What do I do ?
- Thread starter measureman
- Start date
Update.
He asked to play yesterday but said we must adjust.
We settled on him getting 9-7.
We played for 5 hours and broke even.
At one point I was down 4 games.
Giving two balls to a player that plays pretty good is tough.
I had to stop shooting low percentage shots and be very careful.
It made me bear down and try to play smarter.
Bearing down was easy,playing smarter not so much.
He asked to play yesterday but said we must adjust.
We settled on him getting 9-7.
We played for 5 hours and broke even.
At one point I was down 4 games.
Giving two balls to a player that plays pretty good is tough.
I had to stop shooting low percentage shots and be very careful.
It made me bear down and try to play smarter.
Bearing down was easy,playing smarter not so much.
Prob better get out now. You are obviously in a long con. My guess he is after the mighty Lucassi
I’ve played cripples in wheelchairs who wouldn’t accept a spot no matter how high the stakes (the challenge is obviously more important to them than the money). Continually trying to force a spot on someone like that would constitute an insult to their honor.
Every time I gave able-bodied lesser players a spot, I always ended up playing worse, not better (go figure). A lose/lose situation overall. When the lesser player does win, his gratification is dampened (unless the money is his only incentive). When YOU win, the resulting overconfidence can come back to bite you.
Every time I gave able-bodied lesser players a spot, I always ended up playing worse, not better (go figure). A lose/lose situation overall. When the lesser player does win, his gratification is dampened (unless the money is his only incentive). When YOU win, the resulting overconfidence can come back to bite you.
I had an out-of-state guy here on AZB that was coming to my area for something work related. He posted on here looking for a friendly money game while he was here.
I posted that I don't really gamble at anything, but if he would contact me when he hit town that I'd play him for some small stakes, just for the heck of it.
Well, he called and we met up at a popular Arlington pool hall (one reputed for action). I brought $100 in twenties with me knowing that I wasn't going to make it home with any of it.
We played 9-ball, short races to 7 for $20 a set. I didn't completely embarrass myself, won some of the games but lost all five sets (and expectedly, my $100). I paid promptly after each set.
After the second set, he asked me if I wanted a spot and I refused. I had always heard the hogwash that gambling on pool will make you bear down and play better (well...it didn't in MY case) and I wanted to test that theory out.
At the end of the afternoon, I shook the guy's hand and thanked him for the couple of hours we shared playing. I wasn't remorseful for having lost a mere $100. I was actually happy to have gotten out of the house and had the opportunity to play. At that time I was spending a lot of time alone as my wife spent a lot of her free time over at her disabled mother's house doing caretaker duty.
The point I'm trying to convey is that if someone doesn't mind losing small money, it may be because he just wants to spend some quality time at the pool hall as opposed to maybe sitting at home and being bored. He don't need any spot, he just needs some quality time with a more-than-capable opponent. If he's like me, I'd much rather play someone better than me as opposed to someone worse.
But...now that you (measureman) are giving him 9-7 it sounds like things will be better for the both of you in future sessions.
Maniac
I posted that I don't really gamble at anything, but if he would contact me when he hit town that I'd play him for some small stakes, just for the heck of it.
Well, he called and we met up at a popular Arlington pool hall (one reputed for action). I brought $100 in twenties with me knowing that I wasn't going to make it home with any of it.
We played 9-ball, short races to 7 for $20 a set. I didn't completely embarrass myself, won some of the games but lost all five sets (and expectedly, my $100). I paid promptly after each set.
After the second set, he asked me if I wanted a spot and I refused. I had always heard the hogwash that gambling on pool will make you bear down and play better (well...it didn't in MY case) and I wanted to test that theory out.
At the end of the afternoon, I shook the guy's hand and thanked him for the couple of hours we shared playing. I wasn't remorseful for having lost a mere $100. I was actually happy to have gotten out of the house and had the opportunity to play. At that time I was spending a lot of time alone as my wife spent a lot of her free time over at her disabled mother's house doing caretaker duty.
