A new game--Odds & Evens

[Bob Callahan]

I've created what I think is a new game, but you know how it is...there is nothing new under the sun, and somebody will tell me it's been around since the 1800's.

Rules:

It's racked with the 15 in the middle, similar to 8-ball. Depending on the break, one player gets odd-numbered balls, the other gets even-numbered balls. Balls are shot in numerical rotation, just like 9-ball. All fouls are ball-in-hand anywhere. Break rules are just like 8-ball. The 15 is the money ball, and can be played at any time with a legal shot, as long as it is called. No other shots are called, although a variation requires that. 15 on the break wins if there is no scratch, and it is called. At any time during the game, other than the break, 15 in any pocket except the called pocket is a foul and results in ball-in-hand, and the 15 is spotted. An uncalled 15 on the break is spotted, and isn't an automatic foul. When racking, any ball except the 15 can be in front, and any pattern that doesn't favor odds or evens is fine.

Do you see any problems with the rules?
Anything need to be added, or changed?

If you play it, I'd sure like to hear if you like it/dislike it.

---Edit: Updates for rules are being added in the following posts. I left things open in this initial post, hoping for insight from AZ members.---

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Depending on the break, one player gets odd-numbered balls, the other gets even-numbered balls

I break and make the two. I'm automatically low or is the table still open.

Sounds like a fun game to try.

I did try a variation on a bar box once. 15 ball rotation. I like your idea better.
One variation to your game might be the same as 9 ball. You have to pocket all your balls first before the 15, with the exception of
pocketing it with a combination. And then, the 15 has to be called, as in no slop on the 15.

 

[Bob Callahan]

I break and make the two. I'm automatically low or is the table still open.

We've been playing it so that it means you have evens. Make one of each, you get choice. Very similar to 8-ball. On a fouled break, everything stays down, and opponent gets ball-in-hand anywhere, and choice.

Sounds like a fun game to try.

I did try a variation on a bar box once. 15 ball rotation. I like your idea better.

Thank you!

One variation to your game might be the same as 9 ball. You have to pocket all your balls first before the 15, with the exception of pocketing it with a combination. And then, the 15 has to be called, as in no slop on the 15.

That's basically how we've been playing. All your balls, in order, but combos, caroms, etc are okay, and not called. In fact, unless you agree on called shots only, anything that goes is good--except the 15, which must always be called. 15 correctly called on the break is a win. Calling it on the break and missing is a loss. An uncalled 15 that goes on the break is just spotted. Trying to take some of the slop out of the game.

Some of the other rules we've been using are:

No 3-foul rule, since safeties are too easy to come by.

Pocket an opponent's ball either legally or illegally, it stays down, whereas yours comes back up on an illegal hit, and opponent gets ball-in-hand. :embarrassed2:



We've tried to make this game harder than either 9-ball or 8-ball, since both are kind of easy for run-out players.

All of the rules are open to suggestions...the game should become sort of an AZ project if people are interested.

 

[victorl]

Sounds like a good idea. I saw two bangers playing 8 ball with odds and evens but they didnt realize that the odds have to make more balls than the evens.

 

[blackeee]

Sounds like a good idea. I saw two bangers playing 8 ball with odds and evens but they didnt realize that the odds have to make more balls than the evens.

Should take evens. Old Chinese Proverb say "Odd man out"

 

[CarlB]

So basically two games of nine ball on the same table. For a "good hit" do you have to hit your lowest ball first then something touch a rail?

 

[Bob Callahan]

For a "good hit" do you have to hit your lowest ball first then something touch a rail?

Yep.

As we've played, we've had to think a lot about what makes sense. For instance, what if you don't hit a rail, and don't pocket one of yours, but do pocket an opponent's ball? So far, we think that that shouldn't be a foul, just a loss of turn. What do you think?

One of the things we've noticed is a big improvement in our kicking skills.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Pocket an opponent's ball either legally or illegally, it stays down, whereas yours comes back up on an illegal hit, and opponent gets ball-in-hand.

Explain that one further please. Maybe I'm reading it wrong or just being dense at 2 am. I am going to be playing this with my wife and anyone else who wants to try so I just want to know so I won't be guessing on rules.

I hit my object ball first and then pocket my opponents ball. Thats legal.
I keep shooting.

I miss my object ball and pocket my opponents ball. Ball in hand. Opponents ball stays down.

I miss my object ball, hit my opponents ball and then pocket one of my object balls. My ball is spotted and a foul.


Did I get what you're saying or just complicating it more?

 

[Bob Callahan]

It's good to hear that someone else is playing it. Please let me know how it goes.

I hit my object ball first and then pocket my opponents ball. Thats legal.
I keep shooting.

If you don't pocket one of your own balls, your turn is over.

I miss my object ball and pocket my opponents ball. Ball in hand. Opponents ball stays down.

