In today's world of pool there are two types of pool players, the Pros and the Hustlers.
But which is superior? Which of the two make the most money? Who would you rather play?
People (when I say people I mean normal people going into a pool hall for a good time) would rather much play a casual looking fisherman or 7/11 worker than a flash dressed pro with a 1000-dollar cue. That’s probably the most flaw in people when it comes to gambling. When they compare the 2 together they'd much rather play "an average Joe" and wouldn’t touch the pro with a ten-foot pole. This is a hustlers' number one rule, appearance.
The only way to play someone for money is to look like the victim, to act like a beginner play a couple of cheap games then raise the stakes. This builds up the victim's confidence, (I say victim cause this is the best way of describing them) if people can see the hustlers real game or skills, nobody would play him (human instinct: no one wants to lose). So the hustler hangs low and camouflages his abilities and searches the room for the perfect victim until he finds his prey and moves in for the kill.
The hustler makes friends with the person and plays a few friendly games before he mentions money. Then he makes the first few bets cheap (if the hustler bets big time up front the person will suspect that he’s good and leave the table), and usually loses them to build up the victim’s confidence so he keeps playing. Then the hustler jacks up the bet and starts to win. When the hustler wins he will only win by a ball or two and claims it was luck (he does this to camouflage his real ability so he can get more money out of the victim’s pockets). And once the victim loses a bit of money he will leave. That’s it, the hustler gets what he wants and moves on to his next victim.
But why does the person not see him as a hustler and keep betting? Most of this is because of the hustlers’ ability to hide the truth, to win by a certain margin and blame it on luck. Another part of this is psychology, the hustler makes the opponent feel he is better than the hustler so it builds up the victim's confidence. Another part is social, nobody wants to play you if your nasty and despicable.
This ends my theory on hustlers as I am a bit of a hustler myself.
