Taking Money From A Kid
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dont feel guilty
#1 you bet with his dad
#2 based on the kids attitude im not sure i would go out of the way to help him
you tried
#3 if the kid won do you think they would feel guilty
or if the kid was keith mcready or a young shannon daulton where they were robbing you do you think they would feel guilty
#4 really you did the kid and his dad a favor by showing them the kid is nowhere ready to play with "the big boys"
for $500 that was a good deal for them...
Sounds to me like the kid didn't learn anything.
2strong4u
Banned
I played one of the supposed up and coming young players at Super Billiards Expo a few years back in the open. The kid was 17 and had his mom and other family members watching. They had a tripod setup, recording the match.
The kid was cocky so I figured maybe he could play a little. I've played under pressure, for money for years. So I took this all as motivation. I don't recall the score but it wasn't close. Not sure he every made 4 balls in a row.
I had a similar experience playing a lady pro in a tournament. Beat her 7 to 2.
It's funny when people have more attitude than game.
As far as gambling with this kids dad, I'd say offer him more weight and rob them. No better way for him to learn than by playing under pressure and losing once in awhile.
The kid was cocky so I figured maybe he could play a little. I've played under pressure, for money for years. So I took this all as motivation. I don't recall the score but it wasn't close. Not sure he every made 4 balls in a row.
I had a similar experience playing a lady pro in a tournament. Beat her 7 to 2.
It's funny when people have more attitude than game.
As far as gambling with this kids dad, I'd say offer him more weight and rob them. No better way for him to learn than by playing under pressure and losing once in awhile.
Given the situation you described, i don't think you did anything wrong. It sounds like his father wanted to get his son some experience and he decided to put him in the box. I don't think the dollar (or whatever currency) amount matters, because 500 means different things to different people.
In terms of gambling with an unaccompanied minor, i tend to stay away from that. I have been approached by more than one kid looking to gamble and i tell them all the same thing, "Come back when you are 18".
In terms of gambling with an unaccompanied minor, i tend to stay away from that. I have been approached by more than one kid looking to gamble and i tell them all the same thing, "Come back when you are 18".
A free ball as in the kid screws up position on the black but can elect a free ball and pot any other ball on the table as if it was the black but you don't score any points from it. It's simply used to carry a break on. It's a common spot I give to friends when playing.
Normal for a kid-they know everything-I know i did!!
We all have to pay tuition at some point as aspiring players. When I was in my teens, my father encouraged me to gamble to help develop my game in that way, but he also made me play on my own money. That way all the decisions I made as a teen were just that, my own. It forced me to develop my skills and not be the "didn't wanna hear it" / didn't wanna learn type that the Op posted in his story. Adapt or die, develop or go broke. Learn or be left behind. It worked out for me.
If a civilian pointing a gun is no longer a civilian regardless of age, does that mean a kid pool player with money trying to match up is no longer a kid in terms of responsibility? I kinda think so, but that's just me. I'm sure there's plenty of disagreement on this one.
In pool once you're willing to bet, you take responsibility regardless of your age. As the adult whether you choose to matchup with the kid is entirely your decision for a variety of reasons. But winning some money off him is on him, not you. Again, just my opinion.
If a civilian pointing a gun is no longer a civilian regardless of age, does that mean a kid pool player with money trying to match up is no longer a kid in terms of responsibility? I kinda think so, but that's just me. I'm sure there's plenty of disagreement on this one.
In pool once you're willing to bet, you take responsibility regardless of your age. As the adult whether you choose to matchup with the kid is entirely your decision for a variety of reasons. But winning some money off him is on him, not you. Again, just my opinion.
I don't play kids for money. I may come off as preachy, but that is not my intention. My moral decisions are made by first considering the golden rule, then the law and when neither can tell me what to do, I follow my gut. In practice I ask myself "If I do this, will I feel like a despicable human being?". I does not matter what a bunch of anonymous guys on a forum thinks, or even your friends what matters is your standards and your feelings. You are the one that has to live with the decisions you make. Don't let others lower your standards. I suspect that several on this forum would not only have robbed the kid blind, but one or two would probably consider breaking his legs if he could not pay it all there and then. Luckily it's hard to get away with that kind of thing, because that is all that's stopping them. Psychopaths walk among us, and they have on occation given themselves away on this very forum...
If you have to do something you don't approve of, let it be for good reasons, like the health and well being of your loved ones. Some things should never be done, period. I don't know about you but 500 pounds won't do anything to improve my standard of living, not even short term. My integrity and sense of pride is not for sale that cheaply, and I suspect neither are yours. I'm not stating that gambling with kids are flat out wrong in all circumstances, just that if it makes you feel bad, you should stop and think about why that is. Your conscience is trying to tell you something.