Opponent's balls always stay down, even on fouls. Think of it as a penalty for our error in cue ball control. All fouls result in BIH for opponent.

I miss my object ball, hit my opponents ball and then pocket one of my object balls. My ball is spotted and a foul.

Yes. If you make an opponent's ball in this situation, it stays down.

Did I get what you're saying or just complicating it more?

You're doing great! Any confusion you might have is probably due to my poor/incomplete explanations. Thanks for taking the time to try this out. Be sure to let me know if you do see complications/problems. This game will hopefully evolve with the help of folks like you.

My wife and I play lots. I think she's addicted...but she actually likes one pocket, too--which is certainly an addiction. It's good to hear that you and your wife will be playing it, too.

One of things we think might be a problem for some players is aggressive safety play. The folks we've played this with so far are good 1P players, so their kicking skills are pretty good. We're trying to keep the rules very simple, and avoid things like the straight pool intragame raking matrix: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_pool

We wanted it to combine the best features of the two most common games--8-ball and 9-ball--but be a bit harder than either. And still be simple enough to catch on to quickly. Once you start playing, everything is a lot simpler than it seems in print.

 

[BFrench501]

I like the idea, but I think rotational 8-ball is better. If you get spots you go 1-7 in order then pot the 8, and if stripes then 9-15 then pot the 8 to win. As long as you hit lowest number of your set then you can pot any ball on table. That way then, you both have to pot the same number of balls to win (in theory)

 

[TheBook]

I like the idea, but I think rotational 8-ball is better. If you get spots you go 1-7 in order then pot the 8, and if stripes then 9-15 then pot the 8 to win. As long as you hit lowest number of your set then you can pot any ball on table. That way then, you both have to pot the same number of balls to win (in theory)

I like this way better. It would make it simpler as you can see where your designated set of balls are easier, and also for the TV audience plus any of the sweaters.

I made a suggestion of playing this in another thread not too long ago and one of the responses was that it would become nothing but a defensive game. I still think it would be better than 9 or 10 ball for the pros to play.

 

[Dave Nelson]

I did try a variation on a bar box once. 15 ball rotation. I like your idea better.

15 ball rotation isn't a variation, it's a great game in its own right but is seldom played anymore, at least in this country. It was the game of choice when I first started playing pool in 1940.

Dave Nelson

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

If you don't pocket one of your own balls, your turn is over.

I typed that question wrong. I said I was being dense at 2 am.

I think we are going out for a few games tonight. Tuesday is our regular league night and the new season doesn't start for another week.

I guess you can say that it might turn into a safety game, but when we go out, we keep it as a easy going practice night.
If you want to grind away thats ok, but it would be much more fun to see how quickly you can go for the 15.

Scoring - 15 ball is a win, or what do you think of getting one point for each ball pocketed and the 15 is worth 5 points. That way you could race to 100 or whatever. Fouls could be one point off.
Maybe thats just complicating it.

We will be trying this out either way and will let you know what we think.
I already know that I'm going to like it and a nice diversion from our regular games.
Try and keep this at the top for a bit and keep us updated to any new rules as the game progresses.

 

[brandoncook26]

I like the idea, but I think rotational 8-ball is better. If you get spots you go 1-7 in order then pot the 8, and if stripes then 9-15 then pot the 8 to win. As long as you hit lowest number of your set then you can pot any ball on table. That way then, you both have to pot the same number of balls to win (in theory)

A friend and I have been playing something very similar to this. We play after the break the table is open. The first shot you take is a "free shot", meaning you don't have to shoot for the lowest ball. This is only the first shot; if you miss, your next shot has to be on the lowest ball.

After the first open shot, you run the rest of your set in rotation (1-7 or 9-15). You must bank the eight to win, adds that much more challenge to it. The first shot gives you a chance to set up your run out and get in position to shoot the low ball.

This game is pretty fun and definitely adds more challenge than a standard game of eight ball. We call it Calvin Ball (for anyone who has read any Calvin and Hobbes).

 

[Bob Callahan]

I typed that question wrong. I said I was being dense at 2 am.

I think we are going out for a few games tonight. Tuesday is our regular league night and the new season doesn't start for another week.

I guess you can say that it might turn into a safety game, but when we go out, we keep it as a easy going practice night.
If you want to grind away thats ok, but it would be much more fun to see how quickly you can go for the 15.

Scoring - 15 ball is a win, or what do you think of getting one point for each ball pocketed and the 15 is worth 5 points. That way you could race to 100 or whatever. Fouls could be one point off.
Maybe thats just complicating it.

We will be trying this out either way and will let you know what we think.
I already know that I'm going to like it and a nice diversion from our regular games.
Try and keep this at the top for a bit and keep us updated to any new rules as the game progresses.

How did it go?