Backing Issue
 

While out at the bars this past weekend I bumped into an ex dealer and player from some of the spots I regularly go to. After bullshitting for a while we started talking about poker and the conversation turned into him asking me if I'd be interested in going to AC with him for a weekend and backing him in a cash game.

He is a solid player who makes good reads and plays good for the most part... but 1 bad beat or big pot cooler sends him directly to TILT and he plays like an idiot until he blows his stack away. I once sat with him for 2-3 weeks at a time and didnt see him lose 1 session but I've also seen the opposite when his head wasnt right.

Im thinking Im going to go ahead and do it with the following stipulations

- Only allowed to play when he's at the same table as me so I can monitor his play (or I guess if im not playing when I'm railing his table?)

- Must get up immediately when I think it's time regardless of table conditions stack size or amount of time at the table etc -- up or down.

- I control all money for the duration of the trip and he gets his cut of winnings (hopefully) when we are on the way home (to avoid blackjack and house game issues)

- 50/50 split of winnings plus room costs come out of his share

- I reserve the right to cancel the backing at any time (if profit gets to be a certain amount in the neg or I feel he's not playing well etc)

Any other stipulations people can think of? Is this a bad idea? Im kind of doin it as a favor to a sort of friend (more acquaintance i guess) but Im hoping to get him back on his feet and make some $$ as well.

I don't know....this sounds like more trouble than it's worth. It's almost like babysitting the entire time....doesn't sound very fun to me.

If I'm backing someone, I basically trust their play and judgment. If I questioned any of it....it's not worth my troubles.

I would only do this if it's an extremely positive EV move. Also, I would get things down in writing before you proceed with the action. It doesn't sound like you are that close to him.

Yeah, that sounds like too much effort to me. That's way too many stipulations for a proper backing.

I'm with these guys. I'd pass on this one.

50/50, meh. You should probably get more than that for the effort. Also don't think profit sharing while playing at the same table isn't really a good idea so you should probably just sweat from a different table.

Agree with all of the above. I understand where you are coming from, but I think this is just going to lead to hard feelings and the end of a sort of friendship.

Ended up takin a 6 day AC trip and doing this. I'll have a report up later on but -- but i did make money on the stake although it was not w/o it's share of headaches :rolleyes: