his coin on the previous game, and that win should've in fact taken the set all together. Your not 100% sure either way, but if you had to guess you believe the score to be correct at Hill / Hill now.

Your telling me that you would just happily concede the last game of the set?

RD
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Sure why not? I usually know the score anyways so if I knew the guy was right I will definately give it to him, and I have done this in the past. I've even gone so far as to remind him he forgot to move his coin.

People have tried to pull moves on me about this as well but usually this is a major signal that they think they can't win on the square. To me that means it's time to raise the bet. Like I say I've probably lost a few sets because of this, but in the long run I've more than made up for it.
 
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One of the pool halls I frequent down here doesn't have beads either and we use the coins. I've never heard of this rule and I've never seen any conflict over the score. It's not that hard to keep track of wins and losses in short sets.
 
PlynSets said:
I've had a major debate going on with my roomate for quite sometime. He doesn't gamble much, and I have spent most of my past gambling. Only one of the pool rooms out here has wires above the lights with little balls on them to mark games, so in most instances players in San Diego use coins on the table to keep track. Starting at the center diamond on the head rail, and working your way in opposite directions respectively towards the center diamond on the foot rail. Aside from all that I wanted to get AZBilliards take on a simple rule of the coins that was taught to me, and if you think it's fair or not.

The rule actually goes, if you didn't move your coin before the next game starts well then you didn't win the game. By that I mean it doesn't count..

Playing a race to 5 and the score is 3:3 and you win the game start the next game and half way through realize you didn't move your coin it stays 3:3.

I've kind of modified that rule personally to If the coin doesn't move after your opponent comes up to shoot in the next game then it doesn't count..

In any event, does anyone else play like this? Or is it just me?

The guy that taught me alot about gambling etc.. Used to say all the time when we were playing sets, if I would raise an argument that I forgot to move my coin. "That's what the coins are there for, to keep track of the games.. How am I suppose to remember back to who won what etc.. That's what the coins are for, they tell you the actual score of the set, you don't move it, it doesn't count."

What's your take?

DJ
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Ridiculous!- If you know the proper score you let him correct it. You are tring to have a POOL competition aren't you?
 
Man, I think that's great that everyone on here is so honest and full of character. :) There's sure not many people like that in alot of the pool halls around here (San Diego). Down here is seems like alot of people are always looking for the angle when it comes to gambling. Not necesarrily "cheating" as in claiming they won games when they didn't, but in other ways I'd guess you would say.

The intent of the rule originally, I believe was to protect you from those people claiming they won an extra game when they didn't etc.. About 10 - 15 years ago there was a lot of shady people hanging around S.D. in pool rooms.. Lots of drugs, and ethics were out the window I'd guess you say. That's about when I first heard of it? So maybe it's one of those things that kinda came and went with the times?

As for myself it's strange, I can remember almost exactly what balls I missed that I felt I should've made to go and practice the next day, I can remember with amazing clarity some of the outs either myself or the guy I'm playing did etc.. but I swear in a race to three I have to think about it, and remember each game to come up with an accurate score. If you took away the coins in A race to 5? I'll just go with whatever the other guy said.. LOL and if it's a race to seven forget about it, no way I'm going to remember once I get into that. I think it's becuase I focus so much on the game and each individual rack itself that I tend to block out everything else. If I'm practicing at home and my g/f asks me to do something later it's flat garaunteed I'm not going to remember even after 30 - 45 minutes..

DJ
 
Rule ...

I have heard of the rule, and played by it several times.

General rule of thumb to use:


When playing total strangers, stick by the rule.

When playing someone you know, relax it - tell them if they forgot to move the coin or bead (They are called beads).

This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. A room that is so damn cheap and not considerate of their customers convenience and comfort when playing.
Wire (or wood dowels) are cheap, beads are cheap, and to not put them up is an irritation to players. Or the ones that put up one instead of two, or the ones that do not put enough beads on it (10 minimum per). To me, it is part of the service a good room will provide.
 
Snapshot9 said:
I have heard of the rule, and played by it several times.

General rule of thumb to use:


When playing total strangers, stick by the rule.

When playing someone you know, relax it - tell them if they forgot to move the coin or bead (They are called beads).
Click to expand...

Thank god, I was starting to think I was the only one that had ever heard of and played by it.. LOL Atleast I'm not the only one anymore. :)

Just out of curiosity snapshot, did you come into that deal from someone that used to play out of san diego? or?? Just wondering if maybe it was a geography dependant kinda deal.

DJ
 
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