Maybe this is one question that has never been asked.

[pwd72s]

If I can only enjoy a game by betting, I don't like the game well enough to waste my time playing.

Well said. I was often told I'd never get better unless I played for money. I'd reply that I really didn't need to gamble to enjoy working at getting better. Then I'd mention that if they really wanted to play for money, I could call my honorary nephew. They'd ask his name, I'd say it. (693 Fargo)
Suddenly, they didn't want to get better.

 

[pwd72s]

Well said. I was often told I'd never get better unless I played for money. I'd reply that I really didn't need to gamble to enjoy working at getting better. Then I'd mention that if they really wanted to play for money, I could call my honorary nephew. They'd ask his name, I'd say it. (693 Fargo)
Suddenly, they didn't want to get better.

(edit) Sad that I haven't played for over a year now. Had an eye surgery that didn't work out well for me. Also, I'm 79, so have other medical issues. I really miss playing, but as the kids say, it is what it is. Really guys, play for money or not...it's really your choice. But the bottom line is to enjoy the game while you can, because nothing lasts forever.

 

[ShootingArts]

What's the next best thing to gambling and winning????

Gambling and losing of course

Unfortunately there are action junkies that really think like that whether they admit it or not. I played the ponies. However, as an owner and trainer I knew a bunch of jockeys and trainers, owners too, who made very nice incomes and passed it on to the cashiers at the track. If they made their living at the track and couldn't pick 'em in anything but boat races I wasn't gonna bet the family farm on a horse race!

I was very good at finding speed in a bunch of cheap claimers and if I bet only the top two or three races a day that I liked I could have done OK. I usually stuck a twenty or if I was really feeling flush two twenties in the front pocket of my jeans. Add to it in winnings and I could play with that but the front pocket was my only cashbox playing the ponies. Lose the cash and I was done for the day, first race or last! Anyone that often chases their losses has a gambling problem.

Years ago, I was a punk ass kid playing at a pool hall off Bears avenue in Tampa. This was before I ever had my own cue and I didn't even know what a safety was much less draw, follow, or any strategy at all. I put my quarters on the table and got in line to play. When it was my turn to play the guy I was to play got paid by the player before me. I tried to get him to bet me (it was like $5 a game) and he said no. I kept trying to get him to bet (I wanted to see how good I was). he would not engage the bet. The entire game, he toyed with me. he let me make several shots but I found myself hidden time and time again. Somehow it came down to my last ball and the eight ball. He would put the cue ball three to four rails off the eight and right back behind the eight where I couldn't see my ball. This was bar rules so no ball in hand. I realized he was playing with me. The next guy up and him started to bet. So I asked him why he wouldn't take my money? He said I wouldn't understand or something.

A few years later I found him on the message boards for USF (Go Bulls!) as Howie P. On the message board he had told stories of playing big time and having a heart attack during a tourney. I just now realized he might have posted on this board. A quick search and I now realize that Howie P is Howe Pearl. Huh. No wonder he could toy with me.

BillieBilliards brings her thoughts and pool photos about the billiard community history to life

A class man who wouldn't take money from a youngster when he knew he would be robbing! Not my choice but I had "fans" in the family. There would be gatherings of a hundred or two, a large gathering. Almost every time some in my family couldn't resist telling those that owned pool or snooker tables that I could beat them. My great aunts would ask if I was a shark or hustler. "No ma'am, just a player." Eventually the youngsters would inflame a cousin or two and nothing would do except we all caravan the seven miles to the closest pool table. There the challengers quickly found there was a difference between even a pretty good recreational player and somebody that had put food on the table with a pool cue. These games never involved wagers for more than a beer and I preferred for there to be no bet. I wasn't going to lose just to be nice but I didn't want family money as tempting as it was to rob an arrogant cousin sometimes!

Hu

 

[logical]

I gotta try this gambling thing. Sounds like everyone wins at it.

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[FunChamp]

I play at The Brass Tap in Raleigh. There are guys playing for money daily. One pocket mostly. It's not really gambling more like matching up. They all know each other and their speed, which is why I don't consider it gambling.

Cool. I play at Triple Barrel Tavern in Holly Springs.

 

[JolietJames]

I played a $25/$50/$100 game of No Limit Texas Holdem 2 weeks ago. Nah, I don't gamble.

Jason<----can't wait to play again

Just to be clear, those were the blinds?
If so, holeeee fawk!

 

[jasonlaus]

Just to be clear, those were the blinds?
If so, holeeee fawk!

Yep.

Well, mandatory straddle to $100

 

[JolietJames]

So you buy in for like $40k+ or what?

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Use to work with guys who was addicted Horse player, the Horses were more important then wife, and two small sons.

Guy would got to track, had to bet every race, it was his passion, most important thing in his life.

Wide dumped him, he wound up living in car, following the Pony’s from track to track.

 

[Quesports]

Cool. I play at Triple Barrel Tavern in Holly Springs.

I was playing there during the day. Nice place with great food. Gets a bit loud on Sunday afternoons with the football and all..

I considered playing APA leagues there but two things got in the way.. My handicap was too high and the police along 55 have quite a reputation for being very aggressive.. I like a beer or two but have heard enough about the Popo to avoid it at night..

If you want to play during the day sometime send me a pm here and we can shoot some.

 

[telinoz]

Use to work with guys who was addicted Horse player, the Horses were more important then wife, and two small sons.

Guy would got to track, had to bet every race, it was his passion, most important thing in his life.

Wide dumped him, he wound up living in car, following the Pony’s from track to track.

I read your posts in the voice of Rorschach, from the movie Watchmen.
This version:

Just fits like a glove.

 

[Bavafongoul]

The thing about gambling is how it changes a pool player’s approach to the match.

When the stakes are meager, the outcome isn’t as seemingly important. It becomes
a more enjoyable experience mostly because something of value is at stake. It could
be for table time, a race for $5, $10, $20 bucks, it still isn’t intense yet. However, when
serious money is at stake, say $50 or $100 & more per set, the opponents play a lot
more intensely. Some players thrive on that. They relish the pressure and use it as their
motivation to dial up their performance. Some players also can’t cope with the pressure
as well and so at a certain point, the wager turns into a distraction and their game suffers.

Personally, it doesn’t matter with me. Don’t get me wrong. I am not implying, so please don’t
infer, that I have a superior game or can handle pressure better than most players. I’m not that
egotistical and the amount isn’t that important. The most I’ve played for is a $100 a set but you
see, regardless if it’s a couple of bucks, $5, $10 or just a beer, I am competing every bit as hard
as if it was a $100 bet. The wager does nor motivate not distract me because it’s not my source
of satisfaction. It is winning, beating my opponent and hopefully not due to any bad luck outcomes
they might have had during our match. The bottomline is I just hate to lose in pool or anything I play
competitively. When I played tennis in the 70’s, I adored Jimmy Connors attitude. He explained it
this way why he battled so fiercely and relentlessly on the tennis courts. He said I don’t have to win
but the problem is I hate the taste of losing. If every one of my matches resulted in a draw, I could
live with that but losing one, well, it’s just unbearable to even think about. I just hate to lose at anything.

Well, I’m the same way. We could play to just pass time or gamble but either will result in you getting my
best game and if you later want to put some money on the table, I am not changing my game. You are
getting my best because it’s a shitty taste to lose and it’s not one that I want to experience versus deliver.
Dunno how others see this but receiving a silver medal in any competition isn’t winning. It’s losing the gold.
So I try to not let my mouth, or ego, write a check my wallet can’t cover. And the wager really doesn’t matter.

 

[Fatboy]

I played a $25/$50/$100 game of No Limit Texas Holdem 2 weeks ago. Nah, I don't gamble.

Jason<----can't wait to play again

That’s a pretty good size game. If the straddle is on-can play real big.

Fatboy<———doesn’t play poker, I like to sweat poker tho.

 

[Fatboy]

I play at The Brass Tap in Raleigh. There are guys playing for money daily. One pocket mostly. It's not really gambling more like matching up. They all know each other and their speed, which is why I don't consider it gambling.

It’s about matching up and then having a good day playing a bit over your head. Keeps you sharp. Gives value to playing and rewarding. If it’s worth doing it’s worth doing for $. I like placing a value on what ever I do. Biz, or chilling it all has value to me. Good way to keep score too.

Casinos aren’t gambling! That’s donating

People with a gambling disease and lose everything have a problem and should seek help. I saw lots of that living for years in Vegas -that’s sad. Family’s destroyed, houses lost to foreclosure etc.

Hanging out putting a price on your pool game is different than losing your house to a machine……

Best
Fatboy

 

[FunChamp]

I love to play pool for money. I only have two problems stopping me. I can't afford to lose any money and I am not any good. Other than that.....

 

[Quesports]

I love to play pool for money. I only have two problems stopping me. I can't afford to lose any money and I am not any good. Other than that.....

Hey Funchamp. One pocket is the action game every day at The Brass Tap. Lots of guys matching up small stakes and up..

 

[jasonlaus]

So you buy in for like $40k+ or what?

No comment

 

[Quesports]

It’s about matching up and then having a good day playing a bit over your head. Keeps you sharp. Gives value to playing and rewarding. If it’s worth doing it’s worth doing for $. I like placing a value on what ever I do. Biz, or chilling it all has value to me. Good way to keep score too.

Casinos aren’t gambling! That’s donating

People with a gambling disease and lose everything have a problem and should seek help. I saw lots of that living for years in Vegas -that’s sad. Family’s destroyed, houses lost to foreclosure etc.

Hanging out putting a price on your pool game is different than losing your house to a machine……

Best
Fatboy

Your spot on when it comes to casinos and people donating.. Many years ago my sister and her first husband drove from Palo Alto to Tahoe for a weekend. Well he wanted to go straight to Reno first so off we went.. He lost his entire roll in two hours flat!! He came to.me for a loan which I said No Freaking Way to. They were busted and my wife and I drove with them in the back seat all the way back to Palo Alto.

Up and back in one day.. Needless to say we never made another trip with them up there...Never witnessed anything like it!

Me I do not like donating to bums on corners, casinos, or just about anything with the potential of no return for me...

 

[FunChamp]

Hey Funchamp. One pocket is the action game every day at The Brass Tap. Lots of guys matching up small stakes and up..

You missed the part where I said that I am not any good.

 

[Fatboy]

No comment

100BB is enough and a 2 bullet in his pocket