Putting Someone You Gamble with on the One and Done List

Get_A_Grip

Get_A_Grip

Truth Will Set You Free
Silver Member
So here is what happened. I practice almost every Saturday for around 8 hours with a couple different guys, and one friend. One day, someone that I don't know and never have played with comes to play. My friend knows him and says that he's a pretty good shooter.

It turns out that he really likes to play for money. He suggested that we play a cheap set of 8-ball. He barely beats me. I want to keep playing because I'm sure that I'm better than him. But now he only wants to play Last Pocket 8-ball, with NO ball in hand rules. I've never even played that game before, and I can't believe that he wants to play without using BCA type rules, but I figure that I can beat him anyway. Wrong. The guy did not miss one make-able shot in 2 hours. I was like a fish out of water playing last pocket. Along the way, I even asked to raise the bet, so by the time I pulled up, I had lost probably around $150.

So I run into this guy again and he suggests to play a short race for $20 of BCA 8-ball. I win the first set for $20 the next 2 or 3 times that I play him, but guess what? He quit after losing the first set every time.

So last week he comes to play again on Saturday and we play the same BCA 8-ball set for $20, but this time he wins the first set. And lo and behold, he wants to keep playing (on my money again). I had suspected that this was his actual strategy. If he loses the first set, then he quits and limits his losses to only $20. But if he wins the first set, he keep playing and hopes to get on a roll and take a lot of my money.

So after he wins the first set and wants to flip the coin for the break, I tell him, "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't play more -- you've made my One and Done list". He's like, "Huh?". I came right out and told him that every time I win the first set, he quits. So unfortunately, until he loses the first set and keeps playing a couple times, I will be unable to play him more than one set.

He actually said, "You're pissed at me aren't you?". And I'm like, actually I'm not. I would do the same thing to anyone. It's just a business decision.

Have any of you had to put someone on your, One and Done List? (I think there may actually be a term for what he is doing -- like risking a matchstick to win a lumberyard or something).
 
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Yeah, that's annoying.
I might try raising the bet a lot and suggesting a 5-7 ahead match to start things off. At least that way, if you still feel you're the better player, you stand a better chance of not only winning the first set, but cashing for a decent amount as well.
 
JolietJames said:
Yeah, that's annoying.

I might try raising the bet a lot and suggesting a 5-7 ahead match to start things off. At least that way, if you still feel you're the better player, you stand a better chance of not only winning the first set, but cashing for a decent amount as well.
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I definitely thought of that, except now my friend tells me that although he likes to gamble, he's been known to need to "owe" people money when he loses. Supposedly he eventually pays, but I'm not sure gambling with this guy is going to be worth the headache.




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There is no "right" answer.

Gambling is gambling.

I've played people like that plenty of times.

There is no guarantees in "gambling".

It all comes down to "are you trying to say you beat the guy or are you trying to take his money".

You said he suggested to play "a short race". To me, that implies "one short race". Make him put up whatever cash you are willing to lose for the day. If he won't do that, don't play him.

Make him commit to a set number of games or sets.
 
HawaiianEye said:
There is no "right" answer.

Gambling is gambling.

I've played people like that plenty of times.

There is no guarantees in "gambling".

It all comes down to "are you trying to say you beat the guy or are you trying to take his money".

You said he suggested to play "a short race". To me, that implies "one short race". Make him put up whatever cash you are willing to lose for the day. If he won't do that, don't play him.

Make him commit to a set number of games or sets.
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The real reason that I haven't proposed putting up a larger amount up front, is because I'm quite sure that he doesn't have it on him. In fact, one time I beat him the first set for $20, he tells me with ATM card in hand, that he needs to pull the money out. Well, he's standing by the ATM machine for the longest time. And surprise, surprise, he comes back with the story. The ATM isn't working and won't give him cash. So he gives me $15 of the $20. LOL He did give me the missing $5 the next time that I saw him though. :thumbup:
 
Get_A_Grip said:
So here is what happened. I practice almost every Saturday for around 8 hours with a couple different guys, and one friend. One day, someone that I don't know and never have played with comes to play. My friend knows him and says that he's a pretty good shooter.

