Quiting Winner

Opie

Stronger than shortstop?
Silver Member
O.k., tonight I gambled with a guy that I have played many times before. Anyway, I was playing pretty poorly and got down like 12 games. We played for a while and I fought and clawed my way back to being only 2 games down. Then all of a sudden he breaks his cue down and says he's done. I was like, wtf? He says we could play one game double or nothing and like a dumbass I said yes and ended up losing that rack. But the last rack aside, don't you guys think it's messed up to quit winner on somebody like that? I mean I played my ass off trying to get back to even and then when I'm 2 games away he breaks down his cue. I've played him alot before, won probably 85%, but I've never quit winner on him or anybody else I've played. I just think it's kinda cheap. What do you guys think?
 
Many a pool gambler will suggest otherwise, but anyone can quit whenever they feel like it. Should I be forced to play on if I happen to get a headache or if I become physically tired? Do I have to play on if the time I had intended to leave arrives? No, every bet is a separate proposition.

Those who feel most strongly about the "you can't quit when ahead" are the hustlers who like to reserve the right to stall without having to risk that their opponent walks out with the profits before they complete the hustle.

Even if you feel you're entitled to a chance to win your stake back, in this case, your opponent actually DID give you a chance to win your money back, and it's tough to fault them in any way on this occasion.
 
sjm said:
Many a pool gambler will suggest otherwise, but anyone can quit whenever they feel like it. Should I be forced to play on if I happen to get a headache or if I become physically tired? Do I have to play on if the time I had intended to leave arrives? No, every bet is a separate proposition.

Those who feel most strongly about the "you can't quit when ahead" are the hustlers who like to reserve the right to stall without having to risk that their opponent walks out with the profits before they complete the hustle.

Even if you feel you're entitled to a chance to win your stake back, in this case, your opponent actually DID give you a chance to win your money back, and it's tough to fault them in any way on this occasion.

Well, I guess you're right. But I just thought it sucked because I had worked so hard to try to get back to even and then he just broke his cue down without any warning. I think he mainly did it because the momentum in the match had changed pretty drastically and I guess he wanted to walk away with something. I should have passed on the double or nothing proposition.
 
If you beat the guy 85% of the time you play him, he deserves weight. If you are already giving him weight, he deserves more. If you are up a few hundred or a few thousand dollars on a guy over a period of time, there is nothing wrong with him wanting to walk away with a couple bucks. Instead of getting hot about it, you should be glad he is your fish and continues to play you being an 85% loser. No offense but you getting angry over that is kind of nitty.
 
Opie said:
O.k., tonight I gambled with a guy that I have played many times before. Anyway, I was playing pretty poorly and got down like 12 games. We played for a while and I fought and clawed my way back to being only 2 games down. Then all of a sudden he breaks his cue down and says he's done. I was like, wtf? He says we could play one game double or nothing and like a dumbass I said yes and ended up losing that rack. But the last rack aside, don't you guys think it's messed up to quit winner on somebody like that? I mean I played my ass off trying to get back to even and then when I'm 2 games away he breaks down his cue. I've played him alot before, won probably 85%, but I've never quit winner on him or anybody else I've played. I just think it's kinda cheap. What do you guys think?

Me, would of done the same, sorry to say, but hey i quit when i am ahead, but of course i would give you the chance to win the money back i wouldn't just quit after one game if i won, i would give you another chance to win, but if you didn't do it that time, i would take my winning and hit the road. Cole 'TheConArtist'
 
Opie said:
O.k., tonight I gambled with a guy that I have played many times before. Anyway, I was playing pretty poorly and got down like 12 games. We played for a while and I fought and clawed my way back to being only 2 games down. Then all of a sudden he breaks his cue down and says he's done. I was like, wtf? He says we could play one game double or nothing and like a dumbass I said yes and ended up losing that rack. But the last rack aside, don't you guys think it's messed up to quit winner on somebody like that? I mean I played my ass off trying to get back to even and then when I'm 2 games away he breaks down his cue. I've played him alot before, won probably 85%, but I've never quit winner on him or anybody else I've played. I just think it's kinda cheap. What do you guys think?

Don't worry about it, just treat the game as a never ending story and you will play again. It is bad when it happens with a stranger you will never see again but a regular it doesn't matter at all. I use to play a guy who aired me on the last game almost every time we played like it was a freebie. The next time he would never mention it like he got away with something. I think he like playing me because I never argued with him no matter what he did. I beat the guy for like $15,000 over a years time when others had pissed him off and he would not play them at all. If you beat this guy 85% of the time he can do what ever he wants and you should not really care. The worst thing you can do to a sucker is complain when they win. A guy loses and loses and the first time he finally wins he doesn't to hear a bunch of crap from the guy who has been beating him over and over. Just tell the guy Good game and let him feel good about his win no matter how mad you may be. In fact, you should be glad he won for a change, without you having to stall.
 
