Learned a one pocket lesson yesterday.

measureman said:
The guy I play one pocket even plays pretty good and it's a battle to beat him.
He plays a safe that I have no none foul escape from other then to graze a ball and put him up table and let him have a tough cut on the 6 near his pocket about 8 inches off the foot rail with a full rack of balls slightly scattered.
He makes the cut and the cue ball comes off the rail into the middle of the balls opening them more and he runs 8 and out.
So next time if I decide not to push and take a foul I will put him up table so he is straight on the object ball and has to find a bank if he makes it.
I really didn't think he would go for it.
Now keep in mind that at this time we played for 3 hours and were dead even for $5 a game.
So we decided that the last game would be for the $5 and the unofficial one pocket championship of Felt billiards.
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You have been playing 50 years and just figured that out? 🤓
 
bbb said:
You have been playing 50 years and just figured that out? 🤓
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I've been playing 62 years and I didn't think the guy would go for a tough backwards cut from 8 feet away.
It was calculated risk.
If he missed it I would have had chance to run out or get a hand full of balls.
Sometimes you just have to challenge your opponent.
For $50 a game I would have taken an intentional foul but for $5 why not?
 
lfigueroa said:
Yes, the angle you leave is an important 1pocket lesson but there is another important lesson buried within your story: for $5 a game guys will swing at, and make, shots they wouldn't look at twice with a higher bet : -)

Lou Figueroa
just sayin'
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Yeah I know for $5 I probably would have done what he did.
For $50 I would have taken an intentional foul and left him no shot.
 
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measureman said:
I've been playing 62 years and I didn't think the guy would go for a tough backwards cut from 8 feet away.
It was calculated risk.
If he missed it I would have had chance to run out or get a hand full of balls.
Sometimes you just have to challenge your opponent.
For $50 a game I would have taken an intentional foul but for $5 why not?
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i was just teasing you
i get it..... (y)
 
measureman said:
I've been playing 62 years and I didn't think the guy would go for a tough backwards cut from 8 feet away.
It was calculated risk.
If he missed it I would have had chance to run out or get a hand full of balls.
Sometimes you just have to challenge your opponent.
For $50 a game I would have taken an intentional foul but for $5 why not?
Click to expand...
One pocket is risk and reward. Players will shoot at a shot that will win the game for them. They are not risking the game to get one ball.

I remember a top player commenting after losing an important match that he played too safe on a shot. He forced a desperate shot and the player made it and got out.
 
AZB Poster of the distant past Walt Frazier always noted that in one pocket defense, the goal is not to leave opponent a little air, but to leave them no air at all. Credit to your opponent here, but you learned a valuable lesson.
 
sjm said:
AZB Poster of the distant past Walt Frazier always noted that in one pocket defense, the goal is not to leave opponent a little air, but to leave them no air at all. Credit to your opponent here, but you learned a valuable lesson.
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I remembering when guys would play safe and games took 40 minutes nobody ever shot anything or ever took a risk. In no time half the balls are up table, it was horrible.

It seems today the players are far more aggressive and it's a style of play that I honestly prefer. It makes for a much better game. I just don't like living and dying over one game.
There's a difference between a conservative player, and a player that's just afraid to shoot and won't take any risk.
 
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sjm said:
AZB Poster of the distant past Walt Frazier always noted that in one pocket defense, the goal is not to leave opponent a little air, but to leave them no air at all. Credit to your opponent here, but you learned a valuable lesson.
Click to expand...
Thats good advice for high stakes but for $5 you cant play safe,safe for an hour that's no fun.
 
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