It turns out that he really likes to play for money. He suggested that we play a cheap set of 8-ball. He barely beats me. I want to keep playing because I'm sure that I'm better than him. But now he only wants to play Last Pocket 8-ball, with NO ball in hand rules. I've never even played that game before, and I can't believe that he wants to play without using BCA type rules, but I figure that I can beat him anyway. Wrong. The guy did not miss one make-able shot in 2 hours. I was like a fish out of water playing last pocket. Along the way, I even asked to raise the bet, so by the time I pulled up, I had lost probably around $150.

So I run into this guy again and he suggests to play a short race for $20 of BCA 8-ball. I win the first set for $20 the next 2 or 3 times that I play him, but guess what? He quit after losing the first set every time.

So last week he comes to play again on Saturday and we play the same BCA 8-ball set for $20, but this time he wins the first set. And lo and behold, he wants to keep playing (on my money again). I had suspected that this was his actual strategy. If he loses the first set, then he quits and limits his losses to only $20. But if he wins the first set, he keep playing and hopes to get on a roll and take a lot of my money.

So after he wins the first set and wants to flip the coin for the break, I tell him, "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't play more -- you've made my One and Done list". He's like, "Huh?". I came right out and told him that every time I win the first set, he quits. So unfortunately, until he loses the first set and keeps playing a couple times, I will be unable to play him more than one set.

He actually said, "You're pissed at me aren't you?". And I'm like, actually I'm not. I would do the same thing to anyone. It's just a business decision.

Have any of you had to put someone on your, One and Done List? (I think there may actually be a term for what he is doing -- like risking a matchstick to win a lumberyard or something).
Click to expand...
You don,t owe him an explanation,neither does he owe you one. I am a gambler(for 40 years) and anyone who is winning will continue to play(flip the coin) and continue. You did the right thing quitting if you KNOW he would quit you if he lost the first set. You simply make an AGREEMENT BEFORE you start,on are you gonna play at least 3? Sets before starting.if he quits after one with an agreement to play more in place,then he is a piece of crap that you don,t need to be playing with period. Gambling has tons of unwritten rules,and expecting everyone to know and adhere to them is unrealistic.MAKE your rules and agree to play"x" amount of sets or "x" amount of time,before starting.if someone breaks those rules then don,t play them anymore. If you decide to keep playing after losing a set and he beats you out of "x" amount of money because you kept paying... 100 percent on you... You kept playing because you thought you could win,and sometimes you don,t sometimes you do. I do it all the time. The first rule,gambling 101, is don,t play people with low money and you can afford to lose alot more sets than them(letting him turn a toothpick into a lumberyard) ALSO ,no matter who they are, make them post the money . If you aren,t trying to play "on air" then you should not be offended to to be asked to post up the money,and vice versa,neither should you,if someone asks you to post. It simply lets you both know that each of you have enough money to pay off and there will be no issues when time to pay off,its already posted up.you think nothing can go wrong(oh hes a friend of my good friend, he was wearing a rolex, driving a mercedes,etc...,etc...) POST the money,or learn the MANY excuses for not having money to pay off...AND I ASSURE you,if you don,t think this can happen in YOUR circle of friends etc... Keep gambling and find out. Unless you have an agreement in place ,quit when you want,win or lose.
 
Oh, and interesting side story for when he beat me the first time we played. A different guy that I play with knows him. And he told me that when the guy smokes pot, he can shoot unreal. But that he may eventually go outside to smoke one too many times, and then all of the sudden the wheels will just come off his game. LOL Well, I haven't played him long enough to see the wheels come off yet.
 