The point I'm trying to convey is that if someone doesn't mind losing small money, it may be because he just wants to spend some quality time at the pool hall as opposed to maybe sitting at home and being bored. He don't need any spot, he just needs some quality time with a more-than-capable opponent. If he's like me, I'd much rather play someone better than me as opposed to someone worse.
But...now that you (measureman) are giving him 9-7 it sounds like things will be better for the both of you in future sessions.
Maniac
Prob better get out now. You are obviously in a long con. My guess he is after the mighty Lucassi
If he wants the mighty Lucasi he needs to bring a gun.
But I dont think thats the case.
He plays with a real nice Kikel thats worth over 2K.
Giving him 9-7 made me bear down.
Playing him even I was just on cruise control.
I think this new match up will elevate my one hole game.
Measureman detests losing even playing fun pool.
First off, $5 ...does not matter win or lose to most and certainly sounds like he doesn't care at all.
Now, putting money aside, what if Efren was willing to play you in 1hole for $5 a game but only even up since the bet was so cheap, would you play EFREN?
I know I would. I have and other pros as well for more. Not a lot more. Usually you can get most pros to play for $100 to $200 a set. Example: 9 and 10 ball.........race to 9 or 11, 1Hole, race to 5 or three ahead.
Maybe this guy just likes being under pressure. Then again, maybe he is not convinced that you play any better than he does.
If he thinks he can play even with you and you do not want to keep it even, well, beat the living crap out of him.
Keep him in his seat and unless he is there for the same reason I would play Alex or Dennis even-up (remember cheap sets here), he is living in never-never land and if you do not take it......somebody else will. After all, it's just $5 and like I said, he doesn't seem to care either way.
To me, bottom line: if he is learning, it's cheap. Even if he's not learning anything, it's still cheap.
Rake
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Update
since we changed the game to me giving him 9-7 last summer.
we have played almost every Saturday since and I have not booked a losing day.
in fact I keep an eye on the beads and when i get up over 6 games I go gunslinger and get a little wild so he can win a few back.
i try to stay 4 or 5 ahead.
i know it's only $5 a game but I hate to lose even fun pool.
since we changed the game to me giving him 9-7 last summer.
we have played almost every Saturday since and I have not booked a losing day.
in fact I keep an eye on the beads and when i get up over 6 games I go gunslinger and get a little wild so he can win a few back.
i try to stay 4 or 5 ahead.
i know it's only $5 a game but I hate to lose even fun pool.
Yeah, maybe he's looking to have just one winning session. I think it might be better for both of you to adjust the spot again, though.Carefull if you lose he may quit
...
That guy sounds like me....for 5 dollars a game I’d rather lose every game instead using a damn handicap system. The lesson and playing with good company is well worth the money lost, or in my case, I don’t really consider that lost at all. It’s money well spent.
I've been trying to improve enough to get my regular one-pocket sparring partner to insist on reducing my spot. Maybe I don't get this spot stuff...?
pj
chgo
The problem at one pocket is exactly what the OP described. Without any pressure, he shoots the wrong shots. That's bad for both players.
We now play 9-7
So how to adjust?
10-7
9-6
Keep it 9-7 and give him all the breaks?
The last game we played my first inning I ran 5 balls
Second inning 4 and out.
It was the easiest game after 7 hours of play,I was out of gas.
We do play on a standard size pocket Diamond,so its not that hard.
I'm not that good.
So says every pool player that walks out of the pool hall with a fistful of money.
Maniac (has never experienced that)
9-6 would be the adjustment better for him
10-7 would be better for you
since 1 less ball for him means more....
than one more ball for you
when he goes to 7 each ball is 14% of his total
when you go to 9 ieach ball is 11% of your total
You can go ahead and keep the 9-7 spot, but also tell him that you’re no longer going to shoot more than 3 safe’s in a row. That still allows him to feel some pressure, but now you’ll feel more pressure.
From what you have described, 10-7 would probably be fair or give you an edge, but you could to 9-7 on his break, 10-7 on your break.