TheConArtist said:
Me, would of done the same, sorry to say, but hey i quit when i am ahead, but of course i would give you the chance to win the money back i wouldn't just quit after one game if i won, i would give you another chance to win, but if you didn't do it that time, i would take my winning and hit the road. Cole 'TheConArtist'

At what point to you decide to quit winner? How can you bust a guy if you quit? Also, how do know if you have a guy stuck and he gets back to even or maybe ahead, you won't get him stuck again and finish him off this time. You don't know what kind of player you are if you don't give yourself a chance to play the game out. You will just think any time a guy gets back to even you had stuck are going to lose now and that is not always the case but how are you ever to know. I am not being critical you can play by what ever personal rules you have set for yourself but you may be a tougher player then you think and will never know it if you don't try.
 
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Opie said:
O.k., tonight I gambled with a guy that I have played many times before. Anyway, I was playing pretty poorly and got down like 12 games. We played for a while and I fought and clawed my way back to being only 2 games down. Then all of a sudden he breaks his cue down and says he's done. I was like, wtf? He says we could play one game double or nothing and like a dumbass I said yes and ended up losing that rack. But the last rack aside, don't you guys think it's messed up to quit winner on somebody like that? I mean I played my ass off trying to get back to even and then when I'm 2 games away he breaks down his cue. I've played him alot before, won probably 85%, but I've never quit winner on him or anybody else I've played. I just think it's kinda cheap. What do you guys think?


What pisses me off is when you're playing by the game for $5 or $10 or cheap sets and a guy get down and he thinks he owns you for the rest of the night.

I think the gentlmenly thing to do is say to him something like "George, we're going back and forth. How much longer can you play for?" If he says a short time, suggest doubling the bet and set a quitting time. If he says there is no limit, then quits you 20 minutes later, then you have a beef. It's more effective if his name really is George.

Chris
 
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There is only 3 ways to quit.

Opie said:
O.k., tonight I gambled with a guy that I have played many times before. Anyway, I was playing pretty poorly and got down like 12 games. We played for a while and I fought and clawed my way back to being only 2 games down. Then all of a sudden he breaks his cue down and says he's done. I was like, wtf? He says we could play one game double or nothing and like a dumbass I said yes and ended up losing that rack. But the last rack aside, don't you guys think it's messed up to quit winner on somebody like that? I mean I played my ass off trying to get back to even and then when I'm 2 games away he breaks down his cue. I've played him alot before, won probably 85%, but I've never quit winner on him or anybody else I've played. I just think it's kinda cheap. What do you guys think?

There is only 3 ways to quit. Either winners, losers, or even. I prefer winners.
I ALWAYS STATE BEFORE THE GAMES START - ANYONE CAN QUIT ANYTIME THEY WANT FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER EXCEPT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME OR SET.

TY & GL
 
You had a chance to win every game you played, but didnt. He should be able to quit when ever he wants to.

Too many times I kept playing when I was up but had gotten tired because I didnt want to quit ahead. I have learned from my mistakes.
 
quitting?

in my experience...quitting while you are up will only cause a fight. you also lose alot of games this way, because reputations follow you. your opponent could have beat you every game, but obviously didn't have the chance. I'm just saying if you only have so much time or whatever...set a time limit when you start. you don't have to play all night because you're down, break even and quit. if you are up and want to quit without a fight, tell your opponent you are going to forfeit your winnings, and be nice about it. I've heard about too many arguments or fights because of this. I DON'T recommend it. :(
 
Old Pathetic Gamblers Plea: Ya gotta gimme a chance ta get even.
The answer to this is of course "BULLSHIT"....why?
Because of Grandpas Old Saying: Quit while you're ahead.
 
i sometimes get angry when someone quits ahead, but i guess everyone does.

ask yourself though:

if you were in vegas playing blackjack, and you were up on the house 15 thousand, and you started having a streak of bad luck.......would you stand up before you lost all of it back and let the house get "even" or would you lose it all back???

myself personally, i'd leave while i was ahead. this is what that guy did to you.

besides, if you win 85 percent........hell you'll get it back and more next week.


i'll tell you what is fu&^ed up. last night a friend of mine was playing a guy cheap. the guy quit after losing 20 bucks (which would have pissed me off to begin with, cause he would have kept playing if he was winning) then while my friend was taking his cue apart, the guy walked over to the counter, paid for his beer, and left my friend stuck with the 17 dollar table time!!!!

now that is something to be pissed about.

