Why I am beginning to hate gambling

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erikido

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Not that I hate gambling so much as I don't like that no one will actually gamble. I had been playing this guy in town for a while he had probably beat me about the last 5 times we played giving me the 7.

I finally got him once(he dogged a bunch of shots the first set and I ended up winning 2 out of 3 sets) and now he can "only give me the 8". I played him countless times losing and then I win ONE and now it is too much. Their are countless other players that have this sort of attitude. I understand it. But, is there really any gambling going on anywhere? Or is it all just robbery? Maybe I just suck at negotiating? I like to actually gamble (and mostly cheap) to improve my game. But, I also obviously don't like just giving away money.

Thoughts?
 
erikido said:
Not that I hate gambling so much as I don't like that no one will actually gamble. I had been playing this guy in town for a while he had probably beat me about the last 5 times we played giving me the 7.

I finally got him once(he dogged a bunch of shots the first set and I ended up winning 2 out of 3 sets) and now he can "only give me the 8". I played him countless times losing and then I win ONE and now it is too much. Their are countless other players that have this sort of attitude. I understand it. But, is there really any gambling going on anywhere? Or is it all just robbery? Maybe I just suck at negotiating? I like to actually gamble (and mostly cheap) to improve my game. But, I also obviously don't like just giving away money.

Thoughts?
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I like to refer to these guys as "non-gambling nits." If you don't want the wrath of the Craw each and every time I see you, don't put yourself in this situation with me. These guys are bad action. It's cash they are worried about and not pool. They befriend you, rob you and make you like it, all the while making you think you are getting valuable table time and experience. I've had this happen a couple of times. How to negate this is get to know who you are gambling with. If he does this to you, EVERY time he's matching up, just walk over and tell your story in front of whom he's trying to match up with. Now, I know it's anyone's own choice when to quit, I respect that. But these guys know who they are. Your job is to know who they are, too. Fu#$'em runnin'. That's why I'd bet you NEVER see this guy playing and getting weight. He won't play unless he's stealing. I'd wager my .02 cents on it.

"This ain't about pool. This ain't about love. It's about Money.."
 
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A wise man once said "If I'm betting high you better believe I have 2 balls the best of it, but I'll play anyone for $50"

If you can understand that phrase inside and out, you can matchup with anyone. Sounds like the guy you are playin is a thief even in cheap sets. That's bad action for you cuz you probably cant win much but can lose a boat load. Think about if a guy charges you 50 to a 100 bucks 3-5 times a week for 3 months. You probably lose in excess on 2 grand without feeling like you lost a dime, that's a hustle my friend.

That dude will need action and don't give him the game, next time tell him he's right the 7 is out of line...and then say youll take the 6. Happy huntin.
 
crawfish said:
I like to refer to these guys as "non-gambling nits." If you don't want the wrath of the Craw each and every time I see you, don't put yourself in this situation with me. These guys are bad action. It's cash they are worried about and not pool. They befriend you, rob you and make you like it, all the while making you think you are getting valuable table time and experience. I've had this happen a couple of times. How to negate this is get to know who you are gambling with. If he does this to you, EVERY time he's matching up, just walk over and tell your story in front of whom he's trying to match up with. Now, I know it's anyone's own choice when to quit, I respect that. But these guys know who they are. Your job is to know who they are, too. Fu#$'em runnin'. That's why I'd bet you NEVER see this guy playing and getting weight. He won't play unless he's stealing. I'd wager my .02 cents on it.
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erikido said:
Not that I hate gambling so much as I don't like that no one will actually gamble. I had been playing this guy in town for a while he had probably beat me about the last 5 times we played giving me the 7.

I finally got him once(he dogged a bunch of shots the first set and I ended up winning 2 out of 3 sets) and now he can "only give me the 8". I played him countless times losing and then I win ONE and now it is too much. Their are countless other players that have this sort of attitude. I understand it. But, is there really any gambling going on anywhere? Or is it all just robbery? Maybe I just suck at negotiating? I like to actually gamble (and mostly cheap) to improve my game. But, I also obviously don't like just giving away money.

Thoughts?
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I don't want to insult you but that is called "Lamb killing". You are the lamb. It consists of giving someone weight, (In many cases weight they can't refuse). Then you play and continue to give weight to the point of diminishing returns. Once you have given too much or they begin to win you back off. Surpassingly, in most cases the sucker will give some of the weight back, all you have to do is ask and go back to losing.
 
That's one of the reasons that I don't gamble much on pool anymore. Everyone wants to adjust after one or two sets even though it's a fair game. I've just stuck to practice, leagues, and tournaments and seem to have more enjoyment/fulfillment than when I used to gamble on pool. There isn't is as much drama :smile:
 
gamblers and pool players

This is the same tired old thing that comes up constantly. There are two groups of people gambling in the pool halls. The people that are primarily pool players that gamble on pool and the gamblers that happen to be playing pool. You aren't going to get a fair game from the gamblers. They hate 50-50 odds or less and feel they have made a terrible game if that is where they are at.

