Pool handicapping?
 

Dont know what forum to post this in...

Basically we play pool and money always changes hands. We usually have a set amount per game, but this sucks as im a dog against everyone else.

How do you even the odds? Was thinking of playing per ball and maybe giving myself 2/1 per ball or something like that?

Just wondering what the usual gamblers rules are..

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

I can answer that question perfectly well if you tell me what games you are playing. In pool it is called "matching up" more often than handicapping.

Jimbo

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

English pool we play, red and yellow...

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

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English pool we play, red and yellow...

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It appears I was mistaken, never heard of English pool other than perhaps snooker. Red and yellow? Anything like solids and stripes?

Jimbo

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

It's pretty much like 8-ball but with red and orange balls instead of solids and stripes. I think the rules might be a little different than the "World standardized rules", but didn't have enough time to make sure. I'm also interested on how to handicap this game (or 9-ball), didn't find anything on a quick google.

And here's the rules for english pool http://www.epa.org.uk/wrules.php.

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

Yes sorry, its fairly similar. The table and balls are smaller, about two thirds of the size of an american pool table.

There are some different rules aswell but ultimitly the same goal is to pot the black so your way of betting on a game should still work.

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

In that case the best way for you to match-up properly would be to play each person a race to five games and you get two on the wire. In other words the other player needs to win five games against you before you win three.

Eight ball is the most difficult game to match up against in any manner than races or so many games ahead. Now nine ball is easy to match-up till you are both nearly a coin flip.

Jimbo

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

Thought experiment:
Person A is better than person B.
If person A wins, Person B gives him $X.
If person B wins, Person A gives him $X+Y.

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thought experiment:
Person A is better than person B.
If person A wins, Person B gives him $X.
If person B wins, Person A gives him $X+Y.

[/ QUOTE ]

Answer: If I am enough better than player B, he/she will never win a single game unless I choose to allow it to happen in 8 ball. In 9 ball this is not necessarily true. That is why 8 ball is so much harder to handicap than any other form of pool.

Jimbo

Re: Pool handicapping?
 

doesnt the idea of having different amounts on each ball work then? Like i get a 1.5/1 edge over my opponent. So if he only wins by 2 balls, he still owes me x1?