An understanding of the art of gamesmanship is a valuable string to any sportsperson’s bow. Does Rafael Nadal realise the effect his pre-serve routine has on an opponent?; does Tony Drago feel his tornado style disrupts the rhythm of the opposition?; will Rubens Barrichello think twice before attempting an overtaking manoeuvre against Michael Schumacher in the next race? All three would answer ‘yes’, but only in private of course, as gamesmanship is considered by many to be the dark art of sporting skills. But a skill none-the-less and one which has intrigued me for some time.

Allan P. Sand’s take on the subject, ‘The Psychology of Losing – Tricks, Traps & Sharks’, claims to provide educational opportunities in order to recognise mind games, both intentional and perhaps more interestingly, unintentional. The claim holds firm throughout the book, a comprehensive list of ‘sharking techniques’ commonly found in pool rooms and many other sporting arenas.

‘The Big Mouth’, a sharp shooter who has the gift of the gab and someone you just can’t help but be talked into wanting to pummel; ‘The Temper Tantrum’ in the corner, blowing up more of a storm with every error; ‘The Late-Show’ at the tournament; ‘The Old Geezer’ and the hot chick showing too much leg are all recognisable pool room characters who Sand identifies as a carefully designed ruse to keep you from your ‘A’ game.

On the whole, each sharking technique and corresponding response is described in sufficient detail to allow you to place yourself in the position of ‘sharkee’ and weigh up how you would react in each instance. If you are already a pool player of any standard you will have experienced some of these tactics and will revel in comparing your reaction at the time to Sand’s suggested response. If you are not a pool player, the read will probably leave you surprised at the lengths some competitors will travel to win. Either way, there is entertainment to be found.

Although ‘Tricks, Traps & Sharks’ are covered in depth, the book falls short in backing up the ‘psychology’ part of things. Many of the author’s suggested responses leave you confused as to what the aim of the game is. Retaliation is a common answer to the shark’s attempts to outwit you. Examples of this can be found in the ‘Ignoring’ section, where the shark is continually ignoring both you and the game after your visit is over. Sand recommends, “If you want to be proactive, instead of a courteous notification, try a jab in the ribs – not hard enough to hurt, but noticeable. Extra point if he appears irritated by this method”; and in the ‘Practical Joker’ shark, “At the most dramatic end of the scale, get wildly upset, then collapse to the ground”, is Sand’s suggestion for being the butt of a practical joke such as a whoopie cushion gag or remote control rat. Even in game play terms, Sand’s responses to sharking are questionable. Unscrewing your cues and conceding the match is suggested for a trickster using too much talc or chalk yet your opponent exposing a normally covered part of your body requires, “a short bathroom break”. Promising topics such as, ‘Time-Outs’, ‘Concessions’ and ‘Shark Yourself’ were unfortunately kept too brief.

‘The Psychology of Losing – Tricks, Traps & Sharks’, is a fun insight into the world of pool and the people that make it so colourful. Although not reaching the depths that the subject matter warrants, I cannot imagine a pool fan not wanting this in their collection.

You can buy a copy from Billiard God Productions here: Psychology of Losing…

Reviewer: Ben Moore, exclusively for Cuesportnews.com

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