Is there a version of 8-ball where...

Pin

Pin

Registered
Is there a version of 8-ball where players take alternate (single) shots, instead of innings?

I think the strategy would be interesting, more like chess (or at least checkers). If you've got more balls on the table than the other guy, you have to do something smarter than just pocketing a ball each time you shoot. Some combination of improving your ball, worsening the other guy's, and not leaving him a shot.

You'd probably need to fine-tune the rules to give the right level of incentives for hooking and for covering pockets, to make the game play out well.
 
Pin said:
Is there a version of 8-ball where players take alternate (single) shots, instead of innings?

I think the strategy would be interesting, more like chess (or at least checkers). If you've got more balls on the table than the other guy, you have to do something smarter than just pocketing a ball each time you shoot. Some combination of improving your ball, worsening the other guy's, and not leaving him a shot.

You'd probably need to fine-tune the rules to give the right level of incentives for hooking and for covering pockets, to make the game play out well.
Click to expand...
There are gaff games like, one and stop or one and play safe. In other words you can't run two.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pin
Do those apply to both players, or just to handicap one?

Does one and stop make an interesting game?
 
Pin said:
Is there a version of 8-ball where players take alternate (single) shots, instead of innings?

I think the strategy would be interesting, more like chess (or at least checkers). If you've got more balls on the table than the other guy, you have to do something smarter than just pocketing a ball each time you shoot. Some combination of improving your ball, worsening the other guy's, and not leaving him a shot.

You'd probably need to fine-tune the rules to give the right level of incentives for hooking and for covering pockets, to make the game play out well.
Click to expand...
Sounds really slow/boring to me. No offense sir but i just don't get all these attempts at improving a game. 8b as-is is a great game. So is last-pocket 8b.
 
Last edited:
Get on a table with a buddy and try it. Alternate shots... first to make all their balls and sink the 8 wins. Play ball in hand fouls, or no fouls. Play push shots( like moving a pawn to a clear space).

Make a game that seems fun and post it here for us to see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pin
At the pool club I belong to now everyone plays 8 ball with the 1 and 15 must hole out in the side pockets. But not the same side pocket. Almost impossible to run the table as in the rack the 1 and 15 are behind the 8 ball and usually they stay behind the rack when broken up.
 
Might be centuries before people learned how to play that game. The OP's game that is lol...
 
Last edited:
Prairie dog said:
At the pool club I belong to now everyone plays 8 ball with the 1 and 15 must hole out in the side pockets. But not the same side pocket. Almost impossible to run the table as in the rack the 1 and 15 are behind the 8 ball and usually they stay behind the rack when broken up.
Click to expand...
Sounds like nothing but a way for the house to make more $$ on pool time.
 
Interesting way to play 8 ball I've tried a couple times is Hi/Low. Play is normal except only the high and low ball of a given set are available.
 
Prairie dog said:
At the pool club I belong to now everyone plays 8 ball with the 1 and 15 must hole out in the side pockets. But not the same side pocket. Almost impossible to run the table as in the rack the 1 and 15 are behind the 8 ball and usually they stay behind the rack when broken up.
Click to expand...

Played with some Italians who insisted on that rule. Doesn’t really work on a coin op table.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I was thinking alternate shots might be more interesting to watch. At high levels, 8-ball is just a run-out game, but slowing it down and making it more tactical could make a deeper game that encouraged the audience to think about what was going on, what they might try to do.

I think TV, by speeding pool up, stripped it of intricacy, nuance, and interest. Even sense of conflict - there's not much visible battle between the players when one doesn't even get to the table.

On the other hand, 1 and 15 in the sides (Alabama?) and rotation 8-ball sound good too.
 
mnorwood said:
Why not try rotation 8 ball as the pro game?
Click to expand...
It's TOUGH, but it is a good fun game between similarly skilled shooters.

What the heck is the name of the game? I thought it was called Fargo, but google is just giving me Fargo rating pages.
 
Pin said:
Is there a version of 8-ball where players take alternate (single) shots, instead of innings?

I think the strategy would be interesting, more like chess (or at least checkers). If you've got more balls on the table than the other guy, you have to do something smarter than just pocketing a ball each time you shoot. Some combination of improving your ball, worsening the other guy's, and not leaving him a shot.

You'd probably need to fine-tune the rules to give the right level of incentives for hooking and for covering pockets, to make the game play out well.
Click to expand...
I like your creative thinking.

2/3rds of many Snooker games are like this. There is no rule about alternate shots but there still might be for a dozen consecutive visits to the table without an attempt to sink a ball.

Friends and I make up all sorts of billiard games. And when playing on my own at home I almost never play any conventional game. I’m always tweaking a rule to add a fun dimension.

Many Pool players approach a table and believe they are choosing the best strategy as in ‘what ball should I pot first to get on the next, etc.’ In contrast, the best approach is ‘what should be my shot?’…period. It’s not necessarily about potting a ball to get to the next. When you play a variety of games such as one pocket, rotation, made up games, your thinking sees more possibilities on the table.
 
I don't think this game exists as described in the initial post, but if you enjoy it, play it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pin
We played 1-15 8Ball back in the early 60's, tried to get a game awhile back and everyone believed it was trick game.
 
boogieman said:
It's TOUGH, but it is a good fun game between similarly skilled shooters.

What the heck is the name of the game? I thought it was called Fargo, but google is just giving me Fargo rating pages.
Click to expand...

saratoga is the name.

i think rodney morris tried to get it going on a tour of some sort. i've played it, it's a fun variation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top