My first big (?) money game

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Williebetmore

Member, .25% Club
Silver Member
Just relating an event, its the first time I've ever played for more than $100.
A kid (probably late teens or early 20's), visiting from out of town, said his dad owned a pool hall in an adjoining state. He watched me shoot for a little while and asked if I'd like to play for money. We decided to play race to 7, 9-ball for $100. I won the first set, getting lucky several times. He asked to play more, spotting me 2 games on the wire. He looked to be a VERY good shotmaker, and was not trying to hide it. We played two more sets, and he won both sets (the last at hill-hill he got me on 3 fouls - OUCH).

I then asked if he would like to play some straight pool even up - he said only for $500 (salivating at the thought, since he was definitely a little better in the shotmaking department). After a trip to the ATM, the game was on. I won the lag, he broke, I ran 20 played safe, won the safety battle, ran 10, played safe, won the safety battle, ran 30, played safe, won the safety battle, ran 10 and missed. I was up 70 to -1 before he ever got to shoot at anything easily makeable. We were playing on exceedingly tight equipment. Final score was 100 -35. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was probably the best game I ever played. I will say at about 80-35 the pressure really started to mount - it's not a great amount of money, but I would rather not lose. Anyway, it paid for a new set of lessons; maybe lessons are good for something after all.
 
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Good shooting!

So after the set for $500, he didn't want to go again? I think you scared him... :p
 
Williebetmore said:
Just relating an event, its the first time I've ever played for more than $100.
A kid (probably late teens or early 20's), visiting from out of town, said his dad owned a pool hall in an adjoining state. He watched me shoot for a little while and asked if I'd like to play for money. We decided to play race to 7, 9-ball for $100. I won the first set, getting lucky several times. He asked to play more, spotting me 2 games on the wire. He looked to be a VERY good shotmaker, and was not trying to hide it. We played two more sets, and he won both sets (the last at hill-hill he got me on 3 fouls - OUCH).

I then asked if he would like to play some straight pool even up - he said only for $500 (salivating at the thought, since he was definitely a little better in the shotmaking department). After a trip to the ATM, the game was on. I won the lag, he broke, I ran 20 played safe, won the safety battle, ran 10, played safe, won the safety battle, ran 30, played safe, won the safety battle, ran 10 and missed. I was up 70 to -1 before he ever got to shoot at anything easily makeable. We were playing on exceedingly tight equipment. Final score was 100 -35. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was probably the best game I ever played. I will say at about 80-35 the pressure really started to mount - it's not a great amount of money, but I would rather not lose. Anyway, it paid for a new set of lessons; maybe lessons are good for something after all.
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where do you play at? Just curious, not wanting to play any really. Live in indiana and just wondering about where you playing in indy.
 
Good match; especially the straight pool. One reason I love that game is that someone with knowledge, and experience with the game's subtleties, can beat a "shotmaker" like you felt this guy was. Well played!

I'm not and have never been a big gambler, but it's great to see someone stretch out of their comfort zone and succeed. I bet (pun intended) that you have moved to a new level in your pool game.
 
sharing stories

My first big money game was back in 97' when I splitting half my time between Las Vegas and California. I was playing a 30/60 game at the Bellagio and this guy from Texas starts talking about pool. We talked about different games played, and from listening to him talk, it was like listening to a regular ball banger talk about pool. So he tells me he likes to fool around playing one pocket, but again sounds like he doesn't quite know like a real pool room player knows.

Now, I know that this could all be a hustle really, but during this entire conversation I don't really say that I play at all yet. Just really carrying on a conversation at a poker table about pool with a young girl for all he knows. So I tell him I've actually played the game a couple of times at home and like to play if he would like to play. He said what about now and I said I heard that there is a pool room up the way and why not take a cab there. Now I up till that point, I had been actually going to the Cue Club for years when I was in town and knew Henry (the owner) really well.

So we ended up playing one pocket, and those of you who know me know that I am not known playing that game but when I want to, will play a real conservative, no flyer game not caring if it takes an hour to finish one. We played 4 ahead for 2000, and I won in three hours. Up until that point, that was my biggest money game. Previous to that, I had only played for some 500 dollars sets playing 9 ball, and one 800 dollar set giving the 8.

I was always proud of how that one worked out. I took someone out of the poker room to a pool room, not knowing who he was, and won doing it. I felt a tremendous amount of heart that day. That has always been the neat thing about playing this game, I have all these great stories that have added up to pretty adventurous life thus far, more so than most that don't play this great game can attest to!
 
1pRoscoe said:
Good shooting!

So after the set for $500, he didn't want to go again? I think you scared him... :p
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Roscoe,
He did not want to go again, I think he knew he was in over his head in that particular discipline. To respond to the other posters, straight pool (like one-pocket) is DEFINITELY a game where knowledge can help make up for slight deficiencies in the shotmaking department. My next challenge is to start my one-pocket education - I'm hoping for some lessons with Danny D. and Grady over the next year.
 
