Asking to gamble on tournament matches

K

kryptonite9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This has started to happen quite a bit to me in the past few months. What is the deal with asking the person prior to a tournament match if they want to gamble on that match? Is this a move? Are you trying to tell the other person, "I feel like I am better than you" so they play worse in the match. Are you just trying to get yourself to play better because a few more dollars is riding?

I just dont get it. I have always kept the two seperate. I will gamble with anyone, not even of course, but am always willing to match up. I very rarely play pool in a room without some type of gamble. I have always felt I have enough of a reason to win in a tournament that I do not need to gamble. That is what the entry or calcultta is for.

Also, it seems like I only get asked by people who are about my speed, never much better, never much worse. It just seems like a complete move for whatever reason to give you a mental edge if the match up is close. I know most tournaments frown on this but I would never call someone on this because it does not bother me or effect my play.
 
Eh it could be a move, but it could also be that they just want to put a little money on it. Some people will bet on anything, and playing a pool match and NOT betting on it could well be alien to them. *shrug*

I'd deal with it on case-by-case basis, based on your opponent and what you know of him/her. There's no one answer to the question as a whole.
 
Certainly nothing new, it may be a move, I guess you could go over the top and ask them to bet huge and psych them right back but then again they might take you up on it.
 
Last time I saw that happen the guy who asked to bet got his ass handed to him. Then after the match asked him to gamble some more. When the player who won declined because he had to keep playing in the tourney. The player who lost insulted him and walked out. If it was a move - IT BACKFIRED LOL.

BVal
 
kryptonite9 said:
This has started to happen quite a bit to me in the past few months. What is the deal with asking the person prior to a tournament match if they want to gamble on that match? Is this a move? Are you trying to tell the other person, "I feel like I am better than you" so they play worse in the match. Are you just trying to get yourself to play better because a few more dollars is riding?

I just dont get it. I have always kept the two seperate. I will gamble with anyone, not even of course, but am always willing to match up. I very rarely play pool in a room without some type of gamble. I have always felt I have enough of a reason to win in a tournament that I do not need to gamble. That is what the entry or calcultta is for.

Also, it seems like I only get asked by people who are about my speed, never much better, never much worse. It just seems like a complete move for whatever reason to give you a mental edge if the match up is close. I know most tournaments frown on this but I would never call someone on this because it does not bother me or effect my play.
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I used to like to bet on almost ever match I played, on the side though. Even against a champion I could always get a line. When I wasn't playing I was betting on other matches. Thats pretty much the only reason I went to the tournaments was to gamble. I have to say though, I would not ask the guy I was playing to bet. It seems kind of like poor sportsmanship.
 
Shhhh....don't scare off the fish!

Tell them sure... but it doubles with every rack you win. $5 a game on the side sounds cheap enough. unless it's a race to 7. 5 10 20 40 80 160 320....Just don't miss, or let them scare themselves off. Reverse psychology.lol:wink:
 
I've had a couple of guys ask to put money on a match before it started in a weekly tourney...one I declined and won, the other I obliged and won. I didn't see it as a move at all. Like mentioned above, some folks "need" something on the match to hold their interest. If you're wondering about the guy I declined on...he was HAMMERED, and really didn't have a chance - race to 4 8ball (alternate break); I won 4-0. I think he was a little light on cash, and he either didn't have the $20 he wanted to put on it, or let's say, looked like he needed $20 more than I did. I did get him a drink during the match, and one after though ;):cool: Maybe it was a move by him to get a couple of drinks outta me :confused::p
 
They may have heard you got your tax check in...lol!

Just ask for the 6-out and they will shut up=)
 
Another thing you guys are not taking into account is that it is pretty good odds. You can only lose two sets in tourneys, where as you can win a heck of a lot more(assuming you aren't playing in a 4 man tourney, lol). If youi are any kind of decent player, the math isn't hard. This is actually a fairly standard move for gamblers.
 
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I once played in a Bar Tournement where I was on the hot seat, and the young lady who came from the looser side hoping to take first wanted to be me $20.00 on the first set. She was planing on winning first set, and another second set that did not happen. She did not and I told her had she "BET" she would have been $20.00 short on the second place money. LOL.
 
If one player asks his opponent if they could make the match a 'little more interesting?' and the other player says 'No thanks', I don't have a problem with that as a TD.
It is when the person asking to match up starts to the banter woofing talk that it becomes 'unsportsmanlike conduct' with a DQ being part of the punishment.

Just be polite and no problem from me.

If you really need to bet something on the match to get 'serious', then put $100 in your pocket, if you win, you keep it, if you lose, give it to the wait staff. The only reason you would get your opponent to gamble is to attempt to influence their game. Definitely against the rules.
 
I've been asked that twice in my tourney life. Both times I didn't think it was a move. Both times I declined. Both times I lost the match. :o
 
I played in a Sunday league for a few years and it was common practice to bet on your match. It was usually just between $5-$20, if I was playing someone under my speed or over my speed I didn't bet.

I see it quite often at tournaments where people gamble on the matches, I don't think it is a move at all.
 
muttley76 said:
Another thing you guys are not taking into account is that it is pretty good odds. You can only lose two sets in tourneys, where as you can win a heck of a lot more(assuming you aren't playing in a 4 man tourney, lol). If youi are any kind of decent player, the math isn't hard. This is actually a fairly standard move for gamblers.
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If it's someone who doesn't know you, it's likely a move--and a poor-taste move at that, imo.

Help me out with this "odds" argument. Is this the same argument that works walking up to any casino game with $50 in your pocket, the "I can only lose $50, but I can win big, so things are in my favor" argument?
 
mikepage said:
Help me out with this "odds" argument. Is this the same argument that works walking up to any casino game with $50 in your pocket, the "I can only lose $50, but I can win big, so things are in my favor" argument?
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Shhh! Vegas is having a tough time atm and needs all the help it can get.
 
mikepage said:
If it's someone who doesn't know you, it's likely a move--and a poor-taste move at that, imo.

Help me out with this "odds" argument. Is this the same argument that works walking up to any casino game with $50 in your pocket, the "I can only lose $50, but I can win big, so things are in my favor" argument?
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I agree if you want to match up wait till after its very poor taste to ask before you start the match and a definite sharking tactic, class pool players would never do such IMHO



1stroke
 
Psych

bigshooter said:
Certainly nothing new, it may be a move, I guess you could go over the top and ask them to bet huge and psych them right back but then again they might take you up on it.
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Then, when they accept the over the top bet, you could say, "NO BET" and psyche them even worse.

For the most part, trying to psych your opponent is like playing Russian Roulette.

Even worse, is your opponent asking you to gamble after you have put some azz-whoop on them in the tournament. :grin:
JoeyA
 
trustyrusty said:
I've had a couple of guys ask to put money on a match before it started in a weekly tourney...one I declined and won, the other I obliged and won. I didn't see it as a move at all. Like mentioned above, some folks "need" something on the match to hold their interest. If you're wondering about the guy I declined on...he was HAMMERED, and really didn't have a chance - race to 4 8ball (alternate break); I won 4-0. I think he was a little light on cash, and he either didn't have the $20 he wanted to put on it, or let's say, looked like he needed $20 more than I did. I did get him a drink during the match, and one after though ;):cool: Maybe it was a move by him to get a couple of drinks outta me :confused::p
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Yeah, and maybe that drink buying was a move on your part to make him feel comfortable in trying "the move" again in the future. :D

JoeyA
 
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