Why I am beginning to hate gambling

the risk takers are usually betting small

erikido said:
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.
Click to expand...

All take some risks of course since even the locksmiths can get fooled now and then but you can pretty much sort out the risk takers and the locksmiths by the size of their bets. Most of the risk takers are content to bet fifty a set or less. The locksmiths will send in a lot more money when they feel they have a lock.

When I gambled nightly I was the locksmith to end all locksmiths. I have never received a spot from anyone, I have rarely given one, and I always started off betting small with someone. Essentially what I bet was that I was better than fifty percent of players that were willing to gamble. Since "everyone" knows they are above average, that is no gamble at all.

Hu
 
Johnnyt said:
(snip)
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
Click to expand...


TAP TAP TAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is THE problem with successful gambling: You have to associate with losers in order to win and doing that is detrimental to your long-term happiness.

The better you get at it, the farther behind you fall.

Jeff Livingston
 
I don't know why people have such a problem with other people who don't want to gamble. Actually, let's retract that, I do know why -- it's because there isn't much money in pool, so the people that play for a living get really emotional about it - and those people are usually the people who are looked up to by the rest of the community. Now the rest of the community sees these leaders getting so hot about it and then they (the rest of the community) feel that's how they should act too.

There are people who are not comfortable playing certain games. There are guys who don't want to risk losing almost ever, but if they are given an oppertunity to take a lock on a dollar they will take it (not many people alive wouldn't).
They don't feel the same way about it as some of you do, what's so wrong with that?
You shouldn't be giving them a crack at your money if you don't feel like you can win much.

The only people that bother me, in a pet-peve sort of way, are the guys who are nits but talk crazy like they have more gamble than anyone.
 
It's simple. Just say you'll be happy to adjust this time because you won, only if he agrees that everytime he wins a session he adjusts a ball back. Hopefully, he'll get the picture that you have never asked for an adjustment when he won, why should you adjust after one win? Maybe then he will keep the game the same so he can continue winning.

Actually, if he agrees to the adjustments after every session (up or down), it will be gambling and you'll probably break close to even eventually if you guys keep it up. It would be great practice for both of you if that's what you're both after.

Just a thought.

Dave
 
Gambling can just be crazy sometimes. You just have to accept that if you want to gamble.

I want to improve my game. I almost never play a "B" or less player. I've played many players all over the country. Most of them will quit me if the game is too even and they have to spend to much time to win money. One guy gave me 9-7, after 4 hours we were even and he quit. He said "I'll play you even if you want to play again". I have many simular stories from all over.

Only you can decied if you want to gamble and put up with the crap.

Almost no "A" and up players play for free.
 
ironman said:
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.
Click to expand...

And I thought you had retired. :grin:
JoeyA
 
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...

Gambling does exist in pool even today but the term "gambling" is relative and what gambling is to one person is not to another.

I think someone once started a thread about pool halls that have action and the starter of the thread got flamed for being a knocker. I'm sure he was just trying to get some information about which pool halls had gambling and when it occured so that he could visit on those days when in town.

Negotiating is part of learning how to gamble and maybe the most important part.

I like the pool hall where I play at. Buffalo Billiards in Metairie, LA. The owner doesn't like to see road players come in and have to leave without getting a chance to pick up a few dollars and he is apt to make one of the locals play a match that they probably won't win at just to have his customers see a little action and to give the roadies a little pocket money.

There is NO excitement in seeing a robbery on the pool table.

And I will probably take a little heat on this but there is no excitement in seeing players adjust the spot just for the sake of keeping the money balanced. They may as well just practice for fun.

I think you need to accept the fact that negotiation is a necessary part of gambling and improve your skills at it.

JoeyA
 
There is a little real gambling that I've seen in our local pool hall but it's always small time stuff, 20 dollar sets where 1 guy races to 7 and another to 3 or something like that. Or gaff bets like eyes-closed :P

I think when players are betting the big dollars, it is usually intended to be a robbery, but sometimes a player was wrong about who was robbing who.
 
A little different slant on this issue

Good posts in this thread!

When I was learning the game and learning how to gamble on it, there were only three categories of pool players where I played - hustlers, suckers, and everyone else, with the "everyone else" category containing fun players, couples on dates, and everyone else who didn't bet on the game. Now, occasionally the hustlers played one another with there was no other action or when they were getting staked and had nothing to lose of their own money. And while it was not considered shameful to go busted, just to stay busted, it was certainly something to be ashamed of to be thought of as a sucker.

It boiled down to outwitting people, both on the table during the game and when matching up before the game. If you were smarter, shrewder, more cunning, you matched up with the best of the game. And when playing a sucker, you showed your smarts and sill by maximizing the amount of money you won from him.

We had our "lamb killers" like Lemon Dave. Dave never played a game without 200% the best of it and usually played only weak or beginning players. His was not well liked, but I always thought that was mostly because he was an East Coast guy and the setting was Dallas, TX. :)
 
I'd rather gamble at poker myself....

I used to gamble at pool but seldom do anymore. When I was younger I would lose all I had to the road players that came through or local top players. I had "gamble", but now that I look at it I had "stupidity". I was the sucker but I must say it all made my game so much stronger.

Today those who complain that no one will gamble are usually just as guilty of the same thing. They also want the best of the game. No one wants to just give their money away and being on the best end is primarily the goal. The goal is to win, not to open up your wallet and give away money. So to me anyone that complains about someone not gambling is usually a person who wants a lock also. I understand that you want an even match up but an even match up is where 2 players break even at the end of a session. The probability of a game ever being that even is impossible. Someone always has the edge.

How many players giving up weight want to lose to a weaker player? They paid their dues but yet they have to be forced to give the edge up to someone who hasn't put in the time to get to the level they need to be??? I personally am not going to give my money away to a weaker player by making it out of line without having a little edge. You can call me a nit if you like. Then those same players go tell everyone how they beat me, yet fail to say they were getting the 7 or 8 or whatever.

If you are betting cheap enough then you should look at it from the viewpoint of getting lessons. When I started I played races to 7 for $5. I had no prayer of winning but it helped my game greatly. Often a player in your room is willing to play really cheap or for table time. I have a few players that play me for a buck a game cause they want to get better. I get enough to pay table time and they get to play a good player for cheap. Everyone wins.

I say play cheap sets, pay your dues, and play tourneys for cheap if you just want to get better. There is no such thing as gambling on pool. Rest assured someone has the edge. Play texas hold'em if you want an even game. No one can predict the river in poker. Even the best lose at poker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top