Is gambling required at the higher skill levels?

[couldnthinkof01]

Two adult established players agreeing to put money on the line is one thing, but for each time that happens there’s 100 instances of a senior bar banger trying to force a bet on a more junior bar banger out at Jim’s corner tavern on 2nd and main, complete with every hustling and sharking routine being broken out should the result ever be in doubt.

This aspect of the pool gambling culture absolutely destroys American pool relative to Europe, and hinders any possible American advancement in the sport.

If you're the new guy, you get your balls busted. I don't think that's just in pool gambling

 

[BasementDweller]

I think it was Carl Jung who said something like, "Beware of unearned wisdom." I'm not sure what his point was specifically, but many have applied this statement to hallucinogenic drugs. The idea being that wisdom must be earned, and there really aren't any shortcuts to attaining it. Taking the short route is "fraught with peril" as Grady would say.

It's possible there's something similar at play when it comes to gambling. Maybe we should be weary of unearned focus at the pool table. If you need to gamble to stay focused while playing, maybe it's because you haven't actually put the work in.

And maybe this is why the European method seems to be working much better than the gambling one.

 

[easy-e]

I'm not opposed to gambling.

But finding someone better than me willing to play cheap is a unicorn hunt.

That’s the key! I have a few local players over 730 Fargo that’ll play cheap any time I ask. It’s a win-win situation. They get a little free cash if they play their games, and I am forced to focus and play my best. After a few sets with a pro my arm stopped shaking! Now playing against players my speed I feel way more comfortable and I think that gives me an edge.

Of course, if you’re not financially stable enough to donate sometimes, you shouldn’t. It’s like one poster said earlier… it’s entertainment.

 

[straightline]

I think most players that love the game WISH they could always play their best. As time passes, I think many just get tired of the internal struggle to focus and bring their best game at all times. So gambling becomes a short cut for focusing. Sure many get caught up in chasing the money, but others just want to get locked in and test themselves. It's important to understand what gambling is to you and your opponent. I'm not a big fan of playing guys that are just after a buck. If they are doing it to test themselves, then we are both on the same page.

That's most of us I think. I play till I get bored - that might be 2 minutes unless there's income involved. I do indulge the RnD and practice regularly but I will probably always lack the ethic to struggle relentlessly never mind, to set out to bust a mark.

 

[tomatoshooter]

I also won money at the pool room that I was literally too scared to collect, judging the nature of the character revealed before me

I'd there a story here you can share?

Scott Frost has a video where he talks about getting robbed.

I don't gamble for enough money that I'd feel the need to do something foolish to collect or keep my money. Also I'm not good enough to play for that much. I would like to step up to the high dollar game to see what it's like to play for big money someday.

 

[Charlie Hustle]

That’s the key! I have a few local players over 730 Fargo that’ll play cheap any time I ask. It’s a win-win situation. They get a little free cash if they play their games, and I am forced to focus and play my best. After a few sets with a pro my arm stopped shaking! Now playing against players my speed I feel way more comfortable and I think that gives me an edge.

Of course, if you’re not financially stable enough to donate sometimes, you shouldn’t. It’s like one poster said earlier… it’s entertainment.

To the bangers, I'm a pro. To the pros, I'm a banger

 

[tomatoshooter]

if offering to raise the bet when someone is down on a hard shot is fine you may as well allow throwing shit at them when they are down on a shot.

Yeah, never talk when someone's bridge hand is on the felt.

 

[ShootingArts]

To the bangers, I'm a pro. To the pros, I'm a banger

With apologies to the Cincinnati Kid, Steve McQueen? I changed it a bit myself and used it for years.

Hu

 

[bbb]

post #95 in response to post 94

Thanks for the reply

 

[SEB]

I’m blown away by the answers to this question. All the non gamblers trashing on the real pool players who put their money where their mouth is.

is your FargoRate above 580? If so…you gamble.

Is your FargoRate above 640? If so…you gamble and win a fair amount of money consistently at the game.

Is your FargoRate above 705? If so….you win 5 figures at the game each year and book consistent winners.

Is your FargoRate BELOW 580? If so…your opinion doesn’t really matter because you don’t play pool at a high enough clip to even understand the conversation.

Oftentimes pool gambling isn’t gambling at all. Imagine betting on a 3-1 favorite in a fight but didn’t have to lay odds…imagine betting it even. See what I’m getting at?

 

[Cuedup]

is your FargoRate above 580? If so…you gamble

OP here.
My fargo is currently above 600.
I gamble and I understand it as a tool to keep score and to feel like you actually won something tangible.

My problem is finding equally skilled or better opponents that want to spend an afternoon playing cheap sets to pass the time, hone our skills and enjoy some pool time.

