Rack ‘em up!
Oh boy, what a night. I stumbled into Mumbles over a pool table, the other evening, that then stretched well into the morning of the next day. When you bump up against another player with nearly equal ability, it may become a long night at the pool table.
Generally, it will take about 10 minutes, or so, to play a rack of eight-ball, maybe a little less or more. But, after 20 racks we were even and decided to change the music, as it were. Well, nine-ball can be a whole different animal and it can end very quickly if you have money on the five-ball and the nine-ball. You can run-up a tab pretty fast if the guy is better than you, or just gets the best table rolls for a period of time.
We ended up pretty much even, but it went one way, and then another, all night and all morning long. In the end, smiling and with a newfound respect for one another, we needed to part ways even though we were even on the “dough-re-me.”
Oakland Sam drove to town the other day, intent on putting me in my place. Sam ate lunch, meditated, did his Peloton and the new North Coast Forest Chant for two hours. It doesn’t help to chant for that long, I explained. And further, if you are not in the forest it doesn’t even count. He explained that he was merely preparing himself for another epic clashing of wills on a pool table.
“Really?” I said. “You think it is only about the will to win?”
Of course, it is only about the will to win, he explained. “Really?” I repeated. (I mean, what else could I say?) Sam decided that a race to 11 would be a good match. What do I know — so I agreed, and we put up our moolah.
Well, I thought, isn’t it also who gets the rolls, and who gets intimidated, that can also determine a winner?
We had a lot of fun and a winner was crowned, but figuring 20 racks into three hours made the games just about six minutes per game, and indicated we were both playing well. Because when you don’t go to the table more than two or three times, it becomes a short game. It doesn’t really matter who wins most times, what really matters is how well you were playing.
If you were say, consistently going back to the table five or six times, that would generally indicate poor playing — even if you were winning. The exception being, of course, when you have two players playing safeties back and forth, and not leaving a good shot for their opponent. You can easily be going back to the table many times then, and then maybe, if it is a good safety, just trying to hit your own ball without fouling out.
Hawk uses a different method to come out on top, if he loses a rack and owes some moolah for it, he doubles the bet — and even triples it if he loses again. Now don’t fall for this, because eventually he will win and you will end up in debt. Just ask Deer Slayer Slim.
Hawk played and had lost to Slim at both horseshoes and pool, but when it went to a triple bet, Hawk won and then promptly quit. Heh, heh — on Slim. I also play Hawk but seldom will I go past one game for a pay-off. He knows I am on to him, and will seldom put anything on the game. We just play for the fun of it, which is fine by me.
If you need to travel to Lake Tahoe, don’t miss out on playing pool: Just check into the Marriott Grand Residence Club of Lake Tahoe. They have full-size pool tables inside the residence and you need not go anywhere else for fun. Well maybe go shopping for food of course, or lay a few chips on the red or black, but for some people, they would be happy staying in their rental and playing pool.
CUE TIP » Sometimes a small insignificant wager can enhance your pool game. Huh? Yep, just imagine playing your younger sister in a race to three with the loser having to do the dishes for a week. Well, trust me, with a bet like that you may very well play the best pool of your life. Contact me at mcbohanon@gmail.com.