What should you really do?

[14-1StraightMan]

Nice post. As I noted in post 13, though, take one foul and, if your opponent so desires, it will probably be you shooting the long shot. Accounting for opponent's stylistic preferences and skills is critical here.

Thanks. Yes, I agree, your opponent can turn the table right around on you. I lost a match once because I chose to take a foul and my opponent put me up table "on the Brunswick". I needed 7 balls to win & he needed 11. I took the shot & missed, he won.... That voice in my head was telling me not to take the foul and to play safe up table and I went against myself.
That is what makes the game so great.

 

[ideologist]

What about...

I set up my table like this and tried playing top-left off the 9 and rolling up onto the 10 to leave the opponent buried. Got it the first try. Doesn't need a hard hit at all, 9 moves a couple inches, cue does all the work for you and you don't foul.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I set up my table like this and tried playing top-left off the 9 and rolling up onto the 10 to leave the opponent buried. Got it the first try. Doesn't need a hard hit at all, 9 moves a couple inches, cue does all the work for you and you don't foul.

I can't understand what you are proposing. The 3 is between the cue ball and the 10. Are you taking a foul?

 

[ideologist]

Sorry, I will clarify. Shoot the cueball into the 9, thinning/caroming it, with top-left spin [not so much left as top to slow the cue down]. Aim to hit diamond 2 on the long rail from the corner pocket. Cue rolls back up between 3 and 10. Opponent is now in jail if he is within 1 inch of the 10..

Like this:

I can't understand what you are proposing. The 3 is between the cue ball and the 10. Are you taking a foul?

 

[alstl]

In a match I would take three fouls, take the penalty and rack and break.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Perhaps I'm a little confused here but I don't even think you necessarily want the cueball back in the stack. From what I see, leaving a shot on the 15 (or any ball) is unlikely. Just thin the 9 and have it touch the rail. That way, the incoming player's options are limited to shooting toward the rack and not away from it.

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Perhaps I'm a little confused here but I don't even think you necessarily want the cueball back in the stack. From what I see, leaving a shot on the 15 (or any ball) is unlikely. Just thin the 9 and have it touch the rail. That way, the incoming player's options are limited to shooting toward the rack and not away from it.

Jude, that would be a good safe but if you look at comment #12 (photo of the balls on the table). There is a good space between the 5 & 12 ball to make that combo in the corner. By using the 9 ball or without it, if there is a clear shot.

 

[sjm]

Thanks. Yes, I agree, your opponent can turn the table right around on you. I lost a match once because I chose to take a foul and my opponent put me up table "on the Brunswick". I needed 7 balls to win & he needed 11. I took the shot & missed, he won.... That voice in my head was telling me not to take the foul and to play safe up table and I went against myself.
That is what makes the game so great.

Thanks for sharing your story. Seems you learned a valuable lesson on that occasion.

Anticipating the tactical counterplay in 14.1 is quite difficult, but, as you note, it's quite satisfying when you work it out correctly and outmaneuver an opponent to beat them to the first good shot.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Jude, that would be a good safe but if you look at comment #12 (photo of the balls on the table). There is a good space between the 5 & 12 ball to make that combo in the corner. By using the 9 ball or without it, if there is a clear shot.

Ah, I get it now. Thanks! Yeah, if that is the case, the shooter might feel leaving a shot is somewhat inevitable. Of course, the safety shown later in the thread is a great shot and worth considering. I think everyone here knows that some days you know you're going to nail that safety and some days you don't. In my opinion, I might make other considerations like, when was the last time my opponent made a tough shot? Or, how tight are the pockets? Leaving them long isn't ideal but it's definitely better than the risk of leaving an explosive combo.

 

[alstl]

Perhaps I'm a little confused here but I don't even think you necessarily want the cueball back in the stack. From what I see, leaving a shot on the 15 (or any ball) is unlikely. Just thin the 9 and have it touch the rail. That way, the incoming player's options are limited to shooting toward the rack and not away from it.

In the wei diagram the 5-12 appear almost frozen. In the actual picture there is a gap between the balls. Not a difficult combination. If you thin the 9 you will either leave the 9 in the corner or the 9-5-12.

I would touch the cue ball, leave it where it is and either take the 3 foul penalty and re-rack or let my opponent play a sucker shot safety.

 

[Rumplestiltzkin]

I would probably sell the ranch 7 out of 10 shooting that, but the one time I pull it off might be worth it.