First money offer

9

9BallWill

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Kinda cool, someone at the pool hall last night approached me and wanted to know if I wanted to play for money. There are a million things that could be wrong with this situation, but it was nice knowing that I am at the level to play for money. I didn't take him cause I was with some friends, and I don't think I would have anyway. For all I know he's some huge hustler.

Anyway, I thought it was cool :D
 
9BallWill said:
Kinda cool, someone at the pool hall last night approached me and wanted to know if I wanted to play for money. There are a million things that could be wrong with this situation, but it was nice knowing that I am at the level to play for money. I didn't take him cause I was with some friends, and I don't think I would have anyway. For all I know he's some huge hustler.

Anyway, I thought it was cool :D
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What did he want to play for?

Hustling is rather a lost form these days.... people just match up to play and the winner takes the cash. I think that if it was cheap enough for you, maybe you should have played him to see what you would do "under pressure" and how you would play. It would improve your game, concentration, etc.
 
Did he ...

9BallWill said:
Kinda cool, someone at the pool hall last night approached me and wanted to know if I wanted to play for money. There are a million things that could be wrong with this situation, but it was nice knowing that I am at the level to play for money. I didn't take him cause I was with some friends, and I don't think I would have anyway. For all I know he's some huge hustler.

Anyway, I thought it was cool :D
Click to expand...

shoot before, or was it 'out of the blue'? If he watched you, then
you're next line should probably be, 'What type of spot will you give me,
and for how much'? You will get indication by how he replies.
Playing cheap sets for $20-25 can't hurt though, and will
season you a little.
 
Yea, it's kinda like being accepted to the fraternity or something the first time you get asked to play. Maybe next time, if your not with friends...

I never really got to see the "hustler" days. It was always, step up, make a game, and play your heart out where I come from. It was also rare to play anyone you did'nt know in the room. If a road agent rolled in, they always got steered to the best players in the room anyway....Gerry
 
Snapshot9 said:
shoot before, or was it 'out of the blue'? If he watched you, then
you're next line should probably be, 'What type of spot will you give me,
and for how much'? You will get indication by how he replies.
Playing cheap sets for $20-25 can't hurt though, and will
season you a little.
Click to expand...

Yep, good learning playing a complete stranger. You shouldn't be thinking how good he is, but in 99% of the cases you end up doing that during the sets :rolleyes:
 
Funny, I still remember the first time someone asked me to play. I figured what the hell... I've got to start eventually--so I agreed.

I was down at the House of Billiards in Santa Monica. Danny Shades walks up to me for a cheap set of 9-ball. I'd only been playing about a year or so, and he should have laid waste to me. But somehow I beat him. First time playing for money and I beat someone who'd been playing 10 times longer than I had. Score one for the little guy!
 
He wanted $20 a rack. From what I know thats the usual, nothing big and nothing small.

I'm not much of a gambler, however. Maybe one day with some buddies or something, or a millionaire, but my money is hard earned.
 
What level do you have to be at in order for someone to ask you to play for money? He may have thought your not that good and he could take a quick $100 off of you? But it is good to play for money like everyone else says. Its the best and quickest way to learn, I think it makes you concentrate more same thing with tournaments.
 
LOL use this method next time the guy asks you to gamble tell him FAST "NO" wait about 10 minutes allow him to move on down and relax, then when he looks comfortable go right back to the guy and tell Hey lets play some for (Insert amount your comfortable with). Now most times the fast NO throws them off their game then you come back and for atleast the first set or first 4 or 5 games you have a MENTAL edge over him cause he is wondering WTF has this guy found out. OH make sure you talk with your friends and such infront of him after the NO so he thinks they are telling you how he plays. If he is above you , your gonna be found out fast BUT you might be able to grab a few fast games and get further in his head and make him quit fast.
 
Zestyfool said:
What level do you have to be at in order for someone to ask you to play for money? He may have thought your not that good and he could take a quick $100 off of you? But it is good to play for money like everyone else says. Its the best and quickest way to learn, I think it makes you concentrate more same thing with tournaments.
Click to expand...

i remember when the first couple of times that someone asked me to play for money..........i was definitely being hustled........but before too long, my speed was not really shown till i had a couple of their huskies in my pocket........ :D
 
Zestyfool said:
What level do you have to be at in order for someone to ask you to play for money? He may have thought your not that good and he could take a quick $100 off of you? But it is good to play for money like everyone else says. Its the best and quickest way to learn, I think it makes you concentrate more same thing with tournaments.
Click to expand...
Right, which is why I declared "there could be a millions things wrong with this situation". In any case, when there's something on the line... the game changes. I agree.
 
Listen to snapshot there ... every so often I've forgotten that basic rule and it has ALWAYS cost me something ... get at least the 7 if you haven't seen the guy play and he's been watching you. And $20 a game's not exactly cheap ... maybe $20 for a short race.
 
9ball,

i think its kinda a cool compliment when someone comes upto me and wants to play for money. It basically shows that they think your a decent enough player, that you would be willing to gamble a bit.

Now, i also love when i walk into a place and you just start practicing and maybe you just kinda banging balls or trying something, but you get a so so, player come up and want to play and they have no clue how you really play.

Plus, even if you think X person is better than you, if you play cheap sets, like 10 to 20$ you might just scrap out a couple sets and have him wondering how he lost.

And on the other side, if you lose or something, its always a good learning experience to see where you stand, and maybe next time you get the 7ball or 8ball.


dave
 
Good Lessons

Keith was quick to point out a little tip for my game one time- and I said thanks... what else do you have for advice.. He said "Don't turn a single person down that wants to gamble with you. Make sure you break down your bankroll and work within it. If you ask for a spot and he doesn't want to play, OK- but don't turn ANYONE down."
 
Josh,

Thats very true, i was told the same thing by a guy who always egg'd me about gambling, cuz for most parts i dont gamble alot cuz i play with my money, so i tend to pick n choose my games. I dont want the easy win, just a fair match. And for the guy who egg'd me on i eventually played him one day for 5$ a game even and we went back n forth for about 2hrs before he rattled off several games in a row and i called it quits. But after that he never bugged me again.

But yea i was always told never turn someone down, you name the game, spot, and cost, in a reasonable way. and if he doesnt like it, oh well, i am sure he will come back.

Now i tried teaching a kid this, and he took it to the extreme and wouldnt play anyone unless he was getting like a unGodly amount of weight. And i went upto him one day, and was like you dont always need tons of weight to win, just play smarter.


dave
 
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