1P - What would you do?

sixpack

sixpack

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was playing partners 1P the other day, we were in this situation, we're the bottom pocket and the other team just scratched so it's BIH behind the line.

We were down 2 balls to 0.

I shot to make the 13 and glance off the stack and try to work around from the 8 to pick off anything that comes off. My partner said the best shot would have been to just play the 9, leave for the 8 and be content with two.

I could be off about the exact layout of the stack but the critical things were:
1) Nothing was lined up to either pocket
2) I could glance off the right side of the stack and I was sure of not bumping anything to their pocket. i.e. I could miss the 7 and hit the 10.

What do you think was the best shot and why? Maybe the best shot was neither of those.

Thanks!
RC
 

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I would go: play 13 and leave for 8 and from there leave for long bank 9 and then safety from 14. That gives no open shots in any case to your opponent.
 
Great diagram

First off I don't really play one pocket but I would suggest that you shoot the shot that you feel most confident in shooting and take it from there. Secondly the diagram that you have provided is awesome, how did you do that? I know some people here use the WEI diagram but I don't know how to use that.
 
I think I like cutting the 9 down table from about where you have the cue in your picture. That brings the CB over to the good side of the stack, protecting the 9 if you miss. If you make the 9, you'll have the 13 (if you don't get the 13, you'll get either the 8 or a nice shot to mush some balls to your side and leave the CB on the stack).

Starting with the 13 and going for the 8 seems likely to give up a nice counter-bank if you miss.

Cory
 
What's wrong with shooting the 9, then the 13, then the 8? After the 8, clip the 12 and the 4 and 11 might open up. I really don't see why you wouldn't go this route. JMO, peace, John.
 
In my mind there is nothing wrong in any suggestions; those just proves that people play with different styles and tactics. Do what ever you do and you'll always find someone to say that wasn't correct...
 
Just a shot to consider...a bit more conservative.

Bank the 14 two rails toward your hole and leave the cueball near the headstring. Pretty good safety and no shot for him at all.
 
af

Glancing off the stack also carries with it the risk of scratching.

I agree with the others in 9, 13 and then the 8. Going one rail into the top side of the four and then the 12 would seem to be your best opportunity to get all the way out. At the very least you would move the furniture around a bit and break up what looks to be a nearly dead 11/4 combo for your opponents.
 
uwate said:
Glancing off the stack also carries with it the risk of scratching.

I agree with the others in 9, 13 and then the 8. Going one rail into the top side of the four and then the 12 would seem to be your best opportunity to get all the way out. At the very least you would move the furniture around a bit and break up what looks to be a nearly dead 11/4 combo for your opponents.
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First of all, thanks to everyone who responded. Looks like I'm a little too adventurous still for 1P :) My partner was more on the right track. (he should be, he's been playing 1P since the days at Cochran's with Grady et. al.)

I enjoyed hearing the suggestions and learned quite a bit. Scratching off the stack is something that didn't occur to me, but obviously should have. Similarly not making the 13 never entered my mind. So the suggestion by Corey to protect against the miss was also very apropos.

I like the option of playing into the stack off the 8 that Rude Dog mentioned.

I have heard two competing theories of one-pocket. A Friend of mine who claims to have not lost a 1-pocket money match-up from circa. 1970-1985 in Milwaukee told me if you NEVER let your opponent make a ball, you'll win. I admit I have more success that way. Then there's the shoot at your hole theory. I tend more to that one than the other, and it costs me a fair share of games. But I get some by being aggressive as well.

Thanks again to everyone. This is an example of what's great about AZ Billiards.

EDIT: FYI - I rattled the 13 and left it snug in the pocket and left them frozen on the 7. So I didn't pull the shot off as planned, but it worked out okay.

