Billiards Games - How many do you know?

JB Cases

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
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How many versions of billiards games do you know of or have you played? For the purpose of this topic please confine your answers to games that are played regularly for money or organized competition. Or note those games that are specialized.

I have played the following:

8-Ball
9-Ball
10-Ball
One-Pocket
Bank Pool
Last Pocket 8 Ball - German Bar Rules
Rotation
Mexican Rotation
Fargo
Cribbage
Snooker - both American and British
Golf - The American and British (2 ball) versions.
14.1
Italian Pins with pockets
Vietnamese Pins without pockets
Poker Pool
Chinese 8 Ball
Poker Pool Chinese
Taiwanese 3 Ball Carom - Gambling Game.
Italian 8 Ball with pins
Four Ball caroms.
Killer - Gambling Game.
3-Cushion

This above list does not include variations like Pay Ball or Scotch Doubles.

That's all I can think of for now. Let's see how many games we can come up with.
 
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Cowboy pocket billiards is a pretty good game that we use to sometimes play in the 60's and 70's. It involves pocketing balls and caroms. I recently introduced to some younger players who seemed to like it.
 
What is Chicago?

CocoboloCowboy said:
Add to the list Chicago.
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I never heard of Chicago. I'm from ther but don't know this game. How about a quick rundown of the rulles? I grew up playing a game called
Line-Up. Are they the same? Line-Up: It follows on the course of straight pool. Except when you shot is over you line-up the balls you made behind the spot. Then your opponent shoots. Whenever a player starts his inning there are 15 balls on the table.
 
2 ball, 5 ball, 6 ball, Mr. & Mrs., "Mum" pool, One Ball One Pocket, Razzle, Equal Offense. I can't think of any more right now and I can't find my rule book, which may have a few more that I've played.

Edit: I haven't personally played Mr. & Mrs. or Equal Offense for money. Didn't read the original post all the way through, sorry.
 
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3-Ball, 6-Ball, 7-Ball, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, One Pocket, 9-Ball bank, Bank pool with all 15 Balls. Now the game that I have been looking for the rules on how to play is LIABILITY somebody help me.
 
Pushout said:
2 ball, 5 ball, 6 ball, Mr. & Mrs., "Mum" pool, One Ball One Pocket, Razzle, Equal Offense. I can't think of any more right now and I can't find my rule book, which may have a few more that I've played.

Edit: I haven't personally played Mr. & Mrs. or Equal Offense for money. Didn't read the original post all the way through, sorry.
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Wow, "Mum" and "Razzle"! I thought Razzle was a local eastern Mass game, and I thought "mum" was a figment of my imagination.

A couple more:
Back Pocket 9-Ball
"Kiss Pool" (AKA Irish Pool and "Loop")

Also "Golf"
including a variation we play in NH called "Around the World" -- which is played in the Manchester, NH Queen City Pool League, which has been active for about 60 years, without interruption! Anyone know of an older league???

edit -- okay, someone already had Golf listed. How about "Payball"?
 
Chi2dxa said:
3-Ball, 6-Ball, 7-Ball, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, 10-Ball, One Pocket, 9-Ball bank, Bank pool with all 15 Balls. Now the game that I have been looking for the rules on how to play is LIABILITY somebody help me.
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I don't think there are published rules to Liability. I only know of that game from McCumber's book, Playing Off the Rail.

From what I understand it's snooker with 6 red balls and the players are liable (they pay for) all the points that the player after them makes. So it basically encourages players to be extra careful not to sell out.

I did forget 3-ball (gambling game) and Cutthroat (social game)

I was trying to limit it more to games that are widely played in particular areas. In Germany for example you can go in the Spielautomaten (Electronic gambling games) places and play the Last Pocket 8 Ball with their version of the (unwritten) bar rules anywhere.

I know the BCA has a bunch of games listed in the rule book but most of these are pretty obscure. I am looking for ones that are still played.

And the follow up question;

Do you think that the fact that there are so many versions of billiards, including the various versions that the BCA lists in the rule book, that this is part of what hurts billiards around the world in terms of being more popular as a spectator sport?

And is there any other sport or game which has so many variations that you can think of?
 
JB Cases said:
I don't think there are published rules to Liability. I only know of that game from McCumber's book, Playing Off the Rail.

From what I understand it's snooker with 6 red balls and the players are liable (they pay for) all the points that the player after them makes. So it basically encourages players to be extra careful not to sell out.

I did forget 3-ball (gambling game) and Cutthroat (social game)

I was trying to limit it more to games that are widely played in particular areas. In Germany for example you can go in the Spielautomaten (Electronic gambling games) places and play the Last Pocket 8 Ball with their version of the (unwritten) bar rules anywhere.

I know the BCA has a bunch of games listed in the rule book but most of these are pretty obscure. I am looking for ones that are still played.

And the follow up question;

Do you think that the fact that there are so many versions of billiards, including the various versions that the BCA lists in the rule book, that this is part of what hurts billiards around the world in terms of being more popular as a spectator sport?

And is there any other sport or game which has so many variations that you can think of?
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Auto racing for one.

Steve
 
Dave D said:
Cowboy pocket billiards is a pretty good game that we use to sometimes play in the 60's and 70's. It involves pocketing balls and caroms. I recently introduced to some younger players who seemed to like it.
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I love that game but it sort of gets old spotting the balls all the time. I usually make my girlfriend do it. :D :D :D :D
 
Oh And:

Off The Cue (All Balls Have To Be Pocketted By Caruming Off The Cue)

And

Banks - Caroms And Combo's

And The Game You See the Spanish Guys Playing

Where they Put All The Balls Along The Rail at each Diamond

Dont Know What Its Called
 
Kyros said:
I love that game but it sort of gets old spotting the balls all the time. I usually make my girlfriend do it. :D :D :D :D
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I'm not sure what balls you're spotting, I think the game he is referring to you shoot object balls off the cueball, not spotting much of anything.

Joe
 
JB Cases said:
And the follow up question;

Do you think that the fact that there are so many