I mean, how do you approach and play a random game, in a place and environment where you typically play, against an average opponent you usually encounter? What game would it be? Would it be a competitive match, a game for money or just playing for fun? You're feeling well, your concentration is OK and you're not in a slump, but you're not playing for your life either, so your motivation is quite average as well. You have the break shot.
It's actually hard to explain what I want to ask you so I'll give an example myself.
- Game: last pocket 8 ball, bar rules
- Match: just a fun night out with friends
- Place: a bar with an ok 7ft table, but all cues are cheap and have more or less bad tips, chalk is scarce
- Environment: about a dozen or more people sitting in the bar, some are watching TV, others are just talking and laughing. a few half-drunk guys singing from time to time. A part of that small crowd is actually paying attention to pool from time to time, including my friends. you can hear the audience sometimes cheering or making comments regarding certain shots.
- Opponent: a guy who's a little better shotmaker than I am, quite better positioner (but inconsistent), a good strategist as well, but tends to risk too much on game-diciding shots, and from time to time overlook some obvious flaws of his plan
- Breaking: I order beer before I start, sometimes vodka. I go pick my favorite cue, find the center of balance (just to get the feeling) and chalk it up. Then I position the CB, almost always behind the headspot or completely to the sides of the kitchen. I break quite hard, aiming at second ball, rarely at the first or third.
- Beginning: Never mind if I made something on the break or not, in the next two-three innings I almost always play completely offensively. I go for easier shots one at a time and when I have nothing but difficult options left, I slam the CB and try to drop something simply by probability. I do the same thing when I want to rearrange the table.
- Mid-game: At this point both I usually go with one of the following two options. If I'm way ahead of my opponent (I have like to balls remaining, and he only pocketed one or two), I'll continue with my offensive until I come to the black or the opponent catches up. In case we're evenly matched or I'm the one behind, I'll switch to less risky tactics. Safeties, hiding the CB, blocking pockets, shooting only high-percentage shots.
- Late game: If I'm down on the black, and my opponent still has a few balls left, I'll take my time and spend 1-2 innings trying to get the 8 as close to my pocket as possible, and then finish it off when I get a clear shot, doing my best not to kick it away from the pocket if I miss and hoping the opponent doesn't move it away or block it with his balls. If that happens, I'll slowly work my way to the pocket again. I mean, he's the one who needs to catch up after all.
If we're both on the black, then I usually go for my pocket at any given opportunity, even if it means shooting a trickshot. At the same time I adjust the speed, hoping not to leave him a clear shot at his pocket. Or, I can go for a defensive strategy, not trying to pocket the 8 just yet but positioning the 8 and the CB that way he's left only with a risky shot, or safety as well. It often pays off in the end, as he loses temper, shoots and drops the 8 into a wrong pocket.
If he's on the 8, and I still have OB's left, then I can only play smart and be patient. Lots of safeties, setting intentional traps and going for high-percentage shots when he misses, until I get to the black as well or he drops it in a wrong hole.
Your turn now.
It's actually hard to explain what I want to ask you so I'll give an example myself.
- Game: last pocket 8 ball, bar rules
- Match: just a fun night out with friends
- Place: a bar with an ok 7ft table, but all cues are cheap and have more or less bad tips, chalk is scarce
- Environment: about a dozen or more people sitting in the bar, some are watching TV, others are just talking and laughing. a few half-drunk guys singing from time to time. A part of that small crowd is actually paying attention to pool from time to time, including my friends. you can hear the audience sometimes cheering or making comments regarding certain shots.
- Opponent: a guy who's a little better shotmaker than I am, quite better positioner (but inconsistent), a good strategist as well, but tends to risk too much on game-diciding shots, and from time to time overlook some obvious flaws of his plan
- Breaking: I order beer before I start, sometimes vodka. I go pick my favorite cue, find the center of balance (just to get the feeling) and chalk it up. Then I position the CB, almost always behind the headspot or completely to the sides of the kitchen. I break quite hard, aiming at second ball, rarely at the first or third.
- Beginning: Never mind if I made something on the break or not, in the next two-three innings I almost always play completely offensively. I go for easier shots one at a time and when I have nothing but difficult options left, I slam the CB and try to drop something simply by probability. I do the same thing when I want to rearrange the table.
- Mid-game: At this point both I usually go with one of the following two options. If I'm way ahead of my opponent (I have like to balls remaining, and he only pocketed one or two), I'll continue with my offensive until I come to the black or the opponent catches up. In case we're evenly matched or I'm the one behind, I'll switch to less risky tactics. Safeties, hiding the CB, blocking pockets, shooting only high-percentage shots.
- Late game: If I'm down on the black, and my opponent still has a few balls left, I'll take my time and spend 1-2 innings trying to get the 8 as close to my pocket as possible, and then finish it off when I get a clear shot, doing my best not to kick it away from the pocket if I miss and hoping the opponent doesn't move it away or block it with his balls. If that happens, I'll slowly work my way to the pocket again. I mean, he's the one who needs to catch up after all.
If we're both on the black, then I usually go for my pocket at any given opportunity, even if it means shooting a trickshot. At the same time I adjust the speed, hoping not to leave him a clear shot at his pocket. Or, I can go for a defensive strategy, not trying to pocket the 8 just yet but positioning the 8 and the CB that way he's left only with a risky shot, or safety as well. It often pays off in the end, as he loses temper, shoots and drops the 8 into a wrong pocket.
If he's on the 8, and I still have OB's left, then I can only play smart and be patient. Lots of safeties, setting intentional traps and going for high-percentage shots when he misses, until I get to the black as well or he drops it in a wrong hole.
Your turn now.
