Easy 8B puzzle! ( taken from a real match )

M

Mustardeer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Barbox 8B BCA rules, hill hill, 20K in the middle. Your opponent is a 664 Fargo. You’re solids and you got bih.

Do you:
A) 7 in the side to break up the 8B, make the 1 and run out

B) 6,4,5,1 ( or 2 ) then safety on the 2 ( or 1 )

C) Run out by playing short position on the 8B

D) Other

90B00F5B-EA71-4EC5-84F8-0B979B70A213.jpeg
 
Mustardeer said:
Barbox 8B BCA rules, hill hill, 20K in the middle. Your opponent is a 664 Fargo. You’re solids and you got bih.

Do you:
A) 7 in the side to break up the 8B, make the 1 and run out

B) 6,4,5,1 ( or 2 ) then safety on the 2 ( or 1 )

C) Run out by playing short position on the 8B

D) Other

View attachment 667864
Click to expand...
A then B in that order of preference. The short shape on the 8 is just too risky for me.
 
At first glance I like D). The 6, 4, then the 7 where you break out the 8, and from there it depends on exactly where the 8 ended up, but probably 1, 2, 5, 8.

The only real potential problems with this rack are the 8 with no easy pocket, but that can very easily be broken out from the 7 with easy paths to the 7 from anywhere and not a lot of precision required on where you land, and the other potential problem is the 4 and 5 on the same rail with the 6 blocking a lot of the positional angles to each. Between the two I think there is a greater potential for a problem of getting good on the 4 and 5 so I want to solve that problem first, and then solve the problem of the eight ball without an easy pocket as soon as possible after that, hence the pattern above.
 
Poolplaya9 said:
the other potential problem is the 4 and 5 on the same rail with the 6 blocking a lot of the positional angles to each. Between the two I think there is a greater potential for a problem of getting good on the 4 and 5 so I want to solve that problem first, and then solve the problem of the eight ball without an easy pocket as soon as possible after that, hence the pattern above.
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I don’t see the 4/5 as a problem. After playing the 7 and bumping the 8 out, you play the 1 then play the 2 to give you good shape on the 6 in the side, which easily leaves the 4/5 in opposite corners.
 
ChrisinNC said:
I don’t see the 4/5 as a problem. After playing the 7 and bumping the 8 out, you play the 1 then play the 2 to give you good shape on the 6 in the side, which easily leaves the 4/5 in opposite corners.
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I was thinking 6 and 4 both go in the corner and would be simpler from the 2. Treachery neutralized.
 
straightline said:
I was thinking 6 and 4 both go in the corner and would be simpler from the 2. Treachery neutralized.
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If it goes, but impossible to tell from the overhead whether you have a full pocket available to make the 6 in either corner, which is why I figured on the side pocket.
 
None of the above.

I shoot the five, then the four. Then I call safe and make the seven in the side snuggling the cue ball as close up to the 8-ball as possible along the rail.

Absent an absolute hero shot by my opponent, I’m out after his next shot…

If he tries to tie up the eight with his 12, giving away BIH, then I just play a waiting game without sinking any of my ducks…

Patience wins this one nine times out of 10.
 
David in FL said:
None of the above.

I shoot the five, then the four. Then I call safe and make the seven in the side snuggling the cue ball as close up to the 8-ball as possible along the rail.

Absent an absolute hero shot by my opponent, I’m out after his next shot…

If he tries to tie up the eight with his 12, giving away BIH, then I just play a waiting game without sinking any of my ducks…

Patience wins this one nine times out of 10.
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Oof this feels dangerous. If you don’t freeze the rock on the 8 he can easily make his ten rail first and run out or resafe you with an easy kick.
 
See, that’s why it’s not good to practice by yourself too much after a 30 year layoff.

I’d go full offense. 4-5-2-6-7-8 with the latter requiring a perfect shot. I’d probably not get out.
 
David in FL said:
None of the above.

I shoot the five, then the four. Then I call safe and make the seven in the side snuggling the cue ball as close up to the 8-ball as possible along the rail.

Absent an absolute hero shot by my opponent, I’m out after his next shot…

If he tries to tie up the eight with his 12, giving away BIH, then I just play a waiting game without sinking any of my ducks…

Patience wins this one nine times out of 10.
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You don't really gain anything from that, even in the best case the 8 is still a problem ball for you and you have now potted the ball that is by far the best suited to solve the problem on the 8.

You could also sell out if you misplay that safety. Even if you do play it great, your opponent can take an intentional foul by potting another one of your balls giving you even less options to solve your problem on the 8.
 
Mustardeer said:
Barbox 8B BCA rules, hill hill, 20K in the middle. Your opponent is a 664 Fargo. You’re solids and you got bih.

Do you:
A) 7 in the side to break up the 8B, make the 1 and run out

B) 6,4,5,1 ( or 2 ) then safety on the 2 ( or 1 )

C) Run out by playing short position on the 8B

D) Other

View attachment 667864
Click to expand...

I'd play the 7, bumping the 8 to the top rail (left in the picture), then 1, 2, 6, 5 (playing shape on the 4 depending on where the 8 ended up), 4, 8.
 
A)pocketing the 7, but then hitting the rail pushing out the 8. Possibly going for the 1 next. But the 1,2 are open. Depending where the 8 lands. Possible run is then 1,2,6,4,5 or 5,4 then 8 also 1,6,2,4,5,8
 
ChrisinNC said:
If it goes, but impossible to tell from the overhead whether you have a full pocket available to make the 6 in either corner, which is why I figured on the side pocket.
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You're right. I put a straight edge to the 6 and it's only clear to bang the bottom tit. Brave soul that I am, I'd now play three way position from the 2; the 4 ball being the primary objective.
 
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