Ever heard of this game?

Saturated Fats

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I moved to the Cleveland area some years ago. I’ve played in several parts of the country, but never encountered this game. It’s a local favorite for a ring game.

It goes by the name Five-Ten-Fifteen. Several players play rotation with all fifteen balls. You win one unit for making the five, one unit for making the ten, one unit for making the fifteen and two units for the highest number of total points (each ball’s point value is its number). Each game then has a total of five units and you pay or get paid for the difference between yours and theirs.

When four players play – which seems to be the most popular version – it is a partner game. Whoever makes the one and whoever makes the five become partners. If the same person makes them both, then the next ball in rotation made by someone else determines partners. If one player gets all of the balls from the five up, there are no partners. This helps to somewhat balance the differences in skill because the least skilled player may be partnered up with the most skilled for any given game.

The break rotates evenly through the players – if there are four players, you break every fourth time. The balls are racked by the player who broke the previous game – not really important. The one is in front and the three pay balls are racked in the middle. All others are racked at random.

When partners are determined, the rotation for that game may change so that partners don’t follow each other. If for example, the first player in rotation is partnered up with the second player in rotation, the second player would become the third and the third would become the second.

Like most ring games, everyone must make an honest attempt to pocket a ball legally. If a player fouls, the next player may opt to have him shoot again – repeatedly, if necessary. All balls are spotted when made illegally and the next player shoots from the kitchen.

It’s a fun game. I’m wondering if it is a local concoction.
 
There is a game i used to play in NJ called 1and5 that is very close if not the same as this one. Almost always played with 4 players. But can be played with 3.
 
The game that your referring to is called "Chicago". We play every week with four players, there are a few subtle differences though, the money balls are the 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15 plus a point value of 61 or more equalling 7-ways at some pre-determined dollar amount -- usually $1.00 or $2.00 a way, sometimes more dependant on the players involved. Popular in New York and New Jersey, can also be played one-on-one.
 
When I had my room on Long Island I had 1 or 2 tables going 12 hours a day with what we called "Money Ball". In my room we played it mostly with partners with two players on each of the two teams. The money balls were the 1, 5, 10, 15, and total points...five ways. Partners were made up of the guy that got the 1-ball and the player that got the 5-ball. If one player got the 1 and the 5-ball, then the 10-ball was the partner ball. If same guy got the 1, 5, and 10, then the guy that had the highest total # of points was his partner. If one player got the 1, 5, 10, and total points (61+), then that was called a "Roundhouse" and he got paid double from the other 3 players. We mostly played a buck a money ball or way, so if you got a roundhouse you got $10 a man or $30 total from the 3 players. The table time on that game paid my whole nut. Rent, electric, everything. This was in the 1960's. The "Bushwacker" Gary Nolan use to get in the games when they'ed let him. He played good back then too as a teenager. Johnnyt
 
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Where I played in NY this is called Razzle. Also called the same name in the New England area, IIRC.
One difference, the lowest ball has to move is all, not be hit.
 
The game that your referring to is called "Chicago". We play every week with four players, there are a few subtle differences though, the money balls are the 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15 plus a point value of 61 or more equalling 7-ways at some pre-determined dollar amount -- usually $1.00 or $2.00 a way, sometimes more dependant on the players involved. Popular in New York and New Jersey, can also be played one-on-one.

You're right. Any poolroom you walked into for 1950-1975 in the NY-NJ area you'd find some variation of Chicago being played. Other tables had 14.1 on them. Johnnyt
 
i just learned a new game(new to me) they called 'pea pool' that seems similar to this, probably originated from the suburbs of Chicago:) You each draw a couple of pea;s. Make someones pea, earn a buck. make your own for two bucks.Very fun offensive game. I would imagine that safety play is allowed in 5-10-15 ? I will try this game out.
 
Like most ring games, everyone must make an honest attempt to pocket a ball legally. If a player fouls, the next player may opt to have him shoot again – repeatedly, if necessary. All balls are spotted when made illegally and the next player shoots from the kitchen.

It’s a fun game. I’m wondering if it is a local concoction.
No safetys? I would think that once partners were determined, safe play would be allowed. ??
 
No safetys? I would think that once partners were determined, safe play would be allowed. ??

No safety play where I played. With the rules for only having to move the next ball in rotation, it was just loss of shot.
I didn't mention before, the game was often banned by the owner because serious arguments often arose, I guess as to whether or not a ball moved. I only played the game a few times myself, seemed kinda silly because of the ball having to just move and not hit. A lot of money changed hands in the game, though, and it would be played for hours.
I have played Pill Pool or Pea Pool as an above poster mentioned. It's even in the Rule book, I think.
 
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No safetys? I would think that once partners were determined, safe play would be allowed. ??

we always play push out.
you can play safe. the following player can push out. if you give the shot back and there is no hit or scratch then its bih.
 
game

The game that your referring to is called "Chicago". We play every week with four players, there are a few subtle differences though, the money balls are the 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15 plus a point value of 61 or more equalling 7-ways at some pre-determined dollar amount -- usually $1.00 or $2.00 a way, sometimes more dependant on the players involved. Popular in New York and New Jersey, can also be played one-on-one.

That is a form of game we played down here in Georgia, but we called it JACK POOL wagered what ever on each ball or points:confused::confused:
 
The game that your referring to is called "Chicago". We play every week with four players, there are a few subtle differences though, the money balls are the 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15 plus a point value of 61 or more equalling 7-ways at some pre-determined dollar amount -- usually $1.00 or $2.00 a way, sometimes more dependant on the players involved. Popular in New York and New Jersey, can also be played one-on-one.

Played Chicago in my early pool days ('60s) in NYC. Same way - 6 $ balls as you mentioned.
 
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