upping the bet

J

Joules

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Scenario:

Waitress sets you up a match - you play heads up win $200.

You spot him the call 7 in 9 ball - lose $100.

You play even and win $100.

This is either race to 5 or 7.. or $20 a game pay after someone is up $100. I really feel like I can beat him heads up. This is over 2 sessions. He wants to play 7 ahead for $2k. I'm 85% sure i'm better than him. Almost stealing heads up. Would you take the bet?

btw - i'm a B- player - he is C++? - this is bar box 9 ball winner breaks rack you own.

I really feel like he is a hot head with money to burn - Would you play or would you just play cheap and try to meet up every week? (cheap being 300ish)

Anyone hustle and lose over 2 or 3 weeks to up the bet for a big score? I don't think this is what he is doing but have my guard up.

Thanks
 
Even if he isn't hustling you, the difference in skill isn't enough for you to be stealing anything, especially not $2k. If you do go ahead with the match, I wouldn't go into it thinking I am definitely going to come out richer. That will just put more pressure on you than necessary and might cause you to dog it to him, especially if you need the money more than he does.
 
Joules said:
Scenario:

Waitress sets you up a match - you play heads up win $200.

You spot him the call 7 in 9 ball - lose $100.

You play even and win $100.

This is either race to 5 or 7.. or $20 a game pay after someone is up $100. I really feel like I can beat him heads up. This is over 2 sessions. He wants to play 7 ahead for $2k. I'm 85% sure i'm better than him. Almost stealing heads up. Would you take the bet?

btw - i'm a B- player - he is C++? - this is bar box 9 ball winner breaks rack you own.

I really feel like he is a hot head with money to burn - Would you play or would you just play cheap and try to meet up every week? (cheap being 300ish)

Anyone hustle and lose over 2 or 3 weeks to up the bet for a big score? I don't think this is what he is doing but have my guard up.

Thanks
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Not gonna comment on the hustle and lose to make a big score bullshit but as to the other... 7 ahead yeah I might jump but only if I know that won't kill the action.... I would much rather have a happy customer that keeps coming back and matching up and adjusting that will lose 200-300 every time than taking him off and moving him on to someone else because I reached too deep in his pocket.... I'd likely say 5 ahead for $600 if I was up $300.... And then I would try to keep him at 5 ahead for $300 after tonight with small adjustments.... Just think about the lose idea and score big... Maybe he slow rolled you... your up 200 and feeling froggy?? Laying down is for the dogs.......
 
I've taken the bet. I don't really mind gambling for 2k. I don't think the money will be an issue in my mind. I'm more worried about getting home with it if I win. Also - i think he will want to move to a 9 foot table if I win instead of killing the action. It's really hard to say - i think 7 ahead is a big enough difference that i'm definitely favored - i just don't like doing it with knowing everyone that well.

I can still back out at this point since we wont really post until next Tuesday.
 
From $20 a game to 2k for 7 ahead is a big jump for someone that lost playing even. Just from what you wrote, I wouldn't jump on the 2k bet.

Is the waitress a friend of yours or his?
 
Here are some things to think about:
!. You are a B-, he is a C++? How are these ratings done? Simple eyeball-observation evaluation? If so, As pointed out above, you have little advantage. I would say no advantage as you really do not know this guys true speed.
2. You are playing $20/game (5 for $100) and he wants to go to $2000/7...that is almost $300 game? He wants to go over 10 times the bet.....doesn't that seen a litte odd? Why were you not playing $40-50/game 5 ahead?
3. Something does not pass the whiff test. IF you win, is he $2k and out, my guess yes. However, I am not so sure you win.
4. What is wrong with 5 ahead for $300-$500? See where it goes? BTW, this is still a substantial increase from where you were.
5. If you win you can shear a lamb over and over......you can only kill him once.

Good luck. I look forward to hearing how you do.

PS: my assumption here is the $2K in meaningful in your gambling bankroll management, if not, we are are back to the why were you playing for $20?
 
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I want to know where there are C players playing for 2000??? If hes willing to post several sets, Im your Paladin.......


Seriously though, unless you are stupid rich or dont care about money 2000 causes some stress. Especially if youre not used to betting in that neighborhood. I dont bet big anymore, but when I did anything over 500 had me very aware of my surroundings. I can tell you to bet it and forget it all day long, but its a learned skill, not just a catch phrase.
Chuck
 
This is just me,but if I had 2k on me I could bet and not have to worry about getting home,eating,etc,I wouldn't care if it was Orcullo laying down the all-time greatest stall,I wouldn't hesitate to send it IN,in the same spot.

Nick Varner told me over 20 years ago that if you are truly dominating a guy playing even,that the smart,consistent player should be able to give the same guy up to and including the 5 ball wild and STILL beat him. That also takes into consideration the fact that both players are 100% trying to win,and not laying down a lemon.

On the other hand,he may be laying down some,he thinks you don't know it yet,and is putting you to a decision for 2 large. He thinks you'll say yes almost immediately.

