Starting out in Money Games
- Thread starter mszelis
- Start date
You got three options:
1) make a game which you can win;
2) play for less;
3) don't gamble;
Whatever your choice, I'd advise you to stay at or close to your comfort level. From there you can begin pushing the boundaries upward as your confidence goes up. Whatever it is, don't succumb to peer pressure.
1) make a game which you can win;
2) play for less;
3) don't gamble;
Whatever your choice, I'd advise you to stay at or close to your comfort level. From there you can begin pushing the boundaries upward as your confidence goes up. Whatever it is, don't succumb to peer pressure.
Many, many, MANY years ago, Ray Martin advised me to not play by the game. Play sets for a set amount instead. His thinking was, that you could dick around all night by the game. Playing sets, you win or lose something instead of going back and forth winning one, losing one, all night. As for how much, whatever you can afford to lose.
good answer
Excellent answer. Stay at your comfort level. If that is a dollar or two a game, don't move from there. If the guy wants to play for ten dollars a game and you aren't comfortable with that amount, stretch the bet into ten a set, race to as many games as you are comfortable with. Are you willing to wager ten dollars on being able to win seven games before the other player does? Race to seven.
If you just don't feel comfortable betting ten dollars on anything, don't do it. Your unease is giving the other player an edge.
Hu
lewdo26 said:
Excellent answer. Stay at your comfort level. If that is a dollar or two a game, don't move from there. If the guy wants to play for ten dollars a game and you aren't comfortable with that amount, stretch the bet into ten a set, race to as many games as you are comfortable with. Are you willing to wager ten dollars on being able to win seven games before the other player does? Race to seven.
If you just don't feel comfortable betting ten dollars on anything, don't do it. Your unease is giving the other player an edge.
Hu
mszelis said:
If you play for $10 a game and lose the first 6 games then you are stuck $60 which may in fact be your max based on your college student reference. However, play sets for $20 race to 5 or race to 7 and you can play for a longer period of time and not get hurt. You could even quit after the first or 2nd set or try and get a spot or spot adjustment depending on how you are feeling and playing and how your bankroll is holding up.
You need to 'gamble' with somebody that is not trying to quickly beat you out of $50 or $60 but rather play with someone that whats to be in cheap action to tune their game and stay on their toes (like you!)
2 things
Shane gave good advice. Of course, if all you have is $10 in your pocket, stick to $1 or $2 a game. If you have $30, stick with $5 game max.
2 things you need to know - How good you are and how good your opponent is, and sometimes you have to get another player's opinion of both, because ego comes into play here.
shanesinnott said:
Shane gave good advice. Of course, if all you have is $10 in your pocket, stick to $1 or $2 a game. If you have $30, stick with $5 game max.
2 things you need to know - How good you are and how good your opponent is, and sometimes you have to get another player's opinion of both, because ego comes into play here.
I was in your situation not too long ago. I wasn't comfortable playing 10-20/game considering I would only have 40-60 when I went to play pool. So I would play sets or $2/game. You have to stay in your comfort zone then up it to where you feel a little bit of pressure.
Depends on if you want to play for a long time for little money, or not. I always bet as much as I can because I might win, and one of us will not want to play much after we find out who the better player is. Here are my thoughts:
The better player will prevail in a 20-ahead stretch. I always match up to find out who the better player is. I make the bet based on what I will be willing to lose if I am not the better player.
You should bet per game based on 15 to 20 times what you want to risk losing to the person.
If you are willing to lose $200, then bet $10 a game. If you only want to risk $20, then bet $2 a game.
If you get beat doing this, then you don't need to be playing that person any more. =)
The better player will prevail in a 20-ahead stretch. I always match up to find out who the better player is. I make the bet based on what I will be willing to lose if I am not the better player.
You should bet per game based on 15 to 20 times what you want to risk losing to the person.
If you are willing to lose $200, then bet $10 a game. If you only want to risk $20, then bet $2 a game.
If you get beat doing this, then you don't need to be playing that person any more. =)
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$10 per game can turn into a couple hundred...extremely fast.
Determine what you can loose and divide that by 10.
If you can afford to loose $100 then play for $10 a game.
Now that being said, if you find that you are getting "the best of it" feel free press the bet.
As said earlier, playing sets are better than playing by the game. I usually like to have a bank roll to cover at least 3 sets.
If you can afford to loose $100 then play for $10 a game.
Now that being said, if you find that you are getting "the best of it" feel free press the bet.
As said earlier, playing sets are better than playing by the game. I usually like to have a bank roll to cover at least 3 sets.
mszelis said:
If you want to gamble, then my suggestion is that you determine a maximum amount you can afford to lose then give yourself some playing time with it. Like, say you can lost $50 tonight, play for $5 a game and quit 10 games down.
FYI, 10 games down is a lot. If you have played your game and only last an hour, then you are outgunned. It should last at least several hours if you are close to your opponent.
If you can afford to lose $100, then $10 a game is fine.
Better to work your way up the ladder when it comes to gambling, because you will soon be accustomed to betting and it won't bother you as much.
FYI, betting makes all players nervous unless they have a lock on the game, even if they can afford it. The concept of losing money to another pool player is a real humiliating experience at first.
Chris
When i started to play guys at the pool hall, I began playing race to 4 or 5 for $ + Table time.
It was quick and cheap, and after a hour or so, if someone wanted to quit normally they was out at the most 30-40$
Now, the cheapest i go is 10$ sets race to 5. But i love playing 25-50$ sets on 9ft tables.
dave
It was quick and cheap, and after a hour or so, if someone wanted to quit normally they was out at the most 30-40$
Now, the cheapest i go is 10$ sets race to 5. But i love playing 25-50$ sets on 9ft tables.
dave
Gambling.
Back when I was in my 20's single games for cash was the way of the land. Sometimes I may have got up to $20 a game.
I've started playing more regularly again and now it seems a set for cash is the norm. I really don't like gambling anymore, but I'm constantly being asked to match up for cash. That's one thing I don't find appealing about pool rooms anymore. That and the smoke.
My suggestion is that most of the suggestions here are sound. Don't overextend yourself. That's true in all things.
Back when I was in my 20's single games for cash was the way of the land. Sometimes I may have got up to $20 a game.
I've started playing more regularly again and now it seems a set for cash is the norm. I really don't like gambling anymore, but I'm constantly being asked to match up for cash. That's one thing I don't find appealing about pool rooms anymore. That and the smoke.
My suggestion is that most of the suggestions here are sound. Don't overextend yourself. That's true in all things.
The bottom line is don't lose any more than what you can win back the next time out. if your playin sum1 and you figure he wont lose over 40 or fifty bucks then that shall be your limit too.
matching up with a strange opponent playing by the game can be tricky, i think its always better to play sets to get an idea of their speed first if you can. It seems alot of times when i hit a strange room, the guys who want to play by the game are looking for a quick hit, they will win 1000 off of you but if you get them 4 or 5 games stuck they pull up and quit or ask for a spot. Normally i wont even play by the game unless i really think i have the guy clocked.
like a few other people said i would sugguest playing by the set not the game i dont play money games yet cuz im not good enough but thats what im going to do when i play for money
one thing that hasnt been said is if u know the opp. speed and u think u can beat them and they will only play 10 a game no less then ask a frien to mayby go in half with u. just find out how much your parnter would risk loosing combine it with your bankroll and u have an idea on how many games u can afford to loose. i will agree with everyone else. dont loose more than u can afford to. also i will agree with playing by the set. good practice cheap and u can play many games. just my 2 cents added.
