Finally Gave In and Gambled – But a Bit Uneasy (long)

Opie said:
Alot of people would. I don't use gambling to make a living, I have a job for that. I use gambling to improve my game. It might sound messed up, but I would rather lose 100 bucks to a "pool player" and learn something to improve my game then win 50 bucks from some dumbass who can't play and actually weaken my skill level. There's a line from some movie that says something to the effect that "Sometimes when you win you actually lose and sometimes when you lose you actually win."

No, not messed up at all. I understand what you are saying but it's all about moderation. I think as long as you use the dumbasses in moderation you would not diminish your skill level.
 
Gambling ...

When you play for money in Pool, it is gambling. Compare it to poker with
one opponent. You both have hands, you do not know for sure, but have
an idea, you also have an idea how to handicap if necessary, and you both
agree how much to play for, you're hands are 'revealed' as you play more
and more. You look for nuances from the other player that might reveal
just how good they are.

And once again, you DO not learn from playing better players or playing anyone, you learn on your own practicing or with a qualified instructor teaching you.
You only see or get ideas from playing other players, but until you put
those ideas to work when you practice, you actually do not learn anything
practical other than how to get beat. When you play an opponent, it is
a competition to show what you know, not a practice session. Think about
Basketball teams, or golf, or other sports.

You know for sure that you are gambling when you are playing a $1,000
set, and you have the 9 ball on a rail opposite the cue with not a good bank or straight in halfway or more down table with the cue on the end rail, and
you have to make it or lose, THAT is when you realize the impact of gambling.
 
Snapshot9 said:
And once again, you DO not learn from playing better players or playing anyone, you learn on your own practicing or with a qualified instructor teaching you.

You know for sure that you are gambling when you are playing a $1,000
set, and you have the 9 ball on a rail opposite the cue with not a good bank or straight in halfway or more down table with the cue on the end rail, and
you have to make it or lose, THAT is when you realize the impact of gambling.

I'm agreeing with Snapshot. I've played a fair amount of small money matches and some matches with stakes in the hundreds - I would never gamble more than I could comfortably afford to lose. I don't think you learn that much from gambling, other than it helps add to your experience of playing under pressure. Hopefully you could get the same pressure experience in a tournament or a friendly match for bragging rights.

I also agree that gambling with better players is over-rated. Why not take some lessons from some of the pro's. When they sit there for 2 hours and tell you exactly why they are doing what they are doing, it will open your eyes in a way that 20 years of gambling with them could never do. I gamble with the good players when I think I can beat them even up.
 
Thats why matching up correctly is so important....You don't have to be a world beater to make money...Know your skill and everyone elses make good games and you might win....Make bad games and you will be an ATM....

Outsiders to the game think to make money you must be A FANTASTIC PLAYER I know guys with B and C games that make more money than A players.... :D
 
Betting on pool is not gambling!

I agree with BoroNut, technically (as per law in some states) gambling is classified as something you have no control over; such as slot machines, roulette, blackjack. Poker is not even considered gambling in California, because its a game of skill; much like pool and darts. Betting a poor hapless shmuck who cant hold his ramen wood cue $100 a game, is EXACTLY the same as entering a $100 entry tourny with him. Almost everyone has two eyes, two arms, and a brain.... everyone is an even match. BTW 9-ball and 8-ball shouldnt even be considered real games; Im with Earl Stricknine on this one, all offense stright pool!
Cmon Earl get that tourny rolling, lets bring pool back into its heyday, not this poor excuse of a game 9-ball. (9-ball breaks shouldnt count)
 
5aheadforpinks said:
I agree with BoroNut, technically (as per law in some states) gambling is classified as something you have no control over; such as slot machines, roulette, blackjack. (snip)QUOTE]


I understand your point and don't mean to be picky, but blackjack is one of my games. Blackjack is very controlable. Learn Basic strategy, add a simple count, find a game that is within the parameters for winning, hide your speed, don't drink or do drugs, and play for many hours...you will win.

Jeff Livingston
 
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