What Weight? How to beat this guy?

G

GStrong

Registered
Hello everyone, I am fairly new to gambling, but play a fairly respectable game. Been playing for less than two years (APA 6, BCA 8) and #4 in my league of about 50 players.

Anyway, here is the situation: Yesterday, I decide to match with this young guy for a few cheap sets. Race to 3 for 10. He wins the first 2, I win one, he wins 2 more, so I am down $30. All very close matches, I ran out a couple times, but also dogged the 9 three times, and scratched 2 times.

So, I tell him that is enough for me unless I get some weight. We decide, I get the 7ball wild, he gets the breaks, for $10 a game, which is pretty hefty for me, but I liked my odds. Anyway, I win 2, he wins 1, I win 1, and he quits, saying that I am getting too much weight. I thought it was pretty even at this point.

So then, I agree to getting the breaks, plus ball in hand after the break for $5 bucks a rack. He takes another $20 and I call it quits. So, all in all, I am only down $30, but he is gonna be there again tonight.

My question is: What weight should I insist on? How do I beat this guy? I was really comfortable playing for any stake, when I was getting the 7, but I doubt he is gonna go for it. And, I don't think the 8 is enough. But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?

Thanks for any help.

Gary
 
Ask for the breaks and ask for just the 9 ball since that was the ball you were dogging.

if he doesnt go for it, give him the breaks.
 
GStrong said:
Hello everyone, I am fairly new to gambling, but play a fairly respectable game. Been playing for less than two years (APA 6, BCA 8) and #4 in my league of about 50 players.

Anyway, here is the situation: Yesterday, I decide to match with this young guy for a few cheap sets. Race to 3 for 10. He wins the first 2, I win one, he wins 2 more, so I am down $30. All very close matches, I ran out a couple times, but also dogged the 9 three times, and scratched 2 times.

So, I tell him that is enough for me unless I get some weight. We decide, I get the 7ball wild, he gets the breaks, for $10 a game, which is pretty hefty for me, but I liked my odds. Anyway, I win 2, he wins 1, I win 1, and he quits, saying that I am getting too much weight. I thought it was pretty even at this point.

So then, I agree to getting the breaks, plus ball in hand after the break for $5 bucks a rack. He takes another $20 and I call it quits. So, all in all, I am only down $30, but he is gonna be there again tonight.

My question is: What weight should I insist on? How do I beat this guy? I was really comfortable playing for any stake, when I was getting the 7, but I doubt he is gonna go for it. And, I don't think the 8 is enough. But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?

Thanks for any help.

Gary
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See if he will give up the call 7, if not get the break and the last two. You should come out all right if it was that close before.
 
GStrong said:
But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?
Click to expand...
How is gambling going to increase your concentration, if you've got the nuts. Try him longer sets with no spot. Being up against a tough spot will do more for your concentration. It depends on, do you want his cash, or do you want to improve your concentration?

Tracy
 
RSB-Refugee said:
How is gambling going to increase your concentration, if you've got the nuts. Try him longer sets with no spot. Being up against a tough spot will do more for your concentration. It depends on, do you want his cash, or do you want to improve your concentration?

Tracy
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I agree, the less spots you have the better it will be for your overall game, may not benefit your wallet though :D

Also I dont think your question should be "How to beat this guy" becuase it seems like he is going to quit if you start beating him. I think you should be asking "How to keep this guy in the action" and take his money slowly, if he thinks he is losing he is gonna quit like he almost did before when you had to change the weight.
 
davidhop said:
See if he will give up the call 7, if not get the break and the last two. You should come out all right if it was that close before.
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I agree. The call 7 or the break and last 2 should turn things in your favor.

Mike
 
I know this is a silly question, but when you say the "last two", what exactly does that mean. If the 7 & 8 stay on the table after the break, my money ball would then be the 7 or the 8? Can I play a combo/carom into the 7 or the 8 and win? Thanks.
 
Icon of Sin said:
Also I dont think your question should be "How to beat this guy" becuase it seems like he is going to quit if you start beating him. I think you should be asking "How to keep this guy in the action" and take his money slowly, if he thinks he is losing he is gonna quit like he almost did before when you had to change the weight.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you make a very good point there. He was oh so friendly when you was winning, but when the odds started slipping out of his favor, he was very quick to pull up and started getting a little attitude.... "oh... the 7 is too much... boo hoo!!" thanks for the advice.
 
you should bet a lot more to put some pressure on him

GStrong said:
My question is: What weight should I insist on? How do I beat this guy? I was really comfortable playing for any stake, when I was getting the 7, but I doubt he is gonna go for it. And, I don't think the 8 is enough. But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?

Thanks for any help.

Gary
Click to expand...
 
GStrong said:
I know this is a silly question, but when you say the "last two", what exactly does that mean. If the 7 & 8 stay on the table after the break, my money ball would then be the 7 or the 8? Can I play a combo/carom into the 7 or the 8 and win? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Your spot ball would then be the last ball on the table at the same time as the nine. The numbers on the ball have no meaning with this spot. That way you cannot combo the ball, but he also can not make it early. This is a less spot than the eight ball, but this combined with the break should make for a pretty tight game.
 
Thanks for all the advice!!!

I am gonna bust him tonight.

Not to make an excuse, but I had just come from the gym and had not warmed up before we started playing, so hopefully today I will be a little more prepared and plenty warmed up beforehand.