Just by asking the question, you have revealed that you were not comfortable doing this, so let that be the take away message. Your own conscience does not approve. Ergo, you should not do it.
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you're fine. it was a good lesson for all 3 of them! the kid was taken down a notch, and his backers learned to be more careful with their money.
my son's been playing me for money since he was 12 (now almost 15). i agreed, to teach him the value of money & hazards of gambling. we play for $0.25/game, 9B, even - and he has to post $2.00.
i'll shoot only cuts or banks/kicks. it's good for me, and shows him other options aside from obvious ins. after he's won a few games (we pay up after each), he starts challenging himself in more difficult shots. when he makes them, we cheer him on.
but if he gets lazy & isn't paying attention to a money game, i'll get ahead by a few balls.
and if he gets cocky, i'll run the table till he's busted or changes his attitude. 
we usually stay even or he's up maybe $1.00 - keeps it fun & helps him on many levels.
and then he immediately blows his winnings at the gumball machine!
my son's been playing me for money since he was 12 (now almost 15). i agreed, to teach him the value of money & hazards of gambling. we play for $0.25/game, 9B, even - and he has to post $2.00.
i'll shoot only cuts or banks/kicks. it's good for me, and shows him other options aside from obvious ins. after he's won a few games (we pay up after each), he starts challenging himself in more difficult shots. when he makes them, we cheer him on.
but if he gets lazy & isn't paying attention to a money game, i'll get ahead by a few balls.
and if he gets cocky, i'll run the table till he's busted or changes his attitude. we usually stay even or he's up maybe $1.00 - keeps it fun & helps him on many levels. and then he immediately blows his winnings at the gumball machine!
You should have hustled them all, robbed them.
You should have taken every penny and then some, have them foaming from the nose, licking the ATM machine.
Then slap the piss out of the father for putting his 15 yr old kid in the box and anybody else involved.
How does it turn out?
The kid gets better because he was playing with daddys cash, doubtful, the kid turns out to be a piece of crap pool player, sucking wind for lunch money.
The future star of the next Pool Hall Junkies
Let the kid go to work and play with his own cash, when he gets robbed for 500 maybe he will learn something.
It's a fine line betting cash as a young teenager, trust me I did plenty.
The kid didn't learn a thing, daddy should be slapped.
You should have taken every penny and then some, have them foaming from the nose, licking the ATM machine.
Then slap the piss out of the father for putting his 15 yr old kid in the box and anybody else involved.
How does it turn out?
The kid gets better because he was playing with daddys cash, doubtful, the kid turns out to be a piece of crap pool player, sucking wind for lunch money.
The future star of the next Pool Hall Junkies
Let the kid go to work and play with his own cash, when he gets robbed for 500 maybe he will learn something.
It's a fine line betting cash as a young teenager, trust me I did plenty.
The kid didn't learn a thing, daddy should be slapped.
No, I haven't had a similar experience, but I would have handled it precisely as you did. :yes:
JoeyA
JoeyA
What a friggin' wet blanket!
Right on point!
That would be a GREAT sequel!!!
That's what I was thinking. Not all 15 year old kids are helpless or mediocre at Pool. I've seen several in my life that it would take a world class player to beat. The OP is fortunate that he didn't catch Stephen Hendry at 15! Or Jimmy White. Age is not a requirement for good pool playing. Allen Hopkins was robbing a lot of veteran players at 14.1 when he was 15. Miizerak was nearing legendary status at the same age, running hundreds daily. Keith was robbing Pay Ball games with the world's top players at 15. And the beat goes on! :grin:
I personally am not sure how I'd feel or what I'd do these days. But on the flip side I started gambling in the pool halls when I was 13 and it used to piss me off bad when someone would say that to me - I ain't playing no kid. I'd tell them hey my money is as green as anyone's, what u scared? Win or lose it also kinda felt like a badge of honor getting to play some of the big boys at the time.
Don't know if he was on their level but do you know / remember Jason Hill when he was 15 Jay?
I'm not sure there is a need to feel bad. Who knows the exact situation. Maybe this kids' dream is to become a world champ and wants to get in there and start early! 
It's just money, and if he does become a superstar you will have a cool story I don;t think this has to be some huge thing to feel terrible about or anything.
It's just money, and if he does become a superstar you will have a cool story I don;t think this has to be some huge thing to feel terrible about or anything.
Who knows how long the kid had been gambling. He made a break of 106 against me so I'd say it didn't seem to phase him so he must have had previous experience. The father didn't seem all that bothered about losing either which led me to believe he'd backed his son before and has probably won more than he lost as the kid could play a little.