When is it OK to quit when you're ahead?

I love every guy who complains about someone quitting ahead. If you're not willing to lose money, don't gamble.

It blows my mind how many don't understand that. There's no etiquette or rules here. If you put your cash on the light, there's a chance it is gone.
 
Also, WTF. Put her in a cab. Ahaha. Some real gents on this thread.

If I was out with a buddy, and I was playing a cash game, and my buddy wanted to split, we would split at the end of that set or game. Who cares what you think? "Wah wah he left me down $20 he's the biggest nit everrrrrrr"

Grown men find any excuse to act like children.
 
Try to play with reasonable people. The guy sounds like he understood your situation, and you didn't quit suddenly.
I try to make it clear that I'm not staying to play indefinitely. I play until a given time, usually enough for several sets, and if we happen to be even at that point I will play one set to make sure that somebody gets something for their efforts. I don't play for 8 hours just to come out even.

It helps when you're the one with the cash that people are taking a shot at, like ShootingArts said above. There's no problem finding a game, and you can say up front that there's no 'quitting winner' clause.
 
You make the rules..,

You quit when you want to quit. Anybody that's doesn't like had better get over it.
 
Mkbtank said:
Between my wife/kids, and especially my job, I am always on the clock, so I unfortunately run into this a lot. I have learned to be very clear before we start how long I have and exactly what time I need to go and give my opponent the option not to play. In my mind, as long as I am leaving Win or lose at that time it's ok. I also give a warning about an hour prior to my cutoff time. I still take some sh$t sometimes but I believe I am being as up front as possible.
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He does catch sh$t for it sometimes! Lol.

He is good about though. Although he won't have any responsibilities at DCC.

I like to set a time upfront if playing sets, if by the game - 2 hr warning is usually appropriate. If you are pounding the opponent, you should let them know as early as possible.

At Fusco's, if you quit before 10am you better have a good reason.
 
stupid gamblers

I can play good enough to get myself in trouble and I have a good job, when I go to tournaments players know I have money so the "robbers come a calling". My favourite is when they let me win the first set and I say thanks for the game, pay-up, almost always they have to go to someone and get the money and they start whining so I tell them that if they are trying to rob someone make sure you win the first set.
 
I usually quite in the middle of the game, and just prorated depending on what ball I am on. 5 ball in 10 ball pays half.


Seriously, some kind of agreement on time or a good warning is good. Quit without warning and you will be hard pressed to find games in the future. There has been many time where I played all night, when I would have rather quit, but that is just what it is.
 
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Why even play if you want to give someone a chance to get even. The idea behind gambling is to win....plain and simple. That isnt even debatable.

Same with poker....you sit at the table to win. If you sit down and have a good run of cards for a half hour and you want to walk away, then walk away.

In the end, it comes down to one's personal opinion and approach as to when they quit. If your opponent doesn't like it, then maybe they should've stayed out of the box to begin with.

Case in point.....lets say you gamble and outrun the nuts for a while. Are you supposed to stay in until they come back? Because eventually, things would catch up to you. They had their shot to win the same as you did. They could've walked away the same as you did.

People always talk about players with "heart". Players who gamble their own money have "heart". Players who will play and play and play and lose and lose and lose while using the money of a backer don't have "heart". They simply have a backer and don't have to worry about cash coming out of their pocket. The only thing they are missing through losing is the fact that no money is going into their pocket.

Somebody said earlier that smart gamblers are called "nits" and dumb gamblers are called "suckers". Going home a broke sucker that is admired by the rail makes no sense. Congratulations....that respect and 25 cents will buy you a cup of coffee.

In the end, it is about winning and winning only. The game before the game is to get things as favorable for yourself as you can when matching up. Then, you need to win on the table. And, you are and should be free to walk at any time without an issue.

Again, this is just my opinion. I am sure there are many people who will disagree. Like I mentioned earlier, in the end, it comes down to personal opinion and approach.

Just sayin.....
 
This thread got negative real quick... Such is Azbilliards.

What is the average amount of posts nowadays before a thread does a complete 180?
 
If you want to stay in action the only time you quit winner is when you tell your opponent in advance how many sets or how long you are playing until.

I have been gambling with the same individuals locally for many years. One character is chronically underemployed, but we have had some great action. He once owed me $200 for 3 months, but paid off.

A few weeks back I lose $500 to him in our usual 8 hour session. I give him weight and was playing subpar. He probably didn't have $200 in his pocket, I'd bet my life on that.

So the following day I go to the bank and pickup $600 in $20 bills. I text him a photo of me holding the cash and say let's play. We play and he wins set one, I win set 2 and he wins the 3rd. He's up $100 and it's about 8pm. he tells me he's gonna pull up. Oh Really? This is the guy I give big spots to just to keep in action. The guy I played 10 hours straight when he was stuck $300-500 for the last 6 hours. Unreal.

I tell him to enjoy the $600. That he doesn't deserve my action. He's the idiot anyway because I would have gone off for the other $500 just to get in stroke.

Bottomline you don't quit wnner unless you don't like winning. If you have a guy down, torch him for all you can.

I need to check people's bankrolls before playing or lose only so much to deadbeats. My problem is I have too much heart to quit.
 
15cherries said:
I can play good enough to get myself in trouble and I have a good job, when I go to tournaments players know I have money so the "robbers come a calling". My favourite is when they let me win the first set and I say thanks for the game, pay-up, almost always they have to go to someone and get the money and they start whining so I tell them that if they are trying to rob someone make sure you win the first set.
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I hear you there. This weekend I play a guy $5 a set and I know dam well he doesn't have $80 on him. I beat him 5 out of 6 games and he pays $20 and leaves. Comes back 10 minutes later and I win 9 of the next 11 for $55. He's broke at $75 and can't even stay to play the weekly tournament.

