NASSAU BET

[harpua728]

When to Press

I've heard people say that you have to press when you are 2 down. What if you are 2 down after 2 holes, it does not make sense to press then when you can easily catch up.

Secondly, I was 5 down after the 12th hole and I pressed the 18 hole match. Is there a general rule of thumb as to when you can press and can't. They other guys were complaining cause they had a big lead "wiped out" by the press.

[harpua728]

?

[BRaway1]

we play it a few ways...

"2 down autos" or "press when pissed" or "5-ways"

2 down autos are automatic presses every time you go 2 down and cannot be declined

press when pissed means you can press anytime you want

5-ways is just the first 2 down is automatic on each side

its all up to you and your group, but be sure to clarify before stepping up to the 1st tee box

[harpua728]

anything wrong with pressing when 5 down with 6 to play?

[BRaway1]

Nope...if they will let you...

[harpua728]

[quote name='BRaway1' post='2078472' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:09 AM']Nope...if they will let you...[/quote]

They didn't want us too - but we were giving them too much crap so they finally let us.

[Tee1Up]

[quote name='harpua728' post='2077540' date='Nov 21 2009, 06:13 PM']They other guys were complaining cause they had a big lead "wiped out" by the press.[/quote]

If someone wants to press me it starts a new bet. I am not going to throw away the money I earned over 16 or 17 holes on a pressed hole.

[mosesgolf]

[quote name='jeffreyu' post='2078871' date='Nov 22 2009, 03:36 PM'][quote name='harpua728' post='2077540' date='Nov 21 2009, 06:13 PM']They other guys were complaining cause they had a big lead "wiped out" by the press.[/quote]

If someone wants to press me it starts a new bet. I am not going to throw away the money I earned over 16 or 17 holes on a pressed hole.
[/quote]
Nassau's can be played whichever way you please. My group's rule is that you have to be 2 down to press and you can't refuse a press.

[mark m]

Your opponents should have welcomed the press. They were playing well and had you 5 down - right?
(These situations are what makes a nassua bet a fun game.)

As others have said, the key is to have the rules on presses determined in advance.

Some guys play a different game (not a nassua): they play a 18 match for a specific amount and allow a press for half that amount on the remaining holes.

Talk it over....(we play the nassua bet as well - I prefer it as I think the bets tend to even out more over the course of a season - and it makes you play hard for 18 holes).....good luck

[Dustin]

A press is a new bet, so who cares how many holes are left.

[butter_train]

usual nassau is played 3 ways w/ or w/o two down autos...the auto's only refer to the front bet and the back bet but not the total or root...you can play 4 ways or 5 ways as well

want a real fun game that will test your nerves play 1 down autos...my buddy and I usually play that in our saturday game...its not unusual to have 5 bets going coming into nine and eighteen...huge swings...pretty sick game...

[Smooth spin scott]

A true man, competitor, gambler should never turn down a press.... With the boys we figure if everyone walks away owing 0 it was a good day, if someone ends up owing alot, they should have hit the range before hand

[SUBPARJ]

Like most have said , press when your two down, if you win that press hole your even on the bets as opposed to one down. We play 2 down auto press or when you feel like it. i always press before the 9 if im down at all, try to even up and push at the worst case if i win the hole. If three down with 2 to play you may press the next 2.

[putt4_66]

This is why we play skins or net scores (front, back and total).

No arguing.

[tdk8180]

I think there is a lack of understanding as to what a "press" entails, here is some clarification with this article

[url="http://golf.about.com/od/faqs/f/press_bet.htm"]http://golf.about.com/od/faqs/f/press_bet.htm[/url]

Basically, the main points you need to remember

1.) The press is initiated by the player who is losing the match.

2.) The press is a second bet, completely separate from the original bet. It is usually for the same amount as the original bet. If you are playing for $5 for the nine. The press bet is for $5, for whatever remaining holes are left. So if you press early and give yourself a chance to win both bets, you can double your money. However, the press should come when you don't think you can win the first bet, (being 4 down with 5 to play) You can focus on winning the last 5 holes, say 3 out of the 5 and cancel out the first bet. Thus breaking even.

The odds of your opponent losing 5 straight with 5 to play are unlikely, so the chances of winning both bets are significantly higher for the player accepting the press.

Personally, I press when I'm down half the number of holes remaining. 2 down with 4 to play, 1 with 2, 3 with 6, etc. This gives me a chance to win both, not just fight to break even or lose double.

Pressing late, 2 down with 2 to play is a sucker bet. If the player with the lead loses both holes, very possible, he ties the first and loses the second. However, the odds are still pretty good for taking the bet, but it's a sucker bet anyway you look at it.

I accept all presses, because the odds are in your favor when accepting any press, duh.