VAP
 
Opie said:
Well, I guess you're right. But I just thought it sucked because I had worked so hard to try to get back to even and then he just broke his cue down without any warning. I think he mainly did it because the momentum in the match had changed pretty drastically and I guess he wanted to walk away with something. I should have passed on the double or nothing proposition.

this reminds me of a super bowl.... stopped on the one whith time running out.

almost a great come back.

if your 85% winner why worrie anyway?
 
Getting even...

Itengrity is interpreted differently by all people, and I am not one to judge others.

I grew up playing with this understanding about being matched up -

1. Never quit ahead.

2. If you want to quit when ahead, ask your opponent if you can start up where you left off at a later time.

3. Let your opponent make the call about quiting. In other words, bury your opponent so deep that they can't take anymore punishment.

This has been a very successful practice of mine and is considered being gentleman like. The benefits to these rules are as follows -

1. Youll never be called a nit.

2. If you restart at a later time, your really not quiting. On the occasion your opponent agrees, I do recommend that the money (owed) be held by a third party until you restart and complete the match-up.

3. If your opponent says no, then bury 'em. If you are not successful then at least you gave yourself the best chance to take down an optimum score.
 
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He gave you the double or nothing chance to even up the money when you admittedly state you had the momentum. He did nothing wrong here, had you stated he was up 12 games, you ran a 4 pack, and he just quit without giving you a chance to get even I would be on your side but in the situation you stated he did nothing wrong at all, more then I can say for you for taking the whole thing and posting it on here.

If I am up in $ and start to get tired I always tell the guy it is the last set or that I only have one more set in me. If he wants to try to double or nothing I may do it, or I may say no and tell him that instead he can attempt to get the cash back next time as I will play the same sets and stakes. Just because you are up does not mean you are at the beck and call of the loser.
 
Congratulations to All

When I saw this post, I would have bet pretty good that the advice would have been the opposite of what I found. I think we are growing as a sport that is ruled by logic and common sense when the "old hustler's ploy" is generally refuted by the participants. Those guys can keep their "heart", I'll stick with "smart".

Of course he can quit whenever he gets ready...gambling under any other presumption would be highjacking.

You, of course, are free to feel however you choose...but remember...we are defined by our choices.

I am bad to take the worst of a game (in my estimation) when I get a chance to play someone "on my list" or, for that matter, someone new. In this situation, I take a different view than I might with a regular game for friendly stakes...but I have seen a couple "regular, friendly" games get serious over next to nothing...mostly egos colliding.

There are lots of different types of people who are attracted to the money side of this game for lots of different types of reasons. I prefer to consider matching-up at pool more like "wagering" than "gambling" because it is based on skill rather than luck. Unlike what a couple of people suggested, I do not think anyone is owed a spot or any other kind of special consideration (like adjusting a spot) because they choose to play. People tend to get what they need whether they realize it or not.

Just my opinion, you be the judge.
 
Opie said:
Well, I guess you're right. But I just thought it sucked because I had worked so hard to try to get back to even and then he just broke his cue down without any warning.QUOTE]

Shut the fuck up! When you gamble, you go into a set knowing that you may lose money. I hate gambling on pool, because people bitch and moan if you quit while you're up. Well you wanna know something? I'm not gambling to be your friend, I'm doing it to try and take your money. And why are you bitching about how hard you had to work? What about how hard he had to work to beat you?

It's people like you that made me quit gambling pool, and go to poker.
 
Think Ahead

Gambling on a pool game has always caused these kinds of problems.
If you are a smart gambler, arrange things AHEAD of time. These suggestions are nothing new; I'm sure they have been posted here many times....I have been in both types of situations in the past....Once, in playing short sets, my opponent won 3 sets in a row and quit because "he had to run and do some kind of chore." He was back the following week, looking for more action .....He never got another game from me again. Secondly, it seems that when you have played a long session (3-4 hours) and are ahead, people don't want you to quit....as though you are never supposed to quit until you are losers....I don't agree with that either...SOOOOOOOOO....make your arrangements AHEAD of time....If it's significant stakes, POST THE MONEY BEFORE EVERY SET....If you intend to leave after a certain time or number of sets, say so....then there should be no argument later..
 
First, as others have pointed out, when you have somebody who loses 85% of the time they can do whatever they want and you like it.

Second, if you EVER catch yourself saying to yourself "He's got to give me a shot at my money back..." stop right there and rethink. It isn't your money. It is his. The decision is whether he wants to give you a shot at his money. It is dangerous to think of lost money as your money for a lot of reasons. Gambling isn't an entitlement like welfare. ;)
 
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