How Much Gamble Do...

Fatboy

Fatboy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
You have? I'm not talking about problem gamblers who bet the rent etc. But when you have extra $$$, dosent matter how much, are you willing to put it in action? Maybe having the worst of it, to play a better player and learn to take the heat or learn something-I dont mean giving Efren the 5 ball and getting robbed, but in 9 ball getting or giving a ball when the spot should be closer, or in one pocket same thing. Or do you only play when you think the game is even, or lastly do you only gamble when you have the nuts. I understand this is complicated depending on how much $$$ you have but for this thread lets assume you have extra $$$ that isnt going to affect what your going to have for dinner if you lose, what level of gamble do you have,

1. I'll take the worst of it if i'm not getting robbed

2. I will only play i think is an even game

3. I'm a nut hunter and cant stand losing.

4. Gambling on pool isnt for me I like to play for fun.

Speaking for myself If I just won some $$ or have some extra i'll take the worst of it for a while because out running the nuts is the best feeling and makes me a better player, when I was on short $$$ back in the day I would awalys take an even game-but I never bet the rent $$$. I've never been a nut hunter-its no fun for me, thankfully I havent been in that spot but if I was that tight on $$ sure why not? but remember this question assumes you have some $$$ for action.
 
I'm not usually too jazzed up when it's a match where you have to try and outrun the nuts. On the other side of the spectrum I'm not a locksmith either
 
I feel I am pretty good at guaging people's speed on the table, however; I have been known to take the worst of it with better players for experience (and bragging rights if I win). When I win games I shouldn't, I always get hounded left and right for more action, so I guess it doesn't hurt every once in a while to go all in with seven deuce off suit;)

I don't like to rob other people. I will either offer weight, or simply tell them that they merely should not play me (although that rarely happens). I am a moral hustler of sorts.

I have also been known to stay in a game that I don't like. I would like to change that aspect of myself. I hate to admit defeat, but I will go down fighting every time.
 
If I get a fairly close game in either direction I will send it in. I will not make a donation if the game is a clear dog. People that don't pull up when they see the game is clearly out of line are not gamblers, they are idiots. I have played games I have no business in before not for the money but for the experience. That, IMO, is a donation for service rendered and not gambling if you know your odds are slim in the beginning.
 
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i'm closer to 1 than 2 but i've been known to give someone that isn't as good as i am a more than fair game.
 
I am pretty fair when it comes to money games especially against someone I know. I even sometimes give the 5 or 6 out especially if I can consistantly win with the 7 or 8 out against them. Some of those guys though are looking for a sure game sometimes and they want rediculous spots. All it does it make me shoot better and it makes them mad. Some people do not want a spot and they don't mind giving me a little money, because they feel they receive experience from it. I actually don't take spots when it is for a small amount when I play against someone better than me for the same reason. But if it is for a substantial amount of money and I feel skills are not close to even then I will request a reasonable spot.
 
I am almost always betting while playing, I am an addicted gambler with control ;) If I have little money a month I bet little and more on even games. If I have a good month I challenge the better players to get the experience, and might beat them. Almost as good as sex, a 7/8 orgasm I think, if I beat them for much money.

Funny, but when I was in Manila I was your example! I played Efren both in one-pocket and 9-ball. The 9-ball match I got way too little handicap but I couldn't resist.... And what the heck, it was only peanuts we were playing for anyway, but what an experience!!!
 
belmicah said:
I feel I am pretty good at guaging people's speed on the table, however; I have been known to take the worst of it with better players for experience (and bragging rights if I win). When I win games I shouldn't, I always get hounded left and right for more action, so I guess it doesn't hurt every once in a while to go all in with seven deuce off suit;)

I don't like to rob other people. I will either offer weight, or simply tell them that they merely should not play me (although that rarely happens). I am a moral hustler of sorts.

I have also been known to stay in a game that I don't like. I would like to change that aspect of myself. I hate to admit defeat, but I will go down fighting every time.
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well said, robbing people is boaring and it dosent make you a better player, i like tough games, that makes me a better player
 
If I'm bored, I'll take the worst of it, even if I'm getting robbed... but then again, I don't bet high...