jayburger said:
You don,t owe him an explanation,neither does he owe you one. I am a gambler(for 40 years) and anyone who is winning will continue to play(flip the coin) and continue. You did the right thing quitting if you KNOW he would quit you if he lost the first set. You simply make an AGREEMENT BEFORE you start,on are you gonna play at least 3? Sets before starting.if he quits after one with an agreement to play more in place,then he is a piece of crap that you don,t need to be playing with period. Gambling has tons of unwritten rules,and expecting everyone to know and adhere to them is unrealistic.MAKE your rules and agree to play"x" amount of sets or "x" amount of time,before starting.if someone breaks those rules then don,t play them anymore. If you decide to keep playing after losing a set and he beats you out of "x" amount of money because you kept paying... 100 percent on you... You kept playing because you thought you could win,and sometimes you don,t sometimes you do. I do it all the time. The first rule,gambling 101, is don,t play people with low money and you can afford to lose alot more sets than them(letting him turn a toothpick into a lumberyard) ALSO ,no matter who they are, make them post the money . If you aren,t trying to play "on air" then you should not be offended to to be asked to post up the money,and vice versa,neither should you,if someone asks you to post. It simply lets you both know that each of you have enough money to pay off and there will be no issues when time to pay off,its already posted up.you think nothing can go wrong(oh hes a friend of my good friend, he was wearing a rolex, driving a mercedes,etc...,etc...) POST the money,or learn the MANY excuses for not having money to pay off...AND I ASSURE you,if you don,t think this can happen in YOUR circle of friends etc... Keep gambling and find out. Unless you have an agreement in place ,quit when you want,win or lose.
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Thanks, some very good advise.

You know, I guess that I'm okay with playing this guy only a single set from now on. That actually seems like the best solution on a permanent basis. He really doesn't have the money to play for larger amounts or commit to multiple sets up front. I definitely suspected that anyway, and I think I have enough evidence now to conclude that. So he's not worth my time to try to extract money out of, so playing one cheap set every time we meet up isn't so bad I guess as long as we both know that's the "deal".

EDIT: I should also state that $20 is the maximum that I will allow anyone to play for without posting. If he never paid me the $20, I could care less.
 
Nostroke said:
I dont know where "one and done" fits? seeing as you played him several times.
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No second set.

I am in 104% agreement with your approach, mister lost-his-grip. In fact, I say anybody who experiences the same and responds differently needs to get a grip.

He established the precedent, why should you act otherwise?
 
Guess hoooooo?!

Playing a single set is- imo--
Great practice for tourney play. It is important to be able to get up semi-cold and deliver the goods.

I have said it on here before: I have gone periods where my practice routine was a single race to 3 against ghost...if I lose, I gotta stop playing. If I win, I get to keep playing.

(Of course, I am playing at home)
Get_A_Grip said:
Thanks, some very good advise.

You know, I guess that I'm okay with playing this guy only a single set from now on. That actually seems like the best solution on a permanent basis. He really doesn't have the money to play for larger amounts or commit to multiple sets up front. I definitely suspected that anyway, and I think I have enough evidence now to conclude that. So he's not worth my time to try to extract money out of, so playing one cheap set every time we meet up isn't so bad I guess as long as we both know that's the "deal".

EDIT: I should also state that $20 is the maximum that I will allow anyone to play for without posting. If he never paid me the $20, I could care less.
Click to expand...
 
When it is real fun is when he wins the first set and you win the second and he has already spent the $20 you gave him on some weed.:shocked::nanner:
 
IMHO, knowing what you do about his finances and his gambling MO there is absolutely no reason to play more than one set. If you win the first one he most likely can pay and you both go on your way. If you lose the first one there is no point in chasing your money as he will almost certainly quit after his first loss so the best you can do is to get your original $20 back - unless of course he has spent it on weed as mentioned earlier. Continuing to play until you win a set leaves you with a very limited upside and a deep downside.
 
Listen here, if I have $20 in my pocket, and you have $1500, I will bet all day with you.

You have a chance to win $20, I have a chance to win $1500. Point is, don't gamble with

broke dick people. Be happy he pulls up when he loses, if he chases that money all that

will happen is he will owe you like you have stated before. But when he fires that $20, and

wins another $150, that would be dumb. Whatever you play for post up, at least have him

flash some cash...Other than that, you always lose putting up $1500 to $20...
 
Oh, to be young again, and shooting a needle at a haystack, and winning a little bit. 25 years ago, when I was a teenager and might only have $20 in my pocket...and using it to win a hundred or more was like hitting the lottery.

If you want to see what they can "lose", make them post up two or three sets. If not, quit after one set. It's your prerogative. This was a good learning experience for you. And it only cost you $150.
 
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