Mr. Lucky?

Hickok

Hickok

Still shootin'
A drifter (with a hard luck story) showed up at the pool hall about a
month ago. He's there all day, all night, frequently leaves for an hour
or so but always returns. He's pleasant, polite, quiet, about 50. He
drinks, but not much. He never offers to help with table time.

He's tried to get a money game with just about everyone in the place,
but hasn't had much luck save an occasional 8-ball game for a buck or two
with kids. The guy is good. He wins but he wins 'lucky'. I glance over
two or three tables from time to time and see him, for example, trying to
get position the hard way, and if he blows it, he's looking at a decent
bank shot. The guy is good.

About a week ago he comes up to me (for the third time) and asks if I'm
ready for some 10 dollar 9-ball. I say "OK. I know you're better than
I am but I'll play 5 a game 5 ahead and if you beat the crap out of me,
then we'll have to talk about weight." He agrees.

Well, he beats the crap out of me. I've never seen anyone slop so many
balls in my life! And if he missed, he didn't leave me a shot to run with.
He didn't play safties. He just took his best shot and if it didn't go,
I wound up with diddly. He won 'lucky'.

So. When I gave Mr. Lucky his money he says "I guess you want a spot now.
How 'bout the eight?" I say, "If you want to make $25 an hour, you're
going to have to get a job. Give me the 7 & 8 same way, and we'll see how
it goes." He says "no problem." Ouch! I've just coughed up $50 like a
moron. Oh well.

We play. He misses a couple, I make a couple. I win easily 5-0. It
seemed like every time I got to the table I was looking at an easy combo
on a money ball.

BOOM! Mr. Lucky slams $25 on the table and yells loud enough for everyone
to hear, "THIS IS HORSESHIT! I DON'T GIVE WEIGHT. NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL."
Of course he just gave me the 7/8. He stormed out of the place forgetting his jacket.
He was hopping mad.

When he came back after his customary hour break, I went over to him at the
bar and said "We broke even for chump change. No hard feelings?"
He ignored me. Oh well.

I don't understand the tantrum. Is this guy trying to set me up? Or am I
just being paranoid? The guy is good.
 
I'd part ways with him.

So you win, then what?

You lose, he sticks around.


No win situ.
 
Hickok said:
A drifter (with a hard luck story) showed up at the pool hall about a
month ago. He's there all day, all night, frequently leaves for an hour
or so but always returns. He's pleasant, polite, quiet, about 50. He
drinks, but not much. He never offers to help with table time.

He's tried to get a money game with just about everyone in the place,
but hasn't had much luck save an occasional 8-ball game for a buck or two
with kids. The guy is good. He wins but he wins 'lucky'. I glance over
two or three tables from time to time and see him, for example, trying to
get position the hard way, and if he blows it, he's looking at a decent
bank shot. The guy is good.

About a week ago he comes up to me (for the third time) and asks if I'm
ready for some 10 dollar 9-ball. I say "OK. I know you're better than
I am but I'll play 5 a game 5 ahead and if you beat the crap out of me,
then we'll have to talk about weight." He agrees.

Well, he beats the crap out of me. I've never seen anyone slop so many
balls in my life! And if he missed, he didn't leave me a shot to run with.
He didn't play safties. He just took his best shot and if it didn't go,
I wound up with diddly. He won 'lucky'.

So. When I gave Mr. Lucky his money he says "I guess you want a spot now.
How 'bout the eight?" I say, "If you want to make $25 an hour, you're
going to have to get a job. Give me the 7 & 8 same way, and we'll see how
it goes." He says "no problem." Ouch! I've just coughed up $50 like a
moron. Oh well.

We play. He misses a couple, I make a couple. I win easily 5-0. It
seemed like every time I got to the table I was looking at an easy combo
on a money ball.

BOOM! Mr. Lucky slams $25 on the table and yells loud enough for everyone
to hear, "THIS IS HORSESHIT! I DON'T GIVE WEIGHT. NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL."
Of course he just gave me the 7/8. He stormed out of the place forgetting his jacket.
He was hopping mad.

When he came back after his customary hour break, I went over to him at the
bar and said "We broke even for chump change. No hard feelings?"
He ignored me. Oh well.

I don't understand the tantrum. Is this guy trying to set me up? Or am I
just being paranoid? The guy is good.
Click to expand...

It makes sense that he broke even with you, if he lost money then he probably is not good enough to continue playing. It may be part of the set up.

Also about the luck. If I'm playing a lesser player and the table layout is not the way I like it, in other words it would take too much concentration and work to run it, I change things. For example I'll miss a shot intentionally creating a better layout knowing my opponent will not have a shot, it's on purpose. I will not call safe and just make it appear as I missed. this way there is no need to explain anything to anyone.

Given CB position. If a player is good enough, he knows table speed and understands position off the rails as good as a 3-cushion billiards, then he can create stuff that looks unusual to some one that thinks the shortest rout is the best.

Any way, you may have saved yourself some money. He probably would have negotiated a spot with you, but knew what would be ideal for him.


Also, some of gamblers techniques are to cry and throw tantrums until the player gives in. As in the earlier post, stay away is probably best.
 
He left you with easy combos on the money balls?? That's not luck, it's probably a hustle. Get out while you can.

Flex
 
Better watch out.

Hickok said:
Or am I just being paranoid?.
Click to expand...

"IT MAY BE HIM WHO IS PARANOID & SCHIZOPHRENIC".
I've seen this type before and they can be dangerous. He sounds like a certifiable nutcase. If they don't take their meds, they can fly off the handle and hurt someone. Probably living on a disability check and used to be pretty good at pool.

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
"IT MAY BE HIM WHO IS PARANOID & SCHIZOPHRENIC".
I've seen this type before and they can be dangerous. He sounds like a certifiable nutcase. If they don't take their meds, they can fly off the handle and hurt someone. Probably living on a disability check and used to be pretty good at pool.

TY & GL
Click to expand...


His name wasn't Danny Greer was it?
Sounds just like one of his signature hustles.
 
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