If I'm not bored, I'll generally only play a relatively even game.

I'm bored most of the time though...
 
It comes, it goes.. I like to bet it, and usually get into a few games that I know I don't have any right to play - but it keeps the nerves calmed.
I've been told by some that I have gambling problems, but honestly I never bet enough to really hurt me.

I was flipping coins the other day for $20 a flip, the owner of the pool hall pulled me aside and said "you've got to be careful, man, I think you might have a problem" - I appreciate him looking out for me like that, but I decided to flip for money because I couldn't get a single game in the room, regardless of how bad I play, so I set aside $100 and said "if I win, I win, if I lose, I lose a hundred".. I ended up ahead 80.

I don't make a LOT of money doing what I do (design + print, look at the sig) but I don't feel like losing a hundred here and there is going to hurt me in the short run, and I don't think a thousand here or there is going to hurt me in the long run.
 
Fatboy said:
You have? I'm not talking about problem gamblers who bet the rent etc. But when you have extra $$$, dosent matter how much, are you willing to put it in action? Maybe having the worst of it, to play a better player and learn to take the heat or learn something-I dont mean giving Efren the 5 ball and getting robbed, but in 9 ball getting or giving a ball when the spot should be closer, or in one pocket same thing. Or do you only play when you think the game is even, or lastly do you only gamble when you have the nuts. I understand this is complicated depending on how much $$$ you have but for this thread lets assume you have extra $$$ that isnt going to affect what your going to have for dinner if you lose, what level of gamble do you have,

1. I'll take the worst of it if i'm not getting robbed

2. I will only play i think is an even game

3. I'm a nut hunter and cant stand losing.

4. Gambling on pool isnt for me I like to play for fun.

Speaking for myself If I just won some $$ or have some extra i'll take the worst of it for a while because out running the nuts is the best feeling and makes me a better player, when I was on short $$$ back in the day I would awalys take an even game-but I never bet the rent $$$. I've never been a nut hunter-its no fun for me, thankfully I havent been in that spot but if I was that tight on $$ sure why not? but remember this question assumes you have some $$$ for action.
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This whole town is nothing but lock artists, so, if I'm playing,I have the worst of it. I outrun it quite often though.
 
Ktown D said:
. I have played games I have no business in before not for the money but for the experience. That, IMO, is a donation for service rendered and not gambling if you know your odds are slim in the beginning.
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I agree with this post. About 30 years ago, I was out "on the road", and ran across Mizerak playing by himself in a poolroom. I walked up to him, introduced myself, laid a hundred on the rail, and asked him to play. This was after he had won several U.S. Open 14.1 tournaments. In noting to him that I had no expectations of being able to win, he asked what I wanted to do. I asked for a 10-ahead set for the hundred, and told him he could just 'put the money in his pocket'! He figured (probably rightly so) that he could win 10 straight, and agreed to the set. My good fortune, combined with some great play on my part, meant that it took him 3 hours to win that $100. The stuff I learned from watching him play, I used on others to win many times that $100 back later. It was, as you described, a "donation for services rendered", and well-spent, imo.

I've also told the story of watching John Barton match up with Buddy, several years ago during a BCA trade show, at the Cue Club on the t.v. table, for some cheap $10 one-hole. Some nit standing next to me, on the rail, made mention of how stupid it was for John to be playing Buddy, when he had no chance to win (something to the effect of "doesn't this guy know who he's playing?"). I replied that he knew exactly who he was playing, and in fact was making an investment in his game! John enjoyed the game tremendously, learned a bunch, and played Buddy about 10 games before Buddy got tired and wanted to quit. Then, in a very class act, summoned a limo to drive Buddy back to his hotel.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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I will never gamble the rent money, but I will play anyone for an amount that I can afford to lose. These days that's not a lot, but I'm too prudent to gamble with money I can't afford to lose.
 
ironman said:
This whole town is nothing but lock artists, so, if I'm playing,I have the worst of it. I outrun it quite often though.
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That an understatement, ironman. Next week, I proposing to the city council to change the town's name to NITSVILLE.

