I am going to be playing in a "senior league" next fall and they play this 8 ball game where the 1 ball and the 15 ball must be made in opposite (predetermined) side pockets. I've never heard of this variation of 8 ball so here are my questions.
Does this game have a name?
one-fifteen but I heard it is also known as Panama.
Is there somewhere on line or a book where I can learn the stratagies of this game?
There are 3 special rules:
1) you must make your 1 or 15 ball in the correct pocket. If you make your 1 or 15 in an incorrect pocket; automatic loss. If the opponent makes your 1 or 15 in any pocket, you are relieved of having to make it. A 1 or 15 made on the break is a freebie.
2) you cannot move the opponent's 1 or 15 either directly or indirectly. If you fail in this, your inning is done.
3) the 1 and 15 are behind the 8-ball in the rack opposite the side pocket of their designation.
Strategies:
a) become good at lobbing balls close to a particular side pocket from odd angles
b) don't move your 1 or 15 in any direction that doe not lead to it becoming closer to it's side pocket
c) don't wait too long to start moving the 1 or 15 towards the side pocket.
d) if you have to play a safety, play so that the 1 or 15 heads towards its side pocket.
e) become good at long banks with shallow cuts into the side pocket
f) speed control is vastly more important that std 8-ball.
g) position play to get and angle at the 1 or 15 into it's side pocket is mandatory.
h) become good at leaving the CB at the end of the table where the opponent has no way to make his 1 or 15 in it's side pocket.
Overall it is about 2× as hard as std. 8-ball.