Cheers,
RC
 
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Im not a 1P player, coming from the Philippines i prefer rotation, 9 ball or 8-ball. However if i got to play this position, ill go to the route like many of you do from 9, 13 and 8. However after i will make the 9 i will put it in a situation near the lower part of the middle pocket so that i have a chance to nudge the 7 that could nudge the 6 and/or 11, but i have to hit it on the right speed not too soft nor too hard. Then ill play the 8 and i have a better chance of playing position of either the 6 or 11. This is quiet a gamble though and probably risky. Just my 2 cents.
 
sixpack said:
I have heard two competing theories of one-pocket. A Friend of mine who claims to have not lost a 1-pocket money match-up from circa. 1970-1985 in Milwaukee told me if you NEVER let your opponent make a ball, you'll win.
Click to expand...

As silly as it may sound, you may very well never let your opponent make a ball and still lose. What I mean is you are spending so much time worrying about leaving a shot you don't play aggressive enough to score yourself, you are waiting for him to sell out. In the mean time he may just bank a ball or cut one backwards and beat you anyway.

In your example I would shoot the 9 first and try to fall on the 13. I may even get lucky enough to fall on the 13 in a way I can open up the cluster and get right out.
 
sixpack said:
First of all, thanks to everyone who responded. Looks like I'm a little too adventurous still for 1P :) My partner was more on the right track. (he should be, he's been playing 1P since the days at Cochran's with Grady et. al.)

I enjoyed hearing the suggestions and learned quite a bit. Scratching off the stack is something that didn't occur to me, but obviously should have. Similarly not making the 13 never entered my mind. So the suggestion by Corey to protect against the miss was also very apropos.

I like the option of playing into the stack off the 8 that Rude Dog mentioned.

I have heard two competing theories of one-pocket. A Friend of mine who claims to have not lost a 1-pocket money match-up from circa. 1970-1985 in Milwaukee told me if you NEVER let your opponent make a ball, you'll win. I admit I have more success that way. Then there's the shoot at your hole theory. I tend more to that one than the other, and it costs me a fair share of games. But I get some by being aggressive as well.

Thanks again to everyone. This is an example of what's great about AZ Billiards.

EDIT: FYI - I rattled the 13 and left it snug in the pocket and left them frozen on the 7. So I didn't pull the shot off as planned, but it worked out okay.

Cheers,
RC
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Here's another option...one that old school, hard-core one pocket movers, who might miss a long shot will like...

...Shoot the 9 ball straight in and stop right there ( no chance of missing the shot, like you did when you chose to shoot the 13 ball first ), you're lying perfect for the 13 ball cross corner - bank it at pocket speed, floating softly over for the 8 ball next. Ghost
 
Another thought is if you don't shoot your open balls NOW, your opponent might just get a chance to move them over to his side later. It's a sick feeling to watch balls that were on your side rolling over the other way...

Gerry
 
sixpack said:
... What do you think was the best shot and why? Maybe the best shot was neither of those.
Click to expand...
There is no good break, so I would take the three loose balls. The question is what to do next. In the layout as shown, if you put the cue ball along the 12-3 line after the run, you can shoot a stop shot on the 12, move the 11 very close to your pocket as well as move the 3 and 6 to shootable locations on your side.

If you freeze the cue ball to both the 12 and 2, there is no bank shot, and your opponent will probably have to kick off his side cushion to the 11 or some such. An alternative for him on a tight-pocket table will be to thin the 2 and leave you frozen on the head rail in hopes that you will miss. The critical part is to get a good line so you can kill the cue ball without moving balls in the wrong direction.

That's what I'd try. A champion would get a 45-degree cut on the 8 ball, play the cut with right draw, hit the 4-12, spin to the top rail and out to the middle of the table for a possible continuation and win.

Banking the 14 as the fourth shot is very weak unless you can hide the cue ball and preferably freeze it to the stack. That's possible, but the cue ball has to be in a perfect position. Play the bank at pocket speed.
 
I don't think there's much of a decision here. The best shot is to make the 13 and draw over to play the 8, planning either to disturb the stack from the 8, or to play position from it to the 9. If you end up straight in on the 8 then roll through and bank the 9 straight back.

I don't feel like playing from the 9 to the 13 is a good play because you're unlikely to get the angle to get to the 8 and I think at the least you should be looking to get all three open balls here.

That being said, if the 13 is an intimidating shot, then I agree with the poster who suggested making the straight in 9 and then banking the 13.
 
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