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BGonline.org Forums
Bots Level the Playing Field?
Posted By: Jake Jacobs In Response To: Bots Level the Playing Field? (higonefive)
Date: Saturday, 5 March 2011, at 3:54 a.m.
Regarding German pool players in US halls ...
I heard this story from Billy Horan fifteen years ago, and he was recalling events from a quarter-century (or so) earlier, so I cannot vouch for its accuracy.
Billy used to hang around a pool hall in Manhattan, apparently quite a famous one. One day in walks a young German who has recently placed second in the billiards world championship. He has a suitcase full of money, and is looking for "your best player."
"Billiards?" The regulars confer; phone calls are made. "Wait," they tell him. An hour later a rumple little man shows up. He looks like Ratso Rizzo's uncle. He looks like he has been stored in a closet until the day comes that a kid with a suitcase full of money turns up looking for a billiards game.
"Second in the world?" He asks. "That makes you pretty good." In fact, it should make, in the insular world of 3-cushion, the kid unbeatable by anyone except the world #1. "I want a spot." After negotiation the kid grants 7 points in a game to 25.
A while later, after losing some of the money in the suitcase the kid renegotiates. A while later he renegotiates once again. In the end the kid is getting a 7 point spot, up unti he loses the last money in the suitcase.
"Your pretty good, kid," says the rumpled little man, "come back when you have more money." And he and he kid both leave, never to be seen again.
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