What do you think about folks who love to bet a little money to play matches?

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I find these folks so annoying. They say without betting (even a dollar) they won't play too seriously. I'd think it is their problem as I always play seriously in any matches against anyone but I am not the person who likes to bet (I don't like to gamble even a quarter as winning or losing do not make me feel great). Call me coward if you like. Certain people from certain countries love betting and I just want to stay away from them.
 
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I agree. I like to play the game of TT and some other crap. Generally mot a problem in the UK
 
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I guess I have to deal with them as they are from same original country like mine. I do not feel proud about these folks as this kind of behavior is so uncivilized and they stupidly do not understand. Most are uneducated. They are saying this is a dollar of honor and they have to fight for it, a so full of C$rap reason!
 
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If they do not force with it then it is fine but the moment it becomes a requirement to play against them then that is a problem.

I agree. I mean I'm the one who likes to fool around in our club and sometimes (specially when playing a weaker player) I tend to tease him/her and suggest some betting. As a rule the bet is never worth more than a can of coke or something like that. To be fair I offer them few free points - depends on the player and so on. Also to be fair ... just yesterday I lost another can of coke to a stronger player. We played after the tournament.

It's just fun for me. Of course it has to be insignificant money - preferably a drink and it can not be a requirement, I mean I play people even if they do not agree to to bet.

And it is always like 1-2 matches for the whole evening session - like a final match. I can see that if you played like $5 each match and it turned out you lost like 10 of them, than $50 is quite a money to lose ... it really has to be very little / insignificant money.

J.
 
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While it could be fun for you to win or lose with a cup of soda, it is not fun to others when the winner goes around and boasts and laughs at you about his victory. Why don't we just play a match for fun without any betting?

To be clear, boasting and laughing at your opponents just shows you are not a true sport person (I'm not talking about teasing each other which is for fun and ... a little motivation ; ) Even in individual sports like table tennis if you want to become better you need good opponents - simple as that ... and there is always going to be someone stronger than you ... unless of course your name is Ma Long ... ; )

I guess 90 something % of my matches are like you said, just for fun. In case of a weaker player it is sometimes to motivate myself, here you have a goal, a free soda ... nothing tastes better than this ; ) So I also understand stronger players when they play me and want to bet a little, if it's 50/50 sure, if it's 70/30 for him I'll accept handicap points ... no problem.

In Poland 80/90 ties we had Andrzej Grubba and Leszek Kucharski as the best well known players. Leszek once said their rivalry played a significant role in their career. They usually played for a little money at the end of their training sessions ... kept them really motivated ...

But ... I also agree with you that the fun and enjoying the game is the most important here. Like I would never bet on the outcome of any matches during World Tours, EU Championships, any event actually. I like to enjoy the good game and analysis who has the best chance, post match analysis etc. ... betting would definitely spoiled it for me.
 
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Have not read all the comments. But I think it is totally fine to admit to not play the best table tennis when there is nothing at stake. I always play around for fun or try something out (practice) in training matches, that is what they are good for. If my mates want me to play completely seriously they always tell me that the loser has to pay for the after-training-beer (1,50 €).

Plus I love to know that my opponent tries his very best as well. Results in much better and intense matches.
 
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I guess it is different form people to people. Someone loves to bet should realize that others do not like it. That is sportsmanship! If love-to-bet players insist on betting then stick with your own type for more motivation.

Sure no problem. You want to enjoy the game - I can see that.
As I said it works for me, but it has to be like at the end of a training session and for stuff like soda or beer ... just for fun.
 
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I guess it is different form people to people. Someone loves to bet should realize that others do not like it. That is sportsmanship! If love-to-bet players insist on betting then stick with your own type for more motivation.

Maybe, once or twice, you could accept the challenge from those people, so they wouldn't have the argument that you are "afraid to lose" ... it's 2 bucks total ... ; )
 
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I did and beat some of them but I refused to take the bet, just to show them I was not afraid and didn't like the betting even I won.

Ah, I see ... so it is that someone already lost, sort of an official match, and wants to play for monnney now ..... : ))
I think I got your point. If it's not in the context of training and a post practice "beer sharing experience", but just to show who is better ... than yes, I think you should tell them to find somebody else ... I think there are casinos still available in the US, if they want a pure hazard ...

Edit: Of course they have a right for a rematch ... but it has to be on the same terms as the first match - absolutely no amount of money.
 
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Anyone else read 'The Money Player' by Marty Reisman (one of the top players in USA/World in the 50s)? The guy made his career out of hustling/playing for money, resulting in a few official bans. He made another career out of claiming that he couldve/shouldve been World Champion were it not for sponge.
Whatever you think of the playing-for-money approach, I would definitely rate his autobiography as one of the best TT books. It's like a yarn spun by a seasoned con trickster, but massively entertaining.
 
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Anyone else read 'The Money Player' by Marty Reisman (one of the top players in USA/World in the 50s)? The guy made his career out of hustling/playing for money, resulting in a few official bans. He made another career out of claiming that he couldve/shouldve been World Champion were it not for sponge.
Whatever you think of the playing-for-money approach, I would definitely rate his autobiography as one of the best TT books. It's like a yarn spun by a seasoned con trickster, but massively entertaining.

I've seen this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjNwj7MnUoA

Interesting character he was ...
 
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Hilarious thread from the OP who lives in a country with the most sophisticated gambling culture in the world looking down on his origin country.
 
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