John Schmidt 6 Pocket Challenge

["I ask the question, What is Pool Exactly?"]

In my mind it's 14.1 and 15-ball rotation. Johnnyt
 
Not to rain on anyone's parade but isn't there also a game called Equal Offense which uses a ten rack format and points? I believe and am too lazy to look it up that this is also a format which the individual plays ten racks and gets points for the balls they pocketed.

I ask the question, What is Pool Exactly?

Equal Offense is kind of similar, except you play to 20 in each rack. You must leave the final ball to break the next rack with (ala straight pool) to get the last 5 balls. Fun game but not quite as similar as the Q-Skills challenge.

I don't know much about Fargo...

And to answer your question...14.1/rotation/1-pocket are pool :grin:

Jim
 
We played on the break, the cue ball can touch the rail, after that NO. This is not the normal way to play though. (I'm using Johns account again)

By the way, John took 3 penalty strokes to shoot his 107 with the un-playable shot rule.....
I am seaking revenge today for supper tonight. We are playing again,this time John is scratch and I get to add my 6.9 league handicap.:thumbup:

Results tomorrow!!:)

OK, I got my chance and here's the results.......

Dick- 3,5,4,4,0:mad:,10,15:),15:),6,10 - 2 penalty points + 69hdcp. = 139

John- 15,15,15,13,15,15,15,15,10,15 - 1 penalty point = 142

For the world beaters this game is pretty simple for a guy like me its a challenge, rewarding when I score a 15 and frustrating as He## when you miss the simplest of shots.

By the way, the action went up $$ we had steaks!!
 
And the Allen Hopkins drill. Johnnyt

And "Fargo".... I think they all morphed from Allen's game. It's called Equal Offense isn't it? Personally I think it is a good practice routine, but I wouldn't think it would be very enjoyable as a competition. Where is the player interaction, playing safes when stuck, etc.
 
Equal Offense is kind of similar, except you play to 20 in each rack. You must leave the final ball to break the next rack with (ala straight pool) to get the last 5 balls. Fun game but not quite as similar as the Q-Skills challenge.

I don't know much about Fargo...

And to answer your question...14.1/rotation/1-pocket are pool :grin:

Jim

Fargo is like Equal Offense except you spot anything that goes in on the break, take ball in hand for your first shot, and switch to rotation whenever you choose not at a prescribed number of balls.
From AZ's own Mike Page http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHj6KUw8xzE
 
Jim...That's not the Equal Offense that Jerry Briesath taught me 25 years ago, and not the rules that were printed in the BCA rulebook. You play out the rack, exactly as described in Hopkins Q-Skill Drill or 6-pocket, rerack, and break again...shoot until you miss...rerack and break again, etc.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Equal Offense is kind of similar, except you play to 20 in each rack. You must leave the final ball to break the next rack with (ala straight pool) to get the last 5 balls.

Jim
 
Steve...Equal Offense was around LONG before Hopkin's Q-Skill Drill.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

And "Fargo".... I think they all morphed from Allen's game. It's called Equal Offense isn't it? Personally I think it is a good practice routine, but I wouldn't think it would be very enjoyable as a competition. Where is the player interaction, playing safes when stuck, etc.
 
Jim...That's not the Equal Offense that Jerry Briesath taught me 25 years ago, and not the rules that were printed in the BCA rulebook. You play out the rack, exactly as described in Hopkins Q-Skill Drill or 6-pocket, rerack, and break again...shoot until you miss...rerack and break again, etc.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Well... Here's what I found...

2.2 Equal Offense
Same rules as straight pool (14.1) except as noted. (You must be
familiar with those rules, or EO won't make much sense, especially the
break shot with the 15th ball
.) Each player gets ten turns alone at the
table; a turn begins with an open break of a full rack, and ends on a
miss, foul, or run of twenty. Respot any balls that go in on the open
break, and start with ball in hand in the kitchen. There is no penalty
for scratching on the break. A foul does not subtract points, it just
ends the turn, but balls made on a foul do not count. There is no
head-to-head play, so there are no safeties.


Bob Byrnes book describes the game exactly this way also.
 
6 Pocket vs. Equal Offense vs. Fargo vs. Allen Hphins, et. al.

Simply put, while I suppose one could say that each is a derivative of the other, it is also the case that none of these games are exactly the same as any of the others.

6 Pocket was conceived, designed, and is being perfected to provide for a single game format that players of all skill levels can participate in and enjoy...at thome, in a league, in schools with billiards programs, and in professional competition.

In fact at 6 Pocket, our mission statement is:

"To elevate the billiards industry to a never before seen level of social acceptability and professional competition."

We believe that we will absolutley achieve this goal and that in large part our success depends on the removal of defensive play from the game of pool.

We also believe that it will have a tremendous impact on the way recreational players gather together in their game rooms at home, in pool rooms and bars, and at entertainment facilities that feature pool, becuase it is a game of individual competition where there is no requirement for teams - even though you can certainly play in a team format.

Further, it is the complete pacakge of the game, the scoring and ranking method, and the Level Play handicapping system that ties this all together and gives us an "environment" where we may well do for billiards what Texas Hold'em did for poker.

