8 Ball Situation (1): What Would You Do Here?

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You have just broke in a 8 ball game and pocked a stripe ball. In the current rule the table is open and you can choose either solids or stripes to continue.

1, Which would you choose?
2, What are the potential problems and how do you solve them?
3, Do you see a good way to run out from here?
4, Do you see a good way to run out from here without moving your opponent's balls?


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*Both the one ball and the ten ball do not have very clear pathways to their nearest pockets.
8b-1.jpg
 
What is blocking the ten ball? No matter, I would select the solids. The main reason is because of the position of the 14 and 15 balls along with the fact that pocketing the 10 ball there is no guarantee of securing position for another shot. The 6 ball is guarding the entrance of the stripe in the upper top corner.

In selecting the solids the 1 and 5 balls are the problem. It looks like starting with the 7 then position for the 5 to the same side pocket as the 7, then working toward the 2 or the 3. This is where the question is as to what to do to get a shot on the 1. Either positioning the 1 or moving it. Once the 1 is pocketed then the rest is just a matter of staying in control of the cue ball.

The 4 or 3 are good to get on the 8 but if the 6 had to be used for the eight it might require more work but very doable.

Upon looking at the diagram again , I believe the 6 ball is the best ball to get on the 8. Positioning the 6 from the area of the 4 ball. Pocketing the 6 and coming out 2 rails for the eight.
 
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Solids is definitely the way to go. The only trick here is getting the one ball in a pocket. Should be no problem getting at it if you position properly. Here's what I'd do:

7 in the side (stop shot)
2 in the corner and draw cueball closer to mid-table
4 in the corner with a bit of right english

So here's the tricky part:
3 in the bottom left corner and bring cueball closer to mid-table, ideally near the tip of the triangle.
2 in the bottom left corner and carom the cueball into the 1 hard enough so that the 1 ball banks off the bottom rail to the middle of the table
If you did that right (and it shouldn't be too hard, given the proximity of the 2 and 1 balls with eachother), you should have a clear look at the 1 to the top left corner.

After that, do a straight runout with the 5 in the side (assuming you left a decent angle for yourself), 6 in the corner and 8 in the side.

:grin:
 
The 5 is the biggest problem imo because it only has a couple pockets. 7-2-1-5-6-4-3-money.

Avoid stripes because no easy way to get on the 14-15.

But then I'm just a banger.
 
Whatever the case, the decision of which set to choose has nothing to do with the proximity of any ball to the 8-ball.

You would choose solids because it controls the table a bit better. But, a good player given the stripes would just figure the bank on the 12-ball and get out, so the solids with its 1-ball doesn't lay that much better than the stripes, but they do lay a touch better.

Fred <~~~ wouldn't get out
 
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Did You Ever Scratch On The Cue Ball. ???
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HAL HOULE
 
8-Baller said:
Solids is definitely the way to go. The only trick here is getting the one ball in a pocket. Should be no problem getting at it if you position properly. Here's what I'd do:

7 in the side (stop shot)
2 in the corner and draw cueball closer to mid-table
4 in the corner with a bit of right english

So here's the tricky part:
3 in the bottom left corner and bring cueball closer to mid-table, ideally near the tip of the triangle.
2 in the bottom left corner and carom the cueball into the 1 hard enough so that the 1 ball banks off the bottom rail to the middle of the table
If you did that right (and it shouldn't be too hard, given the proximity of the 2 and 1 balls with eachother), you should have a clear look at the 1 to the top left corner.

After that, do a straight runout with the 5 in the side (assuming you left a decent angle for yourself), 6 in the corner and 8 in the side.

:grin:
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It looks to me like you are taking two shots at the 2 ball.

There appears to be an angle on the 7 ball that will allow you to stun the cue ball and get a shot on 5 ball to the upper side pocket. IMO, like someone else mentioned, the 5 ball is more of a problem than the 1 ball.

Once you pocket the five ball and depending on if you get a nice angle to get over to the 3 or the 2 ball to work something for the 1 ball. At this point you will have three balls (the 2, 3 and 4) to decide as what to do with the 1 ball. With the 2 ball gone, that will free the 1 ball for either the upper left corner or the upper side pocket.

The 6 ball is the only ball that I would consider to use to get on the 8 ball. The other balls have many problems to get to the eight. Unless you plan on the eight ball to the bottom corner.
 
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Solids

5 and 1

7-5 in side, draw to 1 same side, 2 in corner, 3, 4, 6 and 8 You win!
 
I like stripes against a very strong opponent because the 1 seems like a pretty big problem if I am determined to not let my opponent back at the table (the 9 passes the 3, right?). If I was certain my opponent would not likely be able to deal with the 12 and 14/15 I might take solids.