I like the gamblers just fine and respect them for who they are. I don't waste time trying to trap them and they don't waste time trying to trap me too often. A gambler tried to trap me on a prop bet the last time I was in the pool hall. I just laughed and gave him the same answer I gave him when he tried to trap me on the same bet several years ago, "I think you are right!"

A pool player thinks he has matched up well if he has to play almost his best game to win. A gambler thinks he has matched up well when he is getting two balls when he should be giving two.

Hu


erikido said:
Not that I hate gambling so much as I don't like that no one will actually gamble. I had been playing this guy in town for a while he had probably beat me about the last 5 times we played giving me the 7.

I finally got him once(he dogged a bunch of shots the first set and I ended up winning 2 out of 3 sets) and now he can "only give me the 8". I played him countless times losing and then I win ONE and now it is too much. Their are countless other players that have this sort of attitude. I understand it. But, is there really any gambling going on anywhere? Or is it all just robbery? Maybe I just suck at negotiating? I like to actually gamble (and mostly cheap) to improve my game. But, I also obviously don't like just giving away money.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
ShootingArts said:
This is the same tired old thing that comes up constantly. There are two groups of people gambling in the pool halls. The people that are primarily pool players that gamble on pool and the gamblers that happen to be playing pool. You aren't going to get a fair game from the gamblers. They hate 50-50 odds or less and feel they have made a terrible game if that is where they are at.

I like the gamblers just fine and respect them for who they are. I don't waste time trying to trap them and they don't waste time trying to trap me too often. A gambler tried to trap me on a prop bet the last time I was in the pool hall. I just laughed and gave him the same answer I gave him when he tried to trap me on the same bet several years ago, "I think you are right!"

A pool player thinks he has matched up well if he has to play almost his best game to win. A gambler thinks he has matched up well when he is getting two balls when he should be giving two.

Hu
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Just curious and not trying to be an ass but I've always operated feeling like there was a difference between a hustler and a gambler. A hustler likes to have the best of it and odds strongly in their favor and gamblers will take a coin toss.

With that said...what is a hustler to you?
 
erikido said:
Not that I hate gambling so much as I don't like that no one will actually gamble. I had been playing this guy in town for a while he had probably beat me about the last 5 times we played giving me the 7.

I finally got him once(he dogged a bunch of shots the first set and I ended up winning 2 out of 3 sets) and now he can "only give me the 8". I played him countless times losing and then I win ONE and now it is too much. Their are countless other players that have this sort of attitude. I understand it. But, is there really any gambling going on anywhere? Or is it all just robbery? Maybe I just suck at negotiating? I like to actually gamble (and mostly cheap) to improve my game. But, I also obviously don't like just giving away money.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Welcome to the pool room. It takes all types to make up a pool room and each and all have a different perspective of attitude and behavior.

Many who go in and match up think the match should be won before they flip the coin by locking the other guy up. Others come in ready to play whatever is thrown at them and are constantly trying to shoot the lock off.

The locksmiths as I call them are rarely the more talented players and have learned enough over the years to compensate for lack of ability by matching up very well. These must be recognized and remember we have a choice, either play or don't match up with them.

We have one in our pool room who for example beat me last week by 8 games me giving him 8-7 and the pick. The next day he asked me to play again and I asked how we play and he responded the same as the day before. I told him we would have to adjust and he insultingly said, "Why"? My response was that we would never play again which he took offense to.

Well, anyone will tell you that I am good action, but we both made mistakes here. Mine was gambling with the nit, and his was pissing me off. That though is just life in the pool room.We can get as pissed over it as we want, it doesn't change a thing, but, we had better get wise to it quickly, or it will be a long life.

I like to match up with guys who I know will keep money in action. It's competitive and you know you can always go back and get it.
 
I think I turned into one of these nits because of pure lazyness to practice and work on the weak part of my game. I was lucky to have some natural talent when I started playing many moons ago. I went right up to a "B" player on the big tables and an "A" player on the box in about three years. When I stopped getting any better and no one my speed would match up even I started to learn how to match up in my favor. When I started to see the money coming in I started to plain flat out hustle. I don't mean I'd go looking for "D" players, but I wouldn't gamble with high "B" players either.