This is where your game-making skills are in the fire. Saying yes too fast CAN and HAS affected the outcome of the pool about to be played many times in the past,for better or worse.

What you do from here is up to you,hopefully it happens in the future so you can find out,but if it was me we'd be talking about it in past tense. Tommy D.
 
For two dimes, I wouldn't be playing 7 ahead on a barbox. That seems short. Seven ahead on a tight Diamond would be more appropriate, especially if you guys play close.

Barbox matches can be a coin flip.
 
To the OP, go for it. If you truly are better than him, slow playing it at 300 a week (and not winning every week) will take you months to get 2k. In this scenario, you get it in one night.
 
Forget the table size forget the bet forget the hustle , why are you concerned about getting home with the money if you win?
If you just think something might go south , thats one thing , if there have been indicators , that's another.
Winning money isn't worth getting killed or your brains beat out.
I
 
eager to see the outcome . . .

I think something is a little smelly here and not sure what. If he is seriously upping the bet that much and you can afford it bring enough to play a few sets. Also bring a couple of solid friends that ain't pool players or ain't known there to hang around nearby for if the poop hits the fan. Send them in earlier or later than you and don't indicate you are together. Once the dealing is done you can "notice your friends" and invite them to go with you to celebrate if you take it down. If you take down the cash you can afford to spread a little jelly.

Back in the day laying down awhile to try to take off somebody for real money was a common ploy of small time hustlers. By now you should know his real speed and he should know yours. That isn't indicated just by wins or losses. Either he thinks the big bet will cause you to tighten up or he has a gear he hasn't shown you. Possibly he is just a gambler with money to burn or a moron but I would say those are the longest shots.

If you have rated speeds correctly I wouldn't be afraid of seven ahead on a barbox. That is enough race the better man should win. If the C+ all of a sudden becomes a B+ you are in deep doo-doo though!

Hu
 
Joules said:
Scenario:

Waitress sets you up a match - you play heads up win $200.

You spot him the call 7 in 9 ball - lose $100.

You play even and win $100.

This is either race to 5 or 7.. or $20 a game pay after someone is up $100. I really feel like I can beat him heads up. This is over 2 sessions. He wants to play 7 ahead for $2k. I'm 85% sure i'm better than him. Almost stealing heads up. Would you take the bet?

btw - i'm a B- player - he is C++? - this is bar box 9 ball winner breaks rack you own.

I really feel like he is a hot head with money to burn - Would you play or would you just play cheap and try to meet up every week? (cheap being 300ish)

Anyone hustle and lose over 2 or 3 weeks to up the bet for a big score? I don't think this is what he is doing but have my guard up.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Play for all you can while you can. When he realizes he can't win, you will lose your fish. Commiserate with his misses and let him know when you get lucky. He is getting weight so go ahead and be the boss. Play lock safes, not just okay ones. On a barbox you should runout more consistently than him. If you spot him balls, manage their position after the break when needed. Pocket them to spot or move them on the pushout.

Make it a long set for big cash or first to win 2 sets out or 3, going to 9 games. If you really are better and can cover the spot it will be easy.
 
It's not a sure thing. There is some gamble there. I figure we would both bring enough to fire twice. I'm just not used to having $4-8k out at the bar. That makes me a little nervous. Not that I get a bad feeling from him at all - just not used to having that much in cash out.

The bet came up from arguing over the spot for next week. I would rather play for $700/7 ahead but I don't want to give him the 7 ball for that bet. The only way he will play even is for the big bet.
 
Joules said:
It's not a sure thing. There is some gamble there. I figure we would both bring enough to fire twice. I'm just not used to having $4-8k out at the bar. That makes me a little nervous. Not that I get a bad feeling from him at all - just not used to having that much in cash out.

The bet came up from arguing over the spot for next week. I would rather play for $700/7 ahead but I don't want to give him the 7 ball for that bet. The only way he will play even is for the big bet.
Click to expand...

Just nut up and play the man even. You have to give the customer what he wants. If you are better and he will play even for the bigger cash, you have your answer. Just go in there and be the boss. If he tries anything shady, shut him down immediately or just fade it. Any moves people make is because they are weak, let it fuel you to play better.

Hire a big Samoan to hold the cash.
 
It is amazing how much one improves after you accept their raised stakes. I hope you don't come back on here afterwards and tell us how you can't believe how well he played.

I could get into the stakes management discussion, but you should already know that since you are gambling big. Only rule with someone new in this situation, even if he isn't trying to hustle you, don't give him the opportunity to win it all back in one set, which you are really going past here. He might get lucky.
 
The most important thing is for you to be comfortable with how you matched up. Every time I matched up poorly I was uncomfortable from the start. Now the bigger the stakes the less risk should be involved, the more risk than the smaller the stakes. It's a good rule to gamble by, I haven't matched up poorly in a couple of years now because of this.
 
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