Though, with all due respect, the players sitting on the rail do have a lot of gamble..........Just ask them WHILE they are still sitting on the rail! Problem is, we have to find that secret reagent that breaks down the glue that keeps their butts stuck to their seats in order to get them to the table.

It must have something to do with dehydration from those hot pool table lights. If you are lucky enough to get one off the rail, his cajones, ALONG with the size of the bet, shrink to the size of sun dried raisins the closer he gets to the table.

Living in the land of the three ball lock and the eternal yellow bellied jabber jawed railbird,
Stones
 
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Samiel said:
If I'm bored, I'll take the worst of it, even if I'm getting robbed... but then again, I don't bet high...

If I'm not bored, I'll generally only play a relatively even game.

I'm bored most of the time though...
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Samiel,

I look forward to the 11 - 4 spot that you will give me in One Pocket when I finally get down there permanently.

You have seen me play One Pocket, so the spot probably doesn't even give you the worst of it...
 
Unfortunately I subscribe to the a bad game is.....

better than no game. I have never gambled rent money but I have had a few brutal losses and close calls because I drove the the pool hall and dammit I am going to play someone before I go home. I once got started playing a kid for 1.00 a game 9-ball, procedded to get stuck 960.00, jacked the bet to 100.00 a game came back to get 10 games ahead and the kid could not pay me the 40.00 he lost. He only had 32.00 dollars. The funny part was that I was only going to fire three more games at 100.00 since he was kicking my butt, but I kept reminding him that we were playing for 100.00 a game and it definitely affected him.
 
Thecoats said:
better than no game. I have never gambled rent money but I have had a few brutal losses and close calls because I drove the the pool hall and dammit I am going to play someone before I go home. I once got started playing a kid for 1.00 a game 9-ball, procedded to get stuck 960.00, jacked the bet to 100.00 a game came back to get 10 games ahead and the kid could not pay me the 40.00 he lost. He only had 32.00 dollars. The funny part was that I was only going to fire three more games at 100.00 since he was kicking my butt, but I kept reminding him that we were playing for 100.00 a game and it definitely affected him.
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So not only did you take the kid's last 32 dollars you resorted to sharking to get it.:eek: :D

This story takes on an entirely new twist when you put it that way doesn't it.:)
 
I’ve been lucky over the years. I’ve always had some side businesses both legal and illegal along with my regular job. I love to gamble on almost anything. I have been known to bet hundreds on a thirty-second greyhound race or thousands on a day at the races.

I guess you could call me a locksmith type though. I owned about two hundred racing greyhounds racing in seven different states and had inside knowledge of when they were in form and in the right class and box.

With the horses I sold the jockey’s what they needed in New York and Florida. So I had inside info there too.

As far as pool went, I’ve jumped in with Buddy, Steve Cook, Mike Seigel and many others knowing I was going to come out on the short side. But that was with money that I won with very little risk.

As far as matching up with players, I was lucky. By the time my road playing dad turned me loose from our pool table in the basement I had most of the moves down already. I will admit that 90% of the time I was looking for the nuts. Johnnyt
 
I'm a fun player. I haven't played for more than 20 bucks. I let myself get suckered twice by better players and didn't feel too bad about it, but I wouldn't look for those games again. I won't play someone way above my speed even with weight, because I don't think I'd feel that great about a spot victory (even if it was a more than fair game). I'd make an exception to play a "TV player" tho.

I guess I'm also a locksmith. If some kid says he wants to play for 10 or 20 bucks and I know I can beat him, I'll play. I don't see it as robbing him or anything. More like he held out a bill and said 'if anyone can grab this before I pull my hand away, they can keep it'.
 
when my back is good i'm going to play Efren, I dont have a clue what the spot is going to be, We sorta had it set up for me to play him. this was while the Normandy Casino tournment was going on a few months ago, -,but my back was too bad I couldnt play, so my friend who knows him didnt make the game afterall, he said he could have, at Hardtimes. I would have went down swinging, it would have been games on the wire playing 9B, i want to play him just for the war story someday, but i'll play my ass off, i want to win, change the spot and win again. it aint gonna be a donation-if I can help it.


should i give him the 5 or 5 on the wire going to 9? ;)
 
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