Thanks again!
 
i mean if you want a lock then of course, you go for all the spot you can get. But just from a matching up standpoint......racing to 3 and he won like 4 and you won 2..........i would be saying keep it even with no spot. It would be different if you were racing to 5 or 7 and he was winning 5-1 and 5-2 and you were winning 5-4. Sounds like yall are pretty even to me as it is, especially cheap sets like that.
 
GStrong said:
Anyway, here is the situation: Yesterday, I decide to match with this young guy for a few cheap sets. Race to 3 for 10. He wins the first 2, I win one, he wins 2 more, so I am down $30. All very close matches, I ran out a couple times, but also dogged the 9 three times, and scratched 2 times.
Gary
Click to expand...

Gary, you said it all yourself.
You two are evenly matched.
Stop dogging the ball and control your cue ball better.
How you ask?
Structured pratice.

Course, if you just want to rob the guy ask for the last two.
 
I agree, sounds like the last two is a fair game. If you keep dogging the 9 though who knows. Don't be mislead getting the breaks with BIH. You need to be able to run balls or run a few then play to a good safe. Which you didn't do or you would have won.

Giving up the breaks and even BIH after isn't a big deal when you know who you're playing. Just play a smarter game no matter how you decide to play.

Rod
 
davidhop said:
Your spot ball would then be the last ball on the table at the same time as the nine. The numbers on the ball have no meaning with this spot. That way you cannot combo the ball, but he also can not make it early. This is a less spot than the eight ball, but this combined with the break should make for a pretty tight game.
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This is a good idea. I have given guys the 7 before, Somtimes after i broke if i had no shot my push would be to the shoot the 7 in a hole if i could see it.
Therfore taking his weight ball off the tabel. You are much better off with the last 2 or 3 if he will give it up. Stay away from short races like to 3, those are sucker bets. Your best bet is games on the wire in a race to 7. Play him
safe if you do not feel 100% on the shot. If he gets out often he may just be to hard to beat just now. Look for another game. Dont get in the hole, you will just get further down and be mad at yourself. He may be real good at hiding his true speed.:)
 
I say pay your dues and play him even. Maybe take the wild 8. If playing for money increases your concentration / game, then you shouldn't need a spot, right?

Then stop nit-picking on the spot (wild 7, breaks & BIH, etc.) and play a longer race set. Maybe a race to 9 for $100 instead of $10/game. Longer races are easier to handicap anyway. A single game can go either way, so to try and work a spot is tough. But play a set to 9 and after a few sets you'll see how you measure up to him. If you win or goes hill consistently, no spot needed. If you lose by a few games, then there's your spot right there.

The one thing about a spot is that you've got to play several sets before it's worked out properly. Make it a longer set and it'll work itself out faster.

S.


GStrong said:
Hello everyone, I am fairly new to gambling, but play a fairly respectable game. Been playing for less than two years (APA 6, BCA 8) and #4 in my league of about 50 players.

Anyway, here is the situation: Yesterday, I decide to match with this young guy for a few cheap sets. Race to 3 for 10. He wins the first 2, I win one, he wins 2 more, so I am down $30. All very close matches, I ran out a couple times, but also dogged the 9 three times, and scratched 2 times.

So, I tell him that is enough for me unless I get some weight. We decide, I get the 7ball wild, he gets the breaks, for $10 a game, which is pretty hefty for me, but I liked my odds. Anyway, I win 2, he wins 1, I win 1, and he quits, saying that I am getting too much weight. I thought it was pretty even at this point.

So then, I agree to getting the breaks, plus ball in hand after the break for $5 bucks a rack. He takes another $20 and I call it quits. So, all in all, I am only down $30, but he is gonna be there again tonight.

My question is: What weight should I insist on? How do I beat this guy? I was really comfortable playing for any stake, when I was getting the 7, but I doubt he is gonna go for it. And, I don't think the 8 is enough. But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?

Thanks for any help.

Gary
Click to expand...
 
GStrong said:
My question is: What weight should I insist on? How do I beat this guy? I was really comfortable playing for any stake, when I was getting the 7, but I doubt he is gonna go for it. And, I don't think the 8 is enough. But I do need the practice playing for cash, because that seems to be the only thing that makes me focus. What do y'all think?

Thanks for any help.

Gary
Click to expand...



Think if you Gamble you will wins some, and loose some. Gambling is like an addiction to some like Booze, or Drugs. I personally think you were playing a person yesterday who was not ready to settle down to One Set of Rules. Personally I do not Gamble except for Quarters, or in a Tournment with an Entry FEE of 10 bucks or LESS...;)
 
GStrong said:
Thanks for all the advice!!!

I am gonna bust him tonight.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Strong-man,
I'm not sure, but I think I'm starting to side with your opponent on this one.

To me, it has always been traditional that the spot should ALWAYS slightly favor the better player (and I have been on BOTH sides of such a spot). Find a spot where the better player wins 60-70% of the time. Then PRACTICE AND IMPROVE until you can beat him with that spot. Then adjust the spot.

P.S. - You can always play straight pool, and use the "Frank Glenn Method" of handicapping. It will give you a good idea of your skill level, and results always hover around 50% - you will NEVER bust anybody using it, but you might make a new friend, and you might get better.

If you are hoping to bust him through negotiation rather than skill, or if you are just trying to find the perfect 50/50 game (p.s., it doesn't exist) then just flip coins for the cash. If you are trying to improve your game, then follow the tradition. When you become the better player you will like it more, in more than one way.

You just have to ask yourself the question (and answer yourself silently in case people are watching), "do you want to become a locksmith or a player?" We have plenty of the former, and not enough of the latter. JMO.
 
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