flickr.com/olliethebastard
Billiards, like darts and poker, continues to enjoy huge popularity because of the many variations on the basic game. One Pocket billiards is just one of the many choices available to billiards players. Sometimes, One Pocket billiards is referred to as the “soccer” of billiards.
In One Pocket billiards, the possible pockets for players to shoot at are lessened from six (in standard Eight Ball play) to two. This offers the added strategy of requiring the shooter to specialize in specific types of shots. In One Pocket billiards, you must name the pocket for your intended shot. However, it is not necessary to call the ball that will go into the specified pocket.
The resemblance of One Pocket billiards to soccer is that the specified pocket on every shot is the opponent’s target goal. In other words, every player is essentially defending his or her target pocket. This requires each player to put a defensive strategy into play, in addition to the normal offensive strategies of billiards. If a player does not shoot a ball into the opponent’s target pocket, but shoots a ball into any of the remaining pockets, the shot is then declared an “illegally pocketed” ball.
Before starting the game, the two shooters will select which pocket on either edge of the table to use as a target pocket. The balls are placed randomly in the racking triangle. The breaking shooter is required to make at least one ball into the targeted pocket, or cause at least one contacted ball hit a cushion, in order for her or his turn to continue. When the target pocket has been scored on eight or more times, the game is finished.
 |
Proven Techniques That Are Guaranteed to Turn Good Players Into Great |
 |
If a shooter happens to pocket a ball in her or his own pocket, it provides the opponent a winning point total, and the shooter loses the game. The goal is to successfully pocket eight balls in the target, or opponent’s goal pocket. This simply means that the shooter will have pocketed more than half of the total game balls into the opponent’s pocket. If the shooter has six pocketed balls and his or her opponent has seven, and the shooter inadvertently pockets a ball in his or her own goal, the opponent wins the game.
Billiards, in it’s many variations, is an enjoyable game of skill. One Pocket billiards features an element of strategy that makes it a truly addictive and enjoyable sport. Try One Pocket billiards, and, I’m sure, it will soon become one of your favorite ways to play.
Tagged with: billiards game • billiards tournament
Filed under: Billiards