8 Balll Situation

[supergreenman]

No, call it the poker player in me. I am very big on odds. I want to win. I will try to win. However, I know when I'm beat. I know when I examine this loss, the mistake to examine will be before this moment, not after it.

This sort of reminds me of a player in my home room. He's a solid A level player who, like anyone else, will occasionally hook himself. He'll get his jump cue (which he happens to be very good with) and try to pocket the ball. If he fails, the only thing he talks about is the missed jump shot NOT what got him there.

In this situation, I think it's good to be light-hearted about it. It's no different than Reyes' greatest shot ever. No pressure. It's over. But before I'm done, here's my last effort.

Hail Mary, amen.

 

[Neil]

............

 

[gutshot]

It all depends on the caliber of the player you are facing. If the player is good and you know he's going to get out if you miss, then you have to either find a shot you can make 75% of the time or punt. In this case, you are pretty much screwed b/c you don't have a good percentage shot, expecially where the 8-ball is located.
Slow rolling the cue up on the 14 is fruitless b/c your ball is still not near a pocket and he can leave you back at the same position you were just in. You could soft kick at your ball and try to push it near the pocket and leave the cue near the end rail. This serves two purposes. One it moves your ball closer to the pocket and leaves him a long first shot. Second, since your ball is near the pocket, it puts a great deal of pressure on your opponent knowing that he must make the first shot or you're out!

How good of a banker are you? If you are a good banker and are comfortable with the speed of the table, I would bank the 8 and try to lock it up with my ball. From there, it's cat and mouse, but at least you have something to work with.

The way your opponents balls are positioned, there is no real easy way to break the 8-ball loose from your ball to run out.

CueTable Help

 

[Aaron_S]

That's my shot here -- it's a 50%+ bank with built in shape and it could block the pocket. I am pretty sure this shot doesn't kiss when hit in this way.

I like that shot just fine, Cory, especially if the shooter feels he has a reasonable chance of pulling it off. As Jude rightly stated, it's one of those positions where you have to feel that it's pretty much over, but my theory on it is this: if it's a situation where the only thing you can do is make your opponent at least have to come with a shot to beat you (even an 80% shot), then I think it's an option worth considering, especially if you can find a two-way shot you're comfortable with.

The fact that you may have done something early on in this game that has greatly diminished your odds of winning doesn't necessarily dictate who will get the "W". After all, not every game is won... some of them are lost... multiple times.

Aaron