New to Playing for The Money

[Andrew Manning]

Playing the guys you can't beat makes you a sucker and likely they won't really want to help their good old cash cow progress...

You don't need their "help"; you need their competition. My opinion only, of course.

Getting a spot from the guys you can't beat will earn you more respect than being a sucker and as long as you are always willing and clear about constant adjusting they will likely share some wisdom since they know if you get a little better the spot will adjust and who knows maybe you will bet higher.....

I never minded being the "sucker" for a while, since I knew it was in the name of learning and improving. Those guys who I used to donate to don't think of me as a sucker any more. Some of them merely respect me, and some of them fear me. Again, my opinion only, but asking for a spot to avoid being the sucker seems to me like it wouldn't have forced me to improve as much or as quickly.

I guess it's clear by now that mileage varies from person to person, and surely from poolhall to poolhall as well.

-Andrew

 

[Gsitz89]

I'm far from a great pool player, or even a good one. But as I've started spending time in poolrooms more and more, I've become infatuated with the "action" that goes on. I'm a wee bit of a gambler by nature, and playing for money just fits the bill for me. It puts something on the line, and I'm learning, in a lot of cases puts pressure on my opponent more than me.

My question is who do I play? I am average in the room that I go to. There are players who I can't hold a candle to, players who I run over, and players who I can play sets for hours with and nobody will get up more than a couple sets.

It seems like a lot of the attitude here is "play the best, and hand em your money. It's how you learn, kid." But it also seems like these are the better players who like having worse players fill their pockets. I like the competitive back and forth matches, but I also like the confidence booster of wrecking guys and then asking them to hand it over afterward.

Long winded, but that's where I am on the subject. What's everyone's thoughts for a guy newer to the scene?

I am far from being a world beater but as soon as I walk into a room or at a tourney ill try and jump on the hardest guy in the room. Some of my buddies will be like "Garett do you know who that is?", and ill tell them ya. They think I am a fool but I do not believe that playing people that you will rob all day will ever do anything more than make your pockets heavier (nothing wrong with that though) will make you any better. Idk maybe I have everything backwards...

 

[Andrewk1988]

Wow lots of good insight into what people think. Thanks for the responses. I feel a lot more confident about asking for a spot. I felt like maybe that would be seen as a sign of weakness and garner a reputation I don't want.

Don't worry to whoever said that guys stop practicing when they start playing for money. I have it in my head that I won't even play for fun when I go soley to practice. I actually like my practice time. I have an appointment with an instructor set up to (hopefully) make my practice time even more valuable.

What's the difference between a "nit" and a "sucker"?

 

[The Renfro]

You don't need their "help"; you need their competition. My opinion only, of course.

I never minded being the "sucker" for a while, since I knew it was in the name of learning and improving. Those guys who I used to donate to don't think of me as a sucker any more. Some of them merely respect me, and some of them fear me. Again, my opinion only, but asking for a spot to avoid being the sucker seems to me like it wouldn't have forced me to improve as much or as quickly.

I guess it's clear by now that mileage varies from person to person, and surely from poolhall to poolhall as well.

-Andrew

The dynamics definitely change from room to room....

The comment about the help is about having someone's eyes on you, an outsider's opinion on your selections, and offering observations and advice.... Some players offer it up freely... Growing up those were few and far between... When you sold out no one ever offered up better ideas unless you were part of a specific group.

Opinions are formed from personal observations and as such always have value in pointing out there are other ways to look at things and other schools of thought. Thank you for reminding me of that.......

 

[philw]

What's the difference between a "nit" and a "sucker"?



About $300

 

[Pushout]

I'm out of the house now, when I get home later I'll address this in some depth if no one else has.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From an article in the August, 1983 issue of Billiards Digest:

The break-You get the break every game.
The 8 or 9 in rotation-You win if you make the 8 or 9.
8 safe-If you make the 8 there is no winner, it's like a draw, new rack.
Last two balls-You win if you pocket one of the last two balls on the table legally, whatever ball is left before the 9. Alex once gave Tony Watson the last four plus an additional spot that at the moment escapes me. You can get the last 2, 3, etc.
Wild 8-You win if you make the 8 any possible way, combination, kiss shot, one the break is optional, usually spotted up if the person getting the spot makes it on the break. You can also get the wild 7 or wild any other ball. The break and the wild 5 is often referred to as "The Orange Crush".
The 8 to hop-Not wildly known. If you make whatever ball precedes the 8, you can skip the 8 and make the 9.
The 7, 8, and 9-The 7 and 8 are wild, you win by making any legal shot on any of the three ball. Also played where the money balls must be called before the shot. Any wild ball can be changed to called ball.
Bank the 9-Self Explanatory One variation is to bank the 9 in the same pocket as the ball before it.
Games on the wire-One of the most common spots, often used in local tournaments. You have to win less games than your opponent, if you are the one getting spotted, of course.
There are probably a ton of other variations, I've seen all of these except "the 8 to hop".
Sorry I was late with this, got to doing other things:embarrassed2:

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

What's the difference between a "nit" and a "sucker"?

A nit is a guy who won't bet water is wet, won't give any action without the stone cold nuts and won't adjust after taking you 10 sets in a row with the stone cold nuts. He'll want to bet the moon when he's a lock and call you a nit if you won't play, but won't lay down two dollars if there is any gamble at all.

I'm sure you know what a sucker is - a guy who will give up the nuts to a nit and play 10 sets in a row without demanding an adjustment. :grin: