opinions advice

poolplayer2093

poolplayer2093

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
alrigt i need an opinoin or advice. i play this guy at the pool hall all the time. we play cheap and $10 1 pocket races to 5 for 5 9 ball. just about enough to cover the table time if i win. anyway i play this guy all the time and consistantly lose. i always ask for small spots like the break in 1 pocket or the 8 in 9 ball. spots that could most definetly be managed. i noticed he does it all the time. players that play even with him he asks for huge spots from. should i stop playing him? is this one of those little parts of the games i just hadn't been exposed to before?
 
This guy sounds like one of those people who will not gamble unless he knows he can win. In that case he doesn't really gamble, he just wants to take people's money. I always thought of gambling as you aren't sure if you will win or lose, but you will try your best. Not ask for the world and then get upset if someone doesn't want to give it to you. Anyway, that's just my opinion.
 
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i think it was Walt Fraiser that said all that matters in pool is leaving with the cash. i don't have a problem with it but it seems like everyone i run into is trying to rob me on the table. i don't mean for decent money either i mean if it was like 2 dollars a game there'd be a good chance at him (him, not meaning any one specific. just everyone i've run into) trying to shark you when you were down on a shot
 
There is one serious question you need to answer for yourself and that is what is more important the learning experience or the gamble? Locally we have the exact same type of player, who shall be named Katana, and few players stronger than him will play him because we hate the weight he asks for and the money he will play for really doesn't make that much work worth it anyway. So again you have to ask, what do I want to take from the matches? In my situation I would be playing for the gamble so no it isn't worth it, for you though, you may have lucked out by finding a person you can learn and develop from that will play, as you say, cheap.

My opinion, if you are learning well and losing isn't an issue then perhaps you have a great opportunity. This is how I would see it...find the guys that are even with him that spot him, now approach them for a game. Then, take the spot that he gets and add to it to whatever you think you can get. This way you are making money from his hustling because he pretty much sets the handicap for your matches too!

Just my 2 cents.
 
PoolSponge said:
There is one serious question you need to answer for yourself and that is what is more important the learning experience or the gamble? Locally we have the exact same type of player, who shall be named Katana, and few players stronger than him will play him because we hate the weight he asks for and the money he will play for really doesn't make that much work worth it anyway. So again you have to ask, what do I want to take from the matches? In my situation I would be playing for the gamble so no it isn't worth it, for you though, you may have lucked out by finding a person you can learn and develop from that will play, as you say, cheap.

My opinion, if you are learning well and losing isn't an issue then perhaps you have a great opportunity. This is how I would see it...find the guys that are even with him that spot him, now approach them for a game. Then, take the spot that he gets and add to it to whatever you think you can get. This way you are making money from his hustling because he pretty much sets the handicap for your matches too!

Just my 2 cents.
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good advise! i agree as ive been there and done that.i think the best way to look at this is if the guy is a good player i mean good enough that you can learn something positive then its worth the 10 or 20 he beats you out of.if you really think its close enough that the 8 makes you the favorite then i would most likely keep playing even so that you can watch your game improve and beat him soon.i would play efren 11-7 winner breaks in one hole with no chance to win for $100 a game just to learn.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
alrigt i need an opinoin or advice. i play this guy at the pool hall all the time. we play cheap and $10 1 pocket races to 5 for 5 9 ball. just about enough to cover the table time if i win. anyway i play this guy all the time and consistantly lose. i always ask for small spots like the break in 1 pocket or the 8 in 9 ball. spots that could most definetly be managed. i noticed he does it all the time. players that play even with him he asks for huge spots from. should i stop playing him? is this one of those little parts of the games i just hadn't been exposed to before?
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You have to decide for yourself if it's really worth playing this guy. He sounds like a nickel & dime thief to me.

Are you really learning something by playing with him or is it more of just having someone to practice/compete with?

If you don't ever win or he beats you like 90% of the time and he wont give you any kind of fair spot, try this: lower the bet to something ridiculous like 25 cents a game. When he gets irritated by this, tell him you'll go back to your usual bet ($5-10) when he gives you a fair game. :D

Otherwise you may want to just play him for time or find someone less nitty to gamble with.
 
penguin said:
You have to decide for yourself if it's really worth playing this guy. He sounds like a nickel & dime thief to me.

Are you really learning something by playing with him or is it more of just having someone to practice/compete with?

If you don't ever win or he beats you like 90% of the time and he wont give you any kind of fair spot, try this: lower the bet to something ridiculous like 25 cents a game. When he gets irritated by this, tell him you'll go back to your usual bet ($5-10) when he gives you a fair game. :D

Otherwise you may want to just play him for time or find someone less nitty to gamble with.
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i thought about doing that but every now and again i see something new. i think i might just keep the bet the same and extend the race. it's hard to find people around here to compete with. just about everyone tries to nickle and dime you here. not a whole lot of gamble (myself included) over here. it's rare to see a game that you can't predict the outcome to in a few minutes
 
Any "cheap" bets should be played even. No handicaps. It is an insult to ask a better player for a handicap at that low of a bet.

This is how it is in my area, and how many people learn the game.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Any "cheap" bets should be played even. No handicaps. It is an insult to ask a better player for a handicap at that low of a bet.

This is how it is in my area, and how many people learn the game.
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giving money away even a little at a time adds up. about 150 a week is spent on pool counting bets made. it's not like i'm asking for the nuts just an almost fair game. What's the insult to asking for a fair game?i'll lose an average of 50-60 when i do play. if i lost 15-20 games in a row and asked for the last two (actually happened) all i heard was "no man you shoot too good"
 
iusedtoberich said:
Any "cheap" bets should be played even. No handicaps. It is an insult to ask a better player for a handicap at that low of a bet.

This is how it is in my area, and how many people learn the game.
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Agreed, in most cases. But re-read poolplayer2093's post below (I emphasized the important parts in bold):

poolplayer2093 said:
alrigt i need an opinoin or advice. i play this guy at the pool hall all the time. we play cheap and $10 1 pocket races to 5 for 5 9 ball. just about enough to cover the table time if i win. anyway i play this guy all the time and consistantly lose. i always ask for small spots like the break in 1 pocket or the 8 in 9 ball. spots that could most definetly be managed. i noticed he does it all the time. players that play even with him he asks for huge spots from. should i stop playing him? is this one of those little parts of the games i just hadn't been exposed to before?
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The guy poolplayer2093 is playing is a nit. They could up the bet to $500-1000 and poolplayer2093 would not get a fair game either. I wouldn't give that guy any action, period.

Again, if he really wants to play him, play real cheap or for time.
 
i dont like to talk about players that i dont know but he does sound a lil nitty.when i first started playing it happened to me as well and probably most players.what im saying is playing this guy until you beat him will help you develop "heart" or at least it did me and you cant put a price on that.
 
dimes33 said:
i dont like to talk about players that i dont know but he does sound a lil nitty.when i first started playing it happened to me as well and probably most players.what im saying is playing this guy until you beat him will help you develop "heart" or at least it did me and you cant put a price on that.
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thanks for the advice. i think that's just what i'll do and when i feel like i have a chance i'll raise the bet some
 
poolplayer2093 said:
thanks for the advice. i think that's just what i'll do and when i feel like i have a chance i'll raise the bet some
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By the time you feel like you have a chance (or when HE feels you have a chance), he'll either 1) quit playing you, or 2) ask for some unreasonable spot.

If never having a shot at your money is worth the price of improving, go ahead. Some people call it "paying your dues". But there are better ways to improve & "pay your dues" than with that guy.
 
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