We see a future where, when asked if "you wanna go shoot some pool" the parties involved know exactly what that means....6 Pocket, 10 rack game, 1 point per ball pocketed, penalty points only on the break, netted to handicap.

Not, what are we gunna play, 9 ball, 8 ball, 1 pocket, straight pool, banks, or something else entirely, and then have to argue about which rule set to use.
 
We see a future where, when asked if "you wanna go shoot some pool" the parties involved know exactly what that means....6 Pocket, 10 rack game, 1 point per ball pocketed, penalty points only on the break, netted to handicap.

Not, what are we gunna play, 9 ball, 8 ball, 1 pocket, straight pool, banks, or something else entirely, and then have to argue about which rule set to use.

Unfortnately for 6pocket, Im not convinced this will never happen. Too many people enjoy playing the other games. Im sure there is many a player who have strayed from the games that they naturally play with the people that they play the most with, but, seems to me that they get bored with the new ones and come back to the games that they are most familiar with. But thats just one persons opinion.

I actually havent played yet, but printed out the score cards and the rules to try it a few times with some buddies. I hope im wrong and we enjoy playing it more than 9 ball, 8 ball, and 14.1. which are our games of choice.
 
Further, it is the complete pacakge of the game, the scoring and ranking method, and the Level Play handicapping system that ties this all together and gives us an "environment" where we may well do for billiards what Texas Hold'em did for poker.

We see a future where, when asked if "you wanna go shoot some pool" the parties involved know exactly what that means....6 Pocket, 10 rack game, 1 point per ball pocketed, penalty points only on the break, netted to handicap.

Not, what are we gunna play, 9 ball, 8 ball, 1 pocket, straight pool, banks, or something else entirely, and then have to argue about which rule set to use.

If you say so. Personally I don't see it happening. 8-ball is too entrenched in the American subconscious as being "pool". You walk into any bar with a pool table and nine times out of ten the game people are playing is 8 ball on a challenge table.

Your future involves quite a bit of marketing to erase the entrenched idea of what "pool" is to most Americans who don't even play pool.

And most serious players don't stand around going what are we going to go and play and to which rule sets. They go to the pool room and match up with people at any number of games that they feel adept at. They enjoy the give and take of punch and counterpunch that comes from the heads-up tit-for-tat competition.

I doubt that there are going to be a bunch of casual players standing around going "hey let's go shoot some pool" and they mean let's go and shoot a structured set of ten racks with a score sheet and a handicap table and then compare our scores over some beers.

Going to shoot pool casually means that you could care less about actually competing and keeping score unless it's to try and impress a girl or win a beer.

I have been around this game for 25 years and have seen all kinds of games come and go. I suppose with some serious promotion and putting rubber to the road it could work.

I wish you the best in this endeavor. For me personally though if this did replace traditional pool games then I'd probably be done with pool altogether.
 
If you say so. Personally I don't see it happening. 8-ball is too entrenched in the American subconscious as being "pool". You walk into any bar with a pool table and nine times out of ten the game people are playing is 8 ball on a challenge table.

Your future involves quite a bit of marketing to erase the entrenched idea of what "pool" is to most Americans who don't even play pool.

And most serious players don't stand around going what are we going to go and play and to which rule sets. They go to the pool room and match up with people at any number of games that they feel adept at. They enjoy the give and take of punch and counterpunch that comes from the heads-up tit-for-tat competition.

I doubt that there are going to be a bunch of casual players standing around going "hey let's go shoot some pool" and they mean let's go and shoot a structured set of ten racks with a score sheet and a handicap table and then compare our scores over some beers.

Going to shoot pool casually means that you could care less about actually competing and keeping score unless it's to try and impress a girl or win a beer.

I have been around this game for 25 years and have seen all kinds of games come and go. I suppose with some serious promotion and putting rubber to the road it could work.

I wish you the best in this endeavor. For me personally though if this did replace traditional pool games then I'd probably be done with pool altogether.

I thought that was the beauty of pool that there where so many different discipline to choose from. No other sport can you really pick a different version of the game. So if 6 pocket takes off thats great but there will still be plenty of people playing all the other games pool has to offer.
 
Jim...My apologies. It appears the rules have changed (I haven't played equal offense in over 20 yrs., but when I did, you only could get a maximum of 15 'points' per rack). Thanks for the correction! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Well... Here's what I found...

2.2 Equal Offense
Same rules as straight pool (14.1) except as noted. (You must be
familiar with those rules, or EO won't make much sense, especially the
break shot with the 15th ball
.) Each player gets ten turns alone at the
table; a turn begins with an open break of a full rack, and ends on a
miss, foul, or run of twenty. Respot any balls that go in on the open
break, and start with ball in hand in the kitchen. There is no penalty
for scratching on the break. A foul does not subtract points, it just
ends the turn, but balls made on a foul do not count. There is no
head-to-head play, so there are no safeties.


Bob Byrnes book describes the game exactly this way also.
 
John...tap, tap, tap. I'm in agreement with you. This is just another attempt to further fractionalize the sport. The "average" player (meaning the 30+ million being 'targeted' here), will know about 8-ball (and have some idea of the rules); MAY know about 9-ball (because of pool on tv); but will have NO knowledge of 10-ball, straight pool, one-pocket, or banks...let alone this newest 'incarnation'. It's quite a stretch to think that this will replace any pool game, let alone be embraced by the pros, imo. Nothing inherently wrong with 6-Pocket, and it's something somewhat 'new' for the players...but it will likely never catch on with the mainstream.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

If you say so. Personally I don't see it happening. 8-ball is too entrenched in the American subconscious as being "pool". You walk into any bar with a pool table and nine times out of ten the game people are playing is 8 ball on a challenge table.

Your future involves quite a bit of marketing to erase the entrenched idea of what "pool" is to most Americans who don't even play pool.

And most serious players don't stand around going what are we going to go and play and to which rule sets. They go to the pool room and match up with people at any number of games that they feel adept at. They enjoy the give and take of punch and counterpunch that comes from the heads-up tit-for-tat competition.

I doubt that there are going to be a bunch of casual players standing around going "hey let's go shoot some pool" and they mean let's go and shoot a structured set of ten racks with a score sheet and a handicap table and then compare our scores over some beers.

Going to shoot pool casually means that you could care less about actually competing and keeping score unless it's to try and impress a girl or win a beer.

I have been around this game for 25 years and have seen all kinds of games come and go. I suppose with some serious promotion and putting rubber to the road it could work.

I wish you the best in this endeavor. For me personally though if this did replace traditional pool games then I'd probably be done with pool altogether.
 
Jim...My apologies. It appears the rules have changed (I haven't played equal offense in over 20 yrs., but when I did, you only could get a maximum of 15 'points' per rack). Thanks for the correction! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

No problem Scott. I agree with both you and John. When a non-avid player says lets shoot some pool, they play 8-ball. I'm like John and just don't see guys saying "Hey, go grab the scoresheets and lets run down to the bar for some pool".

Maybe it's my own bias. I love straight pool and 1-pocket. I just don't see this game replacing either of those. It does sort of remind me of the Internet Equal Offense leagues though. Are any of those still around?

Jim
 
I'm not sure I would want to bet it all on 6 ball doing for pool what Texas Hold'em did for poker because Hold'em didn't really do anything for poker. Hold'em has been around forever, way before poker's mushrooming increase in popularity, and has been played as the main event game in the World Series of Poker since the early days. And the WSOP has been on TV for years before it had any ratings or created any interest in the game at all.

Poker's recent success was not due to a particular game at all but instead was due to the TV innovation of the "hole card camera". This is what made poker interesting to watch on television and therefore made people want to go out and play it. As poker became more popular Hold'Em got more exposure and people wanted to play the game because that's what they saw the pros play on TV. But it could have been any game.

Also, I don't think whoever it was that "invented" Hold'em has made any money on the rise in it's popularity. If the game of 6 Ball does indeed catch on then I would expect the BCA and APA would offer league nights based around the game just as casinos started opening more Hold'em tables as more people wanted to play that game. But I do wish you luck with the new league and I note that so far whatever success the 14.1 league has had it has not yet appeared on the radar screens of either the APA or BCAPL to the extent that either of them are offering straight pool league nights.

Personally, I don't hope that the day comes when if people say "let's go shoot pool" it only means one thing. I think that is one of the great aspects about pool, that there are so many variations in which to find enjoyment, challenge, and entertainment.
 
Open Minded

We would never ask anyone to give up their favorite game and we realize 8 Ball is probably the most popular game in the world. One thing all pool games have in common is......they all started somewhere. I'm old enough to remember when 14.1 was THE GAME and it was shown on TV with large audiences and national sponsors, what happened to that? The invention of 9 ball?

I know it is human nature to 1st - find out whats wrong with it, pick it a part, 2nd - to let it run its course and see what happens, 3rd - Hey lets jump on board and help support it.

Thanks.......
 
Let me in..

Being a room operator ,We are always trying to promote the game of "POOL" or "BILLIARDS". This sounds exciting and have introduced it already to some of the players that visited lately to my room.
So let me in...tell me how to " sanction my room...
Terry:thumbup:
 
I'll support it, I've played it a little and it's ok. Not an earth shattering game, but ok. I think it works as a league game (where you expect people to play structured sets and write down scores and deal with handicap). And if turns out to be the ULTIMATE league game that's great.. best of luck.

I just don't see it changing the face of pool because it has no 'flavor'. Straight pool has that long run grindiness. 9 ball has that fast luckiness and runoutness. 1 pocket has that strategic buntiness. But so far I don't feel any flavor for 6-pocket. It's just making balls without and particular rules or restriction.

I still wish it the best and I think it's inane for anyone to suggest there should be one single universal discipline for pool. Even in the days of straight pool (a game I obviously love) I wouldn't want pool to be primarily one game, with other games looked at as quirky hobbies that are unrelated to the 'real' game.

I think the 'game situation' in pool is fine right now. If some genie offered me the chance to make pool 10 times more popular, at the expense of erasing 1 pocket, rotation, or even fargo... I'd tell him to get bent.
 
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