Money Management Instead of Odds
I use money management. This works whether the players are all better than me (not unusual where I live) or there are several weaker players in the game. I get away with this because I am "retired and living on a fixed, bare-subsistence income" -- what they don't know, they don't NEED to know ...
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First of all, if I can help it, I do NOT get into multiple-handed games with strangers, most of whom know each other. Second, I most definitely will NOT play in a game with more than 5 players, including mysaelf, and I like the 4-handed game best.
Next, I add up the payouts on the money balls. For instance, if it's $1 on the 5 and $2 on the 9, this is 1 + 2 - $3 TOTAL. I then multiply this total by 7 and round UP to the nearest $5. So, in this case, 3 x 7 = $21, rounded up = $25.
This is my "START OUT" money. This is the money I am WILLING TO THROW AWAY, like a recreational trip to the nearby casino. This is usually enough to keep me in the game for 6 racks or so, even if I come up dry all the way. If I hit a 5 a couple of times, or a 5 and a 9, within these first 6 racks, this is just enough to keep me in for a few more racks.
The beauty of this is that I don't really have to determine how I think I'm going to do for the rest of the night. I have removed this "Start Up" money from the rest of my money, placing the "Start Up" in my FRONT pocket and the rest somewhere else. I play SOLELY from this front pocket for the rest of the time until it either dries up, or I'm left standing at the end of the night.
Even when there are better players than me in the game, it's surprising how often I'm still standing well into the evening, and sometimes even at the end! However, if my front pocket dries up, I QUIT IMMEDIATELY! -- no ifs, ands or buts!
Using this little rule of thumb, I can easily calculate beforehand how much money I'm comfortably willing to risk at any given time to see how far I can go. $3 on the 5 and $5 on the 9 gives 3 + 5 = 8, 8 x 7 = 56 (round to $60). $5 on the 5 and $10 on the 9 gives 5 + 10 = 15, 15 x 7 = $105. I have done all of these quite a few times and am, therefore, not necessarily averse to this. At any given time, my whole pocketbook tells me how much I am willing to "throw away."
So then, what happens if they start out low and then raise the bet (happens almost every time when we play a ring game here in NW WA State). Around here, it's usual that, about an hour before closing time, they go right from a 1+2 game (need $25 seed money) to a 3+5 game (need $60 seed money). This is no problem if you have more than $60 in your FRONT pocket at this time.
However, if you have less than $60 in your FRONT pocket, you may now choose whether you will IMMEDIATELY QUIT or bring your FRONT pocket up to $60 (EXACT AMOUNT) from your other cash. If you decide to continue playing, this $60 has now become your "throw away casino" money ...
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Now, the rule is the same as before -- if the FRONT pocket dries up, QUIT IMMEDIATELY!
If you're the stranger in town, you can still work this. First of all, don't be too pushy or seem too eager about your match-ups -- do EVERYTHING in the spirit of good fun. Second, DO NOT flash your knowledge, act a little too cagey or woof it up -- you need to act a little naive, or even dumb, depending upon the situation. DEFINITELY, if at all possible unless they're totally fouled up, USE A BAR CUE -- if your opponents are using their own cues, then use your own, as long as it's a PLAIN JANE, SNEAKY PETE or looks like some kind of cheap beater -- if you don't have one of these with you then, sorry, you have to use a bar cue ...
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Then, if your FRONT pocket dries up suddenly, you only need to tell the truth: you are on vacation and have LIMITED FUNDS on which to travel. Thank them all for the great time and buy them a couple of beers -- the next time you come through town, you will not only have decent action, but some decent friends, as well.