My order for stripes would be 10, 9, 11, 12 on the short side. From there, depending on the angle on the 12, I can decide to either shoot the 14 in the side or go short side on the 14 and 15 and have my choice from there. This way the only real tough situation would be if I got on the rail with a thin cut on the 12 which I would make absolute sure to avoid.
 
Neither set jumps out at me as being significantly easier than the other, but I would probably choose solids and try to run out 7, 5, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6. I did, however, notice one nice thing about the stripes that makes them look a bit less menacing. By shooting the 9-ball as the first shot, you could give yourself a pretty good opportunity to clear the biggest trouble balls (14/15) right off the bat, while leaving the 10 as an insurance ball in case the 8-ball gets in the way. Something like this:

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Everything appears to pass, and I wouldn't fault someone for attempting to get out this way.


Good rolls,

Aaron
 

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The key shot is getting the precise angle on the 11 in the side so you can get behind the 12. After that it's easy.

The first stop shot on the 10 leaves you perfect for the controlled rollthrough on the 9 for shape on the 11, so it should be do-able. If you flummox the shape on the 11 you can try the tight 12 ball shot into the upper right corner or going past the 12 for the shot in the upper left corner.

See pages 2 & 3 for the rest of the runout.

pj
chgo
 
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cuetable said:

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Click to expand...

7 in the top side
4 in the top left corner, leave an angle for the 3
3 in the bottom left corner, leave an angle for the 2 into the same pocket
2 in the bottom left corner, draw back for the 1
1 in the bottom left corner, draw back for the 5
5 in the top side, play position for the 6
6 in the top right corner and come back up for 8 in the bottom side pocket.
 
cuetable said:
You have just broke in a 8 ball game and pocked a stripe ball. In the current rule the table is open and you can choose either solids or stripes to continue.

1, Which would you choose?
2, What are the potential problems and how do you solve them?
3, Do you see a good way to run out from here?
4, Do you see a good way to run out from here without moving your opponent's balls?


CueTable Help



*Both the one ball and the ten ball do not have very clear pathways to their nearest pockets.
8b-1.jpg
Click to expand...

7 -> roll midway to 11, 2 in the corner -> roll to opposite side of the 1 by the rail where the cueball started originaly, 1 in corner by the 4 -> roll forward for 6 in the corner -> come around 2 or 1 rail for the 5 in side or corner depending on the angle you get on the 6 -> 4 in the corner, drift to the rail -> 3 in the corner with a bit of follow to go around the 9 -> 8 in the corner.
 
Patrick Johnson said:

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The key shot is getting the precise angle on the 11 in the side so you can get behind the 12. After that it's easy.

The first stop shot on the 10 leaves you perfect for the controlled rollthrough on the 9 for shape on the 11, so it should be do-able. If you flummox the shape on the 11 you can try the tight 12 ball shot into the upper right corner or going past the 12 for the shot in the upper left corner.

See pages 2 & 3 for the rest of the runout.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

This is the Pattern I saw. Don't know how well I would do with it, but it is what I would go for.

Pete
 
Pete said:
This is the Pattern I saw. Don't know how well I would do with it, but it is what I would go for.

Pete
Click to expand...
This is a fine pattern for the stripes. Patrick Johnson also suggested this. I myself consider this to require too much precision. The 9 ball must be hit perfect along with the 12 ball. You might wind up having to shoot the 14 or 15 balls into the lower side pocket which I consider risky.

I would select this pattern for the stripes but only if I didn't have a choice for the solids. The solids have more flexibility for error. Multiply choices with the 2,3 and 4 balls to acquire a shot on the 1 ball.
 
solids

The 12/14/15 makes stripes very tough.

If I were forced to take stripes, I would probably play the 10 and draw back towards the 14 & 15. I would then decide whether or not to try to run the rack depending on whether I had the right shape on either the 14 or 15 to get behind the 12 (either going straight across the table or off the end rail). If not, a safety off the 15 behind the 14.

Sticking with stripes, Aaron's alternative of opening with the cut 9 for position on the 14/15 does have the attraction of leaving the 10 blocking the 1 in case the safety route is chosen. But personally I would not feel confident of missing the 8.

However, given the choice, solids look better. The 1 is the biggest problem ball, and I would try to clear the 2 out of the way and then use the 4 to come across to the side rail to shoot the 1 into either corner or center.

So 7 into center, 5 (another problem) into same pocket, 2, 3 4, 1, 6, 8. The ending is not ideal given the uncertain shape on the 1. But you would be unlucky when shooting the 1 not to have a path to get the c.b. to near the side rail for the 6,8.
 
Video of Efren playing the layout

Here is a video from IPT2005 - King of the Hill - Efren Reyes vs Ray Martin posted by victor2k. Efren has an interesting solution for the layout.

*Please note I don't mean to post the video as THE ANSWER. Rather, please view it as an interesting discussion material. I'd like to hear what people think of Efren's choice :)

http://library.cuetable.com/showthread.php?p=2589#post2589
 
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