How Much Gamble Do...
- Thread starter Fatboy
- Start date
All of the above.
For me, it all depends on the mood I'm in, how much time I have, and most of all, how much money I have to spare...................or in the worst case, how much money I need to make.
If I have a little to spare, and am looking for some real heat, I'll go after guys that I shouldn't be playing with. Most of the time, I go in knowing that I'll probably lose, but like others said, it's payment for services rendered. If I happen to win, I get a major "feel good" for the night.
Generally, I match up with guys that I know, and that play about the same speed. And we usually go back and forth. Usually the guy that wins is the guy that is just playing a little better on that particular night.
And lastly, there used to be an old man with money coming out of his ears, that was always willing to bet, and would never quit no matter now much he was down. He enjoyed my company because he was interested in being friends with an American. He was kind of an underworld figure here in Japan, and is currently in prison, so I didn't have any problems morally taking money from him. When driving by the club, I'd always stop by if I saw his car in the parking lot. There were times when I would actually go looking for him when I didn't have any cash.
On the other hand, I'd like to think that although robbing is ok, who you rob from should sometimes matter.
A 13 year old kid was into me for over $300 one night, and I knew that kind of money was probably his summer vacation money. He came back and wanted to play double or nothing. I agreed, but made him call his dad to come down and watch and to explain to me in person that he was ok with what his son was doing. We played, I won, and the kid started crying and wouldn't budge from his chair when his father was trying to get him to leave the place. I actually tried to give the kid his money back, but his father wouldn't let him accept it. I think he learned a good lesson, but from then on, nobody would ever gamble with him.
dave
For me, it all depends on the mood I'm in, how much time I have, and most of all, how much money I have to spare...................or in the worst case, how much money I need to make.
If I have a little to spare, and am looking for some real heat, I'll go after guys that I shouldn't be playing with. Most of the time, I go in knowing that I'll probably lose, but like others said, it's payment for services rendered. If I happen to win, I get a major "feel good" for the night.
Generally, I match up with guys that I know, and that play about the same speed. And we usually go back and forth. Usually the guy that wins is the guy that is just playing a little better on that particular night.
And lastly, there used to be an old man with money coming out of his ears, that was always willing to bet, and would never quit no matter now much he was down. He enjoyed my company because he was interested in being friends with an American. He was kind of an underworld figure here in Japan, and is currently in prison, so I didn't have any problems morally taking money from him. When driving by the club, I'd always stop by if I saw his car in the parking lot. There were times when I would actually go looking for him when I didn't have any cash.
On the other hand, I'd like to think that although robbing is ok, who you rob from should sometimes matter.
A 13 year old kid was into me for over $300 one night, and I knew that kind of money was probably his summer vacation money. He came back and wanted to play double or nothing. I agreed, but made him call his dad to come down and watch and to explain to me in person that he was ok with what his son was doing. We played, I won, and the kid started crying and wouldn't budge from his chair when his father was trying to get him to leave the place. I actually tried to give the kid his money back, but his father wouldn't let him accept it. I think he learned a good lesson, but from then on, nobody would ever gamble with him.
dave
I have never been a BIG gambler, but I would bet enough to get your attention. I donated to my mentors for a couple of years playing the top flight players in my area even. This shortened my learning curve tremendously. After getting 100's thrown at you, or 4,5,6 packs, then playing "normal" humans was easy.
Guys in the rooms called me stupid for not taking weight........until I started winning a set here and there. Then "all of the sudden" I was a solid player winning tourneys and being asked for weight.
I'm also too nice of a gambler. The last guy I played I just wanted to shut him up. He asked for the world at 1 pocket, I gave it and had him down about 1 bean, then felt guilty and lost a little back. The look on his face after losing 5 straight games with the nuts was enough for me.
I guess I'm more about seeing if I can beat a player, then getting into their pocket.
Gerry
Guys in the rooms called me stupid for not taking weight........until I started winning a set here and there. Then "all of the sudden" I was a solid player winning tourneys and being asked for weight.
I'm also too nice of a gambler. The last guy I played I just wanted to shut him up. He asked for the world at 1 pocket, I gave it and had him down about 1 bean, then felt guilty and lost a little back. The look on his face after losing 5 straight games with the nuts was enough for me.
I guess I'm more about seeing if I can beat a player, then getting into their pocket.
Gerry
Scott Lee said:
I did that many times when I first started playing. The key is to make sure your investment or "donation for services" is to someone who you really learn from not just someone who plays a tad better than you. If you are going to make the donation make it a good one
Getting Stuck 960.00
I just kept doubling up about every time I got between four and eight games stuck. If is really amazing how quickly you can get really, really stuck if you just keep jacking the bet
rossaroni said:How long did it take you to get stuck 960 games to that kid?
I just kept doubling up about every time I got between four and eight games stuck. If is really amazing how quickly you can get really, really stuck if you just keep jacking the bet
PoolBum said:
The exact same here.
My first responsiblilty is to make sure my family is provided for. If I match up, which is rare nowadays, it's for no more than $50.00. I don't play for money with anybody I like because I feel too bad taking money from family and friends. Strangers it doesn't bother me at all. Until I retire (9 years 6 months 25 days left on my sentence), I'll mostly just shoot against my inner circle of pool sparring partners which are my 3 brothers and several long time pool buddies, and "the ghost". Once I retire, I plan on entering a lot of tournaments. Gambling isn't a big deal to me.
I will add this...these guys who routinely gamble with their whole paychecks, wow, what a stiff penalty if they lose.
John Barton
New member
Fatboy said:
I am all in all the time. If I just beat someone then I want to double up right away and am looking for another game most of the time. The only thing that stops me is if I am worn out OR I have other obligations.
I'm definitely #1. I will and do play anybody within my betting zone, which is cheap sets ($50 - $100) or by the game ($10 - $20). It doesn't matter to me much who it is. I don't play pool to make money, and at these stakes, I can afford it no matter what the outcome, so it doesn't matter to me that much if I win or lose. Even though it can be humiliating, I've learned a lot more losing to better players than I have by beating up on lesser skilled opponents.
Occasionally playing the best players can be demoralizing. Sometimes players who I can keep up with will get red hot and they can really drill you. But then sometimes I win and the win can be very sweet.
I've also played some matches for higher then my usual stakes, but then I do care who I'm playing and how we match up. I've learned to take the heat better from gambling. I also get played by opponents I have the edge on so I do make some money there.
By the way, I've learned more about pool from playing Corey Harper than anyone else. He's helped me improve my game and he is one tough opponent. Corey and I don't gamble, but we take our matches and the game pretty seriously (usually) and it pretty much proves that you don't need to gamble to have decent competition. Corey has a terrific all around game, has played the best in the world and was a gambler. He would have a big advantage over me in gambling. I've offered to wager with him but being the gentleman he is, he turned it down.
Chris
Occasionally playing the best players can be demoralizing. Sometimes players who I can keep up with will get red hot and they can really drill you. But then sometimes I win and the win can be very sweet.
I've also played some matches for higher then my usual stakes, but then I do care who I'm playing and how we match up. I've learned to take the heat better from gambling. I also get played by opponents I have the edge on so I do make some money there.
By the way, I've learned more about pool from playing Corey Harper than anyone else. He's helped me improve my game and he is one tough opponent. Corey and I don't gamble, but we take our matches and the game pretty seriously (usually) and it pretty much proves that you don't need to gamble to have decent competition. Corey has a terrific all around game, has played the best in the world and was a gambler. He would have a big advantage over me in gambling. I've offered to wager with him but being the gentleman he is, he turned it down.
Chris
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Actually, that is the best type of opponent, IMO. My playing partner is my best friend, and we are pretty evenly matched. The pride we take in winning the match means much more than a few dollars if we bet on the match.TATE said:
We play as often as we can and it is almost always a very good match with neither one of us running away with it.
It is beneficial to get out and play other people in tournaments or gambling as a test, as well. But playing a strong opponent for nothing is great practice and cheap...lol.
Fatboy said:
Tough one. To me gambling on pool is a lifestyle choice. I love nothing more that beating the hell out of an opponent for a sum of money and making a living that way, however the kind of living is what I do not care for.
Long gone for me are the days of getting home at 7am-10am every day from being out all night looking for action (whether you actually find any or not). To me you must live, eat and breathe pool & pool action to make it worthwhile.
I loved the days where if you went off one night it did not matter because there was a backer to be had and another game was on it's way. You'd be flush again within days (hours sometimes).
A friendly wager means very little to me. If it's frienly against a good player, just playing for the sake of doing you best is good enough for me.
If it's for money, make it real money and let the lifestyle ensue.
Oh and if flush, you betcha I'll take the worst of it. Forces you to play better!
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