The reason for the threads is I am asking is this just the way it is everywhere? Just in the bubble I live in? Where to others go to find quality players that want to play cheap because they love the game, not necessarily players that will begrudgingly play cheap a few sets because they have nothing better to do.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

OP here.
My fargo is currently above 600.
I gamble and I understand it as a tool to keep score and to feel like you actually won something tangible.

My problem is finding equally skilled or better opponents that want to spend an afternoon playing cheap sets to pass the time, hone our skills and enjoy some pool time.

The reason for the threads is I am asking is this just the way it is everywhere? Just in the bubble I live in? Where to others go to find quality players that want to play cheap because they love the game, not necessarily players that will begrudgingly play cheap a few sets because they have nothing better to do.

The larger the pool playing population in an area, the better the chance is of finding guys that play good and will play cheap. I have never had a problem finding a cheap, competitive game in most places.
Playing weekly tournaments is a good way to find the sort you're looking for and a good way to find the ones you absolutely don't want to play with. They don't even have to be in the tournament, could be just hanging around the edges looking for the exact kind of game you are.

 

[maha]

gamblers dont play cheap unless they are broke.
cheap players arent gamblers but fun players wanting a tiny bit of pressure or have a reason to win.

there is nothing wrong with either side but there is a difference. dont disparage either as you really arent qualified to do that unless doing it to the side you belong to.

 

[IbeAnEngineer]

I love pool and play daily. As my skill level increased I've noticed a reoccurring theme. Whenever I match up with higher skilled players it always ends up with a proffer to gamble. Always.

I'll gamble sometimes. When I do I usually end up ahead, unless it's in doubles but that's another thread altogether, but gambling isn't why I'm there. Pool is why I'm there. I'll play rack after rack alone or practicing different aspects of the game by myself. I spend a lot of time coaching and playing with lower skill players and never have a problem finding someone to play with but inevitably whenever equally matched or higher skilled players come around it always ends up with a proffer to gamble.

I love to match up with equally skilled or higher skilled players. It makes my day. I love the competition and there is nothing I like better. However, within a few racks it inevitably turns into an offer to gamble and if the offer is declined there is no interest left.

Am I alone in this? Is it about the game or the gamble? Are the two inseparable? Does anyone want to match up for fun?

No, Just look at Ralf Souquet as an example.

 

[book collector]

Everyone who ever started playing pool that I ever talked to , loved the game from the start. Then they started beating people, then they started gambling, then they tried to live off gambling instead of working , then they had to gamble to have money , then they hated playing pool, the only reason they came every day , was to try to hopefully win 2000 dollars . but they would settle for 20 , which is about the average pay for a pool player once he is known.
If you worked at a restaurant washing dishes, would you go in on your day off and wash them for free?

 

[bbb]

Everyone who ever started playing pool that I ever talked to , loved the game from the start. Then they started beating people, then they started gambling, then they tried to live off gambling instead of working , then they had to gamble to have money , then they hated playing pool, the only reason they came every day , was to try to hopefully win 2000 dollars . but they would settle for 20 , which is about the average pay for a pool player once he is known.
If you worked at a restaurant washing dishes, would you go in on your day off and wash them for free?

probably not
but i would probably make more in a year than most pool players
jmho
icbw

 

[60inchcueguy]

Here’s my 2 cents.
People always want to know how we can grow the game. The reason the game will never grow is because most pool players think that gambling is a integral part of the sport.

Let’s be honest, the majority of people who gamble tend to be on the sketchy side. I’m not judging people, I just call it the way I see it. For a sport to grow, it has to contain a family element that gets everyone in the family involved (see travel sports, cheerleading, dance competitions, etc.). Most families would not go near a pool hall with their children, and for good reason.

You can’t find anyone not involved with Pool who think of pool players in a positive light. Pool has to cleanup it’s image if it’s ever going to grow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cuedup]

Here’s my 2 cents.
People always want to know how we can grow the game. The reason the game will never grow is because most pool players think that gambling is a integral part of the sport.

I have a feeling the most popular sports frown on players gambling the outcome of games.

At least, that's what my buddy Pete told me.

 

[The_JV]

I find it somewhat pitiful when people claim that they need to bet on order to play their best.

I don't need a bet to play my best. I require something on the line to play my hardest. There's a big difference there, and anyone who claims it doesn't alter their own approach is only lying to themselves.

 

[SEB]

Here’s my 2 cents.
People always want to know how we can grow the game. The reason the game will never grow is because most pool players think that gambling is a integral part of the sport.

Let’s be honest, the majority of people who gamble tend to be on the sketchy side. I’m not judging people, I just call it the way I see it. For a sport to grow, it has to contain a family element that gets everyone in the family involved (see travel sports, cheerleading, dance competitions, etc.). Most families would not go near a pool hall with their children, and for good reason.

You can’t find anyone not involved with Pool who think of pool players in a positive light. Pool has to cleanup it’s image if it’s ever going to grow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your awful take is the problem with pool