Williebetmore said:
Roscoe,
He did not want to go again, I think he knew he was in over his head in that particular discipline. To respond to the other posters, straight pool (like one-pocket) is DEFINITELY a game where knowledge can help make up for slight deficiencies in the shotmaking department. My next challenge is to start my one-pocket education - I'm hoping for some lessons with Danny D. and Grady over the next year.
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If you get lessons with Danny D again, let me know, I wanna come watch! :D
 
drivermaker said:
Congrats, Willie! So, what were the lessons learned in all of this?
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Lesson #1 - play a lot with better players. I am fortunate to play fairly often with some top pro's; it makes the run of the mill good players a lot less imposing.

Lesson #2 - I haven't found my choke point yet, in terms of dollars. I no longer get nervous in league play, even near the end of a long, close match. I no longer get nervous in local 9-ball tournament play. I still get NERVOUS AS HELL playing with a top touring pro, even though I consider them a friend - it's stupid and I need to get over it.

Lesson #3 - there's no need to avoid playing someone you don't know, just step up, have a little heart, but don't let it hurt you financially. If this guy would have been older I probably would not have played for that much - thinking he probably was OHB in disguise.

Lesson #4 - Money won is just the same as money earned - I got no great thrill from it - probably would have been just as pleased if we were playing for fun, it's cool being able to compete with good players. I'm not sure how I would have felt if I lost, probably bad, probably won't wager this much in the future.
 
I played a guy in a small town near Beaver Falls , Monaca I think , I got stuck for 3 grand and didn't have the cash, so he broke my arm.....LOL
 
billyjungle said:
I played a guy in a small town near Beaver Falls , Monaca I think , I got stuck for 3 grand and didn't have the cash, so he broke my arm.....LOL
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You post a smiley face with this??

Willie--good shooting, it's got to feel great when you can see your practice paying off. Keep it up.

~DC---->(Doesn't gamble much, but likes the stories :D )
 
Williebetmore said:
(snip)
My next challenge is to start my one-pocket education - I'm hoping for some lessons with Danny D. and Grady over the next year.
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Then the top step: 8-Ball. :D

You da man!

Jeff Livingston
 
1pRoscoe said:
If you get lessons with Danny D again, let me know, I wanna come watch! :D
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Roscoe,
Are you serious??? Danny D. has threatened to visit again in August. If you are really serious you would be welcome to visit (we have plenty of room). You could either watch for free, or kick in and share some lessons. Let me know if you are interested - the more the merrier. If you haven't had lessons before with either Grady or Danny you would really be in for a treat - extremely entertaining, extremely informative (and Danny will cook if you ask - he's talented at many things). They are both true students of the game (perhaps "professors" of the game would be more accurate). If you come, I will tell you what Efren told me about their one-pocket skill/knowledge (its a secret).
 
Williebetmore said:
Roscoe,
Are you serious??? Danny D. has threatened to visit again in August. If you are really serious you would be welcome to visit (we have plenty of room). You could either watch for free, or kick in and share some lessons. Let me know if you are interested - the more the merrier. If you haven't had lessons before with either Grady or Danny you would really be in for a treat - extremely entertaining, extremely informative (and Danny will cook if you ask - he's talented at many things). They are both true students of the game (perhaps "professors" of the game would be more accurate). If you come, I will tell you what Efren told me about their one-pocket skill/knowledge (its a secret).
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It would be an honor to help kick in for some lessons from one of the greatest (relatively speaking). I have never had lessons with Grady, he always came through Texas when I was broke!! The only reason I said this was it would be cheaper to get a SW round trip ticket and kick in for lessons than to try to get it on my own, as there are no high level 1p instructors in this state. (waiting for the randyg comment from someone...)
 
I took someone out of the poker room to a pool room, not knowing who he was,
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Yeah I was once in a poker room and started mouthing off(after losing a series of hands) that the players could beat me at poker but but noone can't touch me on the pool table. Then some guy at the table offered to play for some big bucks. I should have never mouthed off, I ended up losing even more. The guy went by the name of Tang Hoa......

ghost ball~only kidding
 
crawdaddio said:
You post a smiley face with this??

Willie--good shooting, it's got to feel great when you can see your practice paying off. Keep it up.

~DC---->(Doesn't gamble much, but likes the stories :D )
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sorry,,,this was a humorous(large bone in the upper arm)reference to a post awhile ago by a guy named RONOH........I thought it would give regular readers a laugh.....no harm intended....








billy
 
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ghost ball said:
Yeah I was once in a poker room and started mouthing off(after losing a series of hands) that the players could beat me at poker but but noone can't touch me on the pool table. Then some guy at the table offered to play for some big bucks. I should have never mouthed off, I ended up losing even more. The guy went by the name of Tang Hoa......

ghost ball~only kidding
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GB,
Great story. Only one question - was it a good experience (the thrill of matching up with a really good player), or a bad experience (losing the cash)???
 
girlwon1 said:
We played 4 ahead for 2000, and I won in three hours.

I was always proud of how that one worked out. I took someone out of the poker room to a pool room, not knowing who he was, and won doing it. I felt a tremendous amount of heart that day. That has always been the neat thing about playing this game, I have all these great stories that have added up to pretty adventurous life thus far, more so than most that don't play this great game can attest to!
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I'm really impressed with this story. Seriously, it takes a lot of nerve to do something like this and pull it off.

Now I know what I would have done if the guy tried to stiff me out of the 2 grand, but what would you have done if he said, "hey chick...take a hike or beat it out of me in the parking lot"? How would a female handle a situation like this?
 
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