[SUBPARJ]

[quote name='tdk8180' post='2140981' date='Dec 23 2009, 03:17 PM']I think there is a lack of understanding as to what a "press" entails, here is some clarification with this article

[url="http://golf.about.com/od/faqs/f/press_bet.htm"]http://golf.about.com/od/faqs/f/press_bet.htm[/url]

Basically, the main points you need to remember

1.) The press is initiated by the player who is losing the match.

2.) The press is a second bet, completely separate from the original bet. It is usually for the same amount as the original bet. If you are playing for $5 for the nine. The press bet is for $5, for whatever remaining holes are left. So if you press early and give yourself a chance to win both bets, you can double your money. However, the press should come when you don't think you can win the first bet, (being 4 down with 5 to play) You can focus on winning the last 5 holes, say 3 out of the 5 and cancel out the first bet. Thus breaking even.

The odds of your opponent losing 5 straight with 5 to play are unlikely, so the chances of winning both bets are significantly higher for the player accepting the press.

Personally, I press when I'm down half the number of holes remaining. 2 down with 4 to play, 1 with 2, 3 with 6, etc. This gives me a chance to win both, not just fight to break even or lose double.

Pressing late, 2 down with 2 to play is a sucker bet. If the player with the lead loses both holes, very possible, he ties the first and loses the second. However, the odds are still pretty good for taking the bet, but it's a sucker bet anyway you look at it.

I accept all presses, because the odds are in your favor when accepting any press, duh.[/quote]

lol....Sucker bet, is if you are betting on someone else that's 2 down with 2 to go. If you aren't confident enough to win two holes in a row and bet on yourself, you shouldn't be betting

[tdk8180]

It is a sucker bet because of the fact that the player who is down only has to win 2 holes and that is the end of the match, plus he wins 5 bucks. I don't understand the confidence argument, because I have the confidence to win every hole I play. You bet based on risk, not confidence. I have laid down many bets in situations where I shouldn't win and then I win. Not because of a confidence, because the risk effected the confidence of the other person or it was just good timing, etc.. There are different perspectives on this.

[butter_train]

I play a lot of nassaus...in many different situations...pressing is sorta a feel thing for me...when not playing one or two down autos I will not always press the second I get two down, if I am playing for real money...not just 5-10 bux...basically I will press most of the time unless the guy I am playing is going off (making everything just lighting it up), my opponent strokes on the next hole, or I am just totally lost that day (hey s*** happens)...Otherwise I will usually press...I will always take/accept a press because that is courtesy...its a total b**** move not to take a press...

I have a belief/theory that most ( ~70%) of bets are won or lost the minute the bet is made...ie one player is getting the best of it...Then it is simply execution...learning to win, wanting to win, not being afraid of winning or losing...also course management and shot decisions play a role as well...gambling in golf is a funny thing and so is match play...interesting stuff for sure...I would say that it is difficult to define risk in golf (vs say other forms of gambling/investing) but I can tell you when I am getting the best of it (although I won't)...

[AltusBeliever]

We play two down autos with a get even on 9 and 18. No nassau usually. The big problem is the definition of the get even. Until the past year I have never played where the get even allowed you to win. Example after 8 holes the match is 3up on the original (I know it is closed out) and 1 up on the press. I believe that the auto press is one new bet on 9 or 18 so that if the down side wins the last hole they have bailed themselves out by winning one, losing one and tying one. However, a guy I play with swears it is two presses on the last hole so the pressing side can WIN MONEY. Lost one, tied one, and won two-net one play. This is BS to me. Arguments always ensure. Not that important really as we most we are playing for is $10 per play but it still irks me.

[tdk8180]

That is a HUGE SUCKER bet. The next time he says that, you need to come back with "Well, why did we even play the first 17 holes. What is the point? What is it that I accomplished? Why don't we just have individual bets on each hole, oh wait, that game is called Skins and we should have started that on the first hole."

The press is to be able to break even for the team or person that is down in the match. It is not meant for a one hole comeback that discounts the first 17 holes. However, the press can be used to break even on the first bet, if used early enough. And then it's used to WIN the second bet outright. However, it is assumed that the first bet is lost, thus creating a need for the press. Bad betters take early presses from opponents. Think rope a dope or being hustled. I'm going to play to a 10 handicap on the first 12 holes, and then play to a 2 on the last six. This works when you haven't played with the person before and doesn't know your potential. Handicap is BS when determining risk on the bet, just knowing what they can pull off is need to know info. I've done this, by missing a lot putts from 10 feet by just rushing the putts. Then trying to make them on the last six. If you make them, you win, if you don't make them, you set yourself up for the early press and could double your money. It's a classic strategy, albeit a risky one, especially if the guy you're playing against ups his game on the last six holes and locks you out. Basically, now you're thinking, "Well, this guy could have been 8 or 9 up after 12 holes, he just kept it reasonable." I love the guys that say, "Well, I only won 2 up." Ohhhh, ok. You clearly kept it respectable so no one questions your true ability.

To modify a Bobby Jones quote, "There is golf and there is gambling golf, and the two aren't very much alike."