I made a lot of money over the years on pool tables, but will always wonder how good I could have been if I practiced and played better players instead of running from them back in the day. If I could do it all over again I'd probably see how far could go. Oh well, I did make money playing. Johnnyt
 
There is two guys like this in my pool room that I have played. One guy is a really good player someone that has beat the likes of Parica and Dalton in One Pocket Tourney's. I'm a C player (that's probably generous) and this guy will maybe give me 1 ball playing short banks. 10-5 playing one pocket. He talks about the glory days in the past but now will only play people he can beat it seems and will not give up anything that approaches a fair game. He robbed me for awhile but now I will not even play him. He even needs a backer to play 20 a game and when asking me to back him asked for a 70 30 split.. yeah OOOK :rolleyes: Another guy gives me 8 6 playing full rack banks and beat me out of a few hundred, then we go to shoot one time and I absolutely drilled him he was breaking his stick down after two games down.. give me a break.. they call themselves gambler but only play if they have the best of it 100% of the time..to me that's not even gambling that's stealing. I've got more gamble because I take games i'm not sure I can win to be in action and to test where my game has gotten too. If I lose I lose..nobody has to sell. I have zero respect for these cautious lock artists.

Another point to me is I'm in the service, i make decent money.. these guys want to give me these tough spots or no spot at all for 20 or 50 bucks... I gotta work my ass off to beat them and even if i win.. it's just not worth it.. it's below min wage... no thanks.

just my 2 cents

f
 
We are saying exactly the same thing

mikeyfrost said:
Just curious and not trying to be an ass but I've always operated feeling like there was a difference between a hustler and a gambler. A hustler likes to have the best of it and odds strongly in their favor and gamblers will take a coin toss.

With that said...what is a hustler to you?
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We are saying exactly the same thing, we are just giving the people different names.

My "player" is your "gambler"
My "gambler" is your "hustler"

The gamblers that make a living gambling do it by not gambling when they gamble.

That is a deliberately contorted sentence but if you read it over carefully you will realize it is true. The people who try to make a fair game or take a little the worst of it will wind up even or in the hole at the end of a year if they honestly keep up with the money. The people gambling to make money aren't going to match up fairly if they can help it. When they match up fairly it is because they have made a mistake and they won't play that game long.

Like Ironman said, it takes all types to make up a poolroom. I don't dislike the people looking for a lock, I just don't give it to them. They are often pleasant company once they learn that you aren't a pigeon. The folks that are obnoxious are a different story but the best hustlers aren't.

Hu
 
pool is like lottery.you won't hit the lottery every day so when you do hit it you have to hit it big$$$ cause you'll never know when is the next time you'll see that money again:frown:
 
People who depend on making money playing pool never intentionally gamble. People who have a regular job and family responsibilities and like to wager on their pool game with these people are not gamblers either; they're prey. If they worked all week and when they received their paycheck told the boss they would bet double or nothing on the toss of a coin they would be gamblers. Hopefully they wouldn't be parents. People making a living playing pool take as much of the gamble out of the game as they are allowed to by their competitors and will never engage in action unless they feel they always have better than 50/50 odds in winning. That's just good business, The same principle as starting or running any business that you hope not to fail at. Once you understand this you decide how you want to match up and if that isn't agreeable just don't play. Now there is nothing to complain about.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with the attitude that you're describing.
A lot of people bash it as being "nitty" or whatever, but the way I see it, some people look at gambling a different way. Some see it as a means to an end (making money) and others see it as using financial risk to get some challenge, entertainment and excitement. Often these things blend together but they don't have to.

You seem to be one of those guys who wants to truly gamble, as in the odds for a happy outcome is a coin flip (or even worse). You might enjoy roulette and scratch tickets also.

Other guys want to bet money that they can beat someone else, because they are confident they have a clear edge and they are positive they have figured out the other player's speed. They then make (or take) bets with anyone who disagrees with their assessment.

The second type of player is not interested in betting on a coin toss or fair handicapping, they are interested in taking money.... usually from the first type. If they also happen to get some thrills n' spills along the way, that's great, but they are not in it for the thrills and don't want to sweat a tense, exciting, unexpected outcome.

Everyone likes to cheer for the plucky little guy with tons of heart who gets into bad matchups but tries REALLY HARD and sometimes comes out on top (yay! happy storybook ending!!!).

Screw that guy, I like the guy no gamble and enjoys chewing up and spitting out the plucky little guy's giant heart :) Occasionally that type will get into a bad matchup and misread his opponent and get a little excitement from it, and a little is probably all he needs. The rest of the time he's content to have boring cash.
 
Stuff like this is why I don't gamble on the tables anymore. I absolutely refuse to ask for a spot and at the same time I won't give one either. Any time you do this your integrity may come into question by the player you are playing.

If you get a spot and win you are hustling the nuts. If you give too little of a spot you are hustling the nuts. More or less you have to either keep it too close for comfort or lose your own money so everyone but you can be happy.
 
thanks for all the replies. I sort of agree with what most of you said. I don't mind the attitude so much. I just wish I could find more people that are actually interested in risking money.

I was also interested in everyones thoughts on the subject. Do you find any actual gamblers in your regular room.
 
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