Another Layout

perhaps call a push, pocket the 1-Ball on the 3-1 combo, and then hide the cue ball down around the 8 and 9-Ball.

DCP

Edit:
p.s. oops, in my rush to get to a meeting i didnt see the 2-Ball! i agree with Jude, WHERE? i'd probably still try and hide around the 8 or 9-Ball, and trust my kicking abilities if my opponent gave it back to me.
 
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Yes, you definitely have to push the 1-ball in. The question is, WHERE TO LEAVE THE CUEBALL!?!?

Below is what I'd probably do:

CueTable Help

 
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I like Jude's plan,pocket the 1, roll up in that area and if he gives it back I'm banking the 2 w/ low right and trying to snag some shape on the 3 ( i doubt it would travel far from the side pocket)
 
Even with your updated diagram, I'm going to pocket the 1-ball, move the 3-ball away from the side pocket and leave the cue-ball on the rail to try and leave a hard shot or tough safety. It's key that you move the 3-ball a few inches down table so that he doesn't have to think about just making the 1-ball, he has to think about position, too.
 
Definitely need to push that 1-ball in, but I was thinking about trying to make the 3 go to the right, and leaving the 1-ball on the left-hand short rail, near the top diamond. This does give him a shot at the 2, but it would be tough I think, especially with a tight pocket. The 9 somewhat blocks the path to the 3. Not sure what I'd do if he gave that back to me though. LOL.

I like Jude's choice too, especially against a stronger opponent. Good puzzle. Looking forward to hearing other ideas and what you did, Neil.
 
Cuebacca said:
Definitely need to push that 1-ball in, but I was thinking about trying to make the 3 go to the right, and leaving the 1-ball on the left-hand short rail, near the top diamond. This does give him a shot at the 2, but it would be tough I think, especially with a tight pocket. The 9 somewhat blocks the path to the 3. Not sure what I'd do if he gave that back to me though. LOL.

I like Jude's choice too, especially against a stronger opponent. Good puzzle. Looking forward to hearing other ideas and what you did, Neil.
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I'm assuming when you said, "and leaving the 1-ball on the left-hand short rail", you meant the cueball, not the 1-ball. If that's the case, if you don't leave that cueball near frozen to the rail, I would gladly accept this push. Of course, the art of pushing has a lot to do with who your opponents are but no matter what you do, you want to create a situation where it's likely you will return to the table. With that said, I don't want to leave my opponent an opportunity to run out, even if it is long and tough.
 
Pushing out is a given, I think, but the pushout is one of those shots where you often have to play into one of your specific strengths or one of your opponent's specific weaknesses, or, hopefully, both. In order to win from here you're probably either going to have to make a shot that your opponent didn't think you could make, or he is going to have to miss one that he didn't think he could miss. Therefore, the smartest play from here is going to be one based on careful consideration of your skills, your opponent's skills, and the conditions, IMHO.

Aaron
 
My first thought was the same as Jude's but I don't like the prospect of my opponent banking the duece at the 6 and leaving me in jail behind the 9.

This one's a tough one...I have no idea what I would do!

EDIT: I thought a bit more and came up with this. Whaddya think? Sure, the opponent can make the 2, but what does he now do with the 3?

CueTable Help

 
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Neil said:
Just to fill in the facts- It's now a race to 5. I'm down 3-0. Playing a great player that right now seems to have the speed of the table down perfect, and isn't missing anything. Loser is out of the tournament. If I recall correctly, he broke- ran out. I broke- nothing in, he ran out. He broke , played safe hooked me. Made good hit. Left him really tough. He played safe and hooked me again. I made the hit. He made a great shot to run out. I broke (alternate break) and got this. The 1 looked like it would drop, then the 3 comes out of nowhere, bumps the one, and leaves me this fun scenario.
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Based on that information (tough opp. who's in stroke, and loose pockets), I might be tempted to push out for a jump, but, again, that's playing into one of my specific strengths.

Sorry, I misread the initial post. You said tight pockets and deep shelf. I don't know, I might still push out for a jump. If he takes the shot and runs out, oh well, he deserved it. Unless there's something I'm missing (not unlikely) you're not favored to win against a strong player from here anyway.
 
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mosconiac said:
My first thought was the same as Jude's but I don't like the prospect of my opponent banking the duece at the 6 and leaving me in jail behind the 9.

This one's a tough one...I have no idea what I would do!
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I agree. There are going to be safeties left with my option but I'm hoping leaving the cueball on the rail is going to make it difficult to get a real lock. 3-ball placement is key.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
I'm assuming when you said, "and leaving the 1-ball on the left-hand short rail", you meant the cueball, not the 1-ball. If that's the case, if you don't leave that cueball near frozen to the rail, I would gladly accept this push. Of course, the art of pushing has a lot to do with who your opponents are but no matter what you do, you want to create a situation where it's likely you will return to the table. With that said, I don't want to leave my opponent an opportunity to run out, even if it is long and tough.
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Oops, yes, I meant "cueball". I agree with what you said; based on Neil's description of his opponent, the shot I described would probably not be the correct one.

Although, the thing is, if the cueball lands a little above the first diamond, I think anyone will have a very tough time trying to run out, unless the cueball is far enough off the short rail that you don't need to jack up much and can draw off the long cushion for shape on the 3. That is, the 9-ball seems to block the path for going forward two rails. However, I could be reading the diagram wrong and perhaps I'd completely sell out. LOL.
 
mosconiac said:
My first thought was the same as Jude's but I don't like the prospect of my opponent banking the duece at the 6 and leaving me in jail behind the 9.

This one's a tough one...I have no idea what I would do!

EDIT: I thought a bit more and came up with this. Whaddya think? Sure, the opponent can make the 2, but what does he now do with the 3?

CueTable Help

Click to expand...


If you leave your opponent straight on the 2-ball, you're okay. If you leave an angle (especially if you leave the cueball on the side rail), you're in trouble since following up and going to the end rail and out is going to be an option.

You're also leaving a bank on the 3-ball which some players will position for. I can't say I'm one of those players (I hate banks) but I KNOW if I'm playing someone like Robles at Amsterdam, I'm taking a big chance with this play.
 
Neil said:
I recently had this setup right after the break in a tournament. Wondering what some of your options would be. I'll tell what I did later. I don't want to influence anybodies decision.The table shown has huge pockets. The actual table had tighter pockets and a much deeper shelf to the pocket. So take that into consideration.
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Yes a push is a given. Like Jude says, where? I like Jude's suggestion, but, as he states, lots of safeties being played here.

I thought about how I could make the table more difficult than the original set up. Maybe by hitting the 6 and sending it towards the direction of the 8,9. This would create a difficult situation for position on the 6 later in the game.

I know this leaves the cue ball off the rail for the opponent to have more control over the leave, but, I do not feel that the safe when played by the opponent is going to be any worse than the one played with the cue on the rail. Just another thought.

CueTable Help

 
You could have just nudged the 2 in front of the hole and gave him BIH....you will be given BIH back as it appears from your layout. Maybe turn it into a stale mate I guess.
 
Well, if you want "outside the box"...could you dig into the point of the side & kick the 1 directly with shape on the 2?

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Or maybe push out by banking the 2 behind the 9 so your opponent couldn't roll the 1 in AND get any shape on the 2?

CueTable Help

 
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