3 Ball odds and more

Snapshot9

Snapshot9

son of 3 leg 1 eye dog ..
Silver Member
I would like to get everyone's opinion about:

1) Odds for making 1 ball out of 3 on the break in 3 ball. (I am saying 3 out of 10)
2) Odds for making 2 balls. (I am saying 5 out of a 100)
3) Odds for making an ACE.
(I am saying 1 out of 3500).

Here in Wichita, Southrock Billiards has 3 ball every Sunday afternoon with a $3,000 Ace pot on a 4 x 8 coin op. It was hit last March for $3,284, and just got hit on Dec. 7th for $3,000. Been hit a total of 3-4 times in about 9 years.

Shooters Billiards is running 3 ball again
Sunday through Thursday nights and the ACE is up to about $1150. A good friend of mine, his name is Scott too, hit the ACE there when it was at $8,400.

I would also like you to guess what the odds are in running a complete 10 ball rack on a 7' Valley coin op are for a 5,8, and 10 skill level are from the break.

5 skill level = 1 out of 36.
8 skill level = 1 out of 16.
10 skill level = 1 out of 9.

And lastly what the odds are for running a 36 ball rack on a 7' Valley coin op are for 5,8,10 skill levels.

5 skill level = 1 out of 90.
8 skill level = 1 out of 32.
10 skill level = 1 out of 14,

Have fun with it ...
 
3 ball information

The object of 3 ball is to make 3 vertically lined balls on the foot spot with the least number of shots. An ACE is when you make all 3 on the break. Scratches count an extra stroke, with 6 being the maximum for 1 turn. Usually play 3 rounds going in player order each round. The cue ball has to be in the kitchen after spotting up after a scratch and you can not shoot balls in the kitchen. Many players figure out how to make 2 balls on 1 shot to help lower their score. Player with lowest score after 3 rounds wins first. For instance, with 10 players, 1st might pay $40 and 2nd $10. When Shooters ACE pot was up to $5,000 and more, they had 28-36 players every night, and it paid $100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd, and $10 for 4th.

Southrock billiards, every Sunday at 4, here in Wichita, has 3 ball for $7, paying back $5 of it to 1st and 2nd place. Danny guarantees $3,000 ACE pot starting out.
They hold a race to 2 $5 9 ball tournament immediately afterwards, matching the pot.

Shooters runs 3 ball Sunday thru Thursday nights at 10:30 pm with $10 entry, and $5 of it being paid back to 1st and 2nd place, and $5 going towards ACE pot. Started at $1,000 and increases after $1,000 is paid back. Now up to $1200 or so. When it gets up to $5,000, Paul usually starts a 2nd ACE pot to replace the big one after it is hit, and they both continue to build. For example, when the $8,400 pot was hit, the 2nd ACE pot was at $1,600 and continued to build to $2,300 before it was hit.

Rumors billiards has 3 ball every night at 10 pm., but their ACE pot is usually only about $100-400, costing $5 to play, and paying $4 back to 1st and 2nd.

Shooters runs the 10 ball rack, selling tickets, 3 for $5/7 for $10/15 for $20, and the winning ticket drawn gets to break and play the 10 ball rack. They pay $50 for each ball made including the break. It is played like 9 ball. You shoot till you miss including the break.
Possible to win $500 if you run the rack from the break.

Shooter's also racks 36 balls on a 7' Valley table, and charges according to skill level to play. For example, a 5 skill level would play for $7 or 8, an 8 skill level would play for $20 or $25, and if you make all 36 balls, you get a $100.
You get 1 ball in hand anytime after the break, and when you miss it is over.
 
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In the small town I live in we run a 3 ball night every Wednesday, we usually get around 15 players and play everybody throws a buck into a pot at the start of each round and the lowest score takes home the pot, 5 is the maximum score, scratches cost you a buck and ends your turn, if two people tie everyone ties and you carry over into another round adding another buck into the pot.

After enough "carry overs" the pot is usually over a $100 making for some pretty competitive games and alot of fun. I've yet to see an ace and the odds certainly aren't that great at getting one. An exciting game for anyone who hasn't tried it yet.
 
Re: 3 ball information

Snapshot9 said:
The object of 3 ball is to make 3 vertically lined balls on the foot spot with the least number of shots. An ACE is when you make all 3 on the break.
Click to expand...

We’ve always racked 3 ball in a triangular pattern, with the head ball on the spot. Could it be that racking them in a line gives better odds on making all of the balls? I don’t recall ever seeing all 3 balls made on the break with the triangular rack, although this game isn’t played as much here as it seams to be play where you are.

Rick <--- not much of an odds maker
 
3 ball

When I lived in Houston 30 some years ago, we racked them in a triangle, and it is easier to make balls on the break than in a straight vertical line.

And yes, sometimes we also play 3 ball for money with one tie all tie. I was only referring to the 3 ball 'tournaments' before that are held.
 
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