So when they bring a toothpick to win the lumberyard you gotta chew them up. Otherwise set your loss limits.
 
there are only 2 rules in gambling: always pay when you lose, and always collect when you win. johnnyt has some good guidelnes to avoid problems, but the above maxims will serve you well.

to avoid the rep of being observed as a nit, always try to give your opponent a chance to get his money back, but you should get tougher skin because the label nit is slung around in the pool world to often and at times when it is not deserving, so ... pay when you lose and collect when you win and your rep will take care of itself.
 
Eagleshot said:
He does catch sh$t for it sometimes! Lol.



He is good about though. Although he won't have any responsibilities at DCC.



I like to set a time upfront if playing sets, if by the game - 2 hr warning is usually appropriate. If you are pounding the opponent, you should let them know as early as possible.



At Fusco's, if you quit before 10am you better have a good reason.
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Heh. I figured you'd comment :). Thanks. And you're right about DCC. I can't wait.
 
I always mention I will play a certain number of sets or a time where I will quit. If I am behind, I pay and leave. If I am ahead, I collect. The opponent will usually reciprocate with equivalency mentioning their parameters. That being said, I am owed some money now but I was aware of what I was getting into. If I am not paid, he just won't get another match there again. He knows that.

Al

PS - I play a fair amount of Poker at Foxwoods and it is absolutely normal to quit anytime you feel like it. No big deal. I feel the same about pool but like to set parameters.
 
SakuJack said:
Honestly, I think this is a terrible attitude prevalent within pool - and one that puts a lot of people off of gambling at all.

If somebody wants to quit after one set, two sets, or ten sets, winner or loser, there should be absolutely nothing wrong with that. They're under no obligation to lose their money back to you, and certainly under no obligation to just give it you back as they have a life outside of the pool room to go to.

*I am fully prepared for people to call my attitude 'nitty'.
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I agree. No one tells me what I can or can't do, or what "they" think I should be obligated to do. We are not talking about quitting in the middle of a set, that is a different story altogether. Everyone should be prepared that someone will quit on you at any time. Most of the time it is one of two cases 1) they guy is hooked and chasing his money (like the degenerate gambler that he is) or 2) they guy is better and slipped up or slow rolled and got caught and knows he will win in the long run. No matter what the reason, the end game is to walk away with the most amount of money or cut you loses. Let's be honest, there is a lot of badgering that goes on trying to get at someone's ego or pride to attempt to make him part with his money. That's why people
Get upset and start calling people names like nit and everything else. Since it has been going on so long, it is now part of the pool culture. You would never hear a casino boss calling you a nit after a big win on the black jack table and tell you you have to give the casino a chance to get their money back. It's a different culture than pool but still gambling.


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I'm pretty new to pool and don't really gamble much at this stage of my game, just some cheap $5-20 sets and usually only one or two with a guy I see regularly at the hall...never quit winner because I've never been in the position to yet, ha! That's what I get for playing even with a guy better than me and with much more playing time.

Anyway...this whole never quit winner thing has always left me puzzled. I just don't get why it's considered bad, seems to strange to someone new. You gamble, you lose, you pay up. If both parties want to keep going then great, but can't see why someone owes you a infinite amount of time at the table if you want to keep going.

But, it being what it is, I think the answer should be to agree to finish another time. Even set a time to meet up again and make sure you stick with it. Someone said let him keep the money until then...not sure that sounds like a good idea to me, but I suppose if you know the guy will be back it's a nice gesture.

What do I know though, I'm newbie. I do find these types of threads very educational and fun to read though, so thanks for sharing.
 
This is a topic of unending debate at my poolhall...according to the local money players "quitting winner" is not only unsportsmanlike but also means you dont have the "gamble" to keep on playing. Its all a ploy to goad someone into continue playing. Its not a hustle its a hassle and matches would never end if someone didnt "quit winner"...basically the pool hall has become a breeding ground for whiney grown men who should probably go find a real job.

I always agree to play two sets and i manage my time accordingly. Luckily i have never had to leave early...but i would not expect to be compensated if i didnt finish a set. If its someone you play regularly then why not pick up where you left off?

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Johnnyt said:
Couldn't your GF take a cab home? Johnnyt
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I would pull up in a set in a heartbeat to take my GF home. Not putting her in a damn cab... cmon now...

In most cases I will see my opponent again and match up with them...
 
Johnnyt said:
GF sick for a few days, so bring her out to a poolroom while you gamble and she gives whatever she has to everyone in the joint. Now that's a shitty person. Johnnyt
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If my wife/gf was prefectly healthy Im not making her take a cab home...
 
Quitting winner

Quitting winner is the surest way to limit your action. If you get a deserved reputation for it people will start doing the same to you or just not give action to you.

I have a very good paying job and love to drive the action. When I travel places I match up with total strangers and make games easily. I'm not playing pool so I can eat so I don't need to have the lock all the time. To me you make money gabling by staying in action and keeping the reputation that you are always ready to play with cash in hand. I give up some very good spots.

Sometimes I will just run "specials" and give people the supposed nuts. If somebody plays B speed and I know they don't runout I will give them the breaks in addition to the last 3 or whatever they ususally get. If they break and run one out of 6 racks to their money ball it is negated by all the failed runouts where I am cleaning up 4-6 balls for the win. Give somebody you usually play even the last 2 or called 8, if I'm in stroke it just doesn't matter.

When I traveled to a barbox tournament in PA a few months back there were about 8 guys looking to gamble pretty big. I had most of them chasing me to play because they all could tell the window was wide open. Most of them only played a few sets because they just weren't advertising and negotiating. I make money at this game consistently by staying active. You'll never catch fish unless you have a line in the water.
 
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