Awesome thread. It seems like I've been wading through crap all week, but I like the topic and responses so far.
In poker, pool,
and chess, I have played the role of backer and player. I have won, I have lost, but each "opportunity" is fun. Some of my greatest pool "memories" involve backer situations.
I always felt more pressure when I'm backed because it's not my money. I'm much more "reckless" with my money than I am with someone else's because I want to show a good return, and I want to be able to use that investor in the future.
That being said, I guess it does (somewhat) affect my play, but only to the extent that it makes me play better. But that's just me. Pressure is natural, I think it just comes down to how you handle the pressure. I think this is what Zybomb was alluding to.
I like that TP didn't care about writing that check. I don't think I would have cared either. In my mind, if not for the backer, I wouldn't be writing the check to begin with. It's a simple business transaction.
Oh, and anyone who says their game doesn't change if they are playing w/ backer-money has either (i) never been backed, or (ii) is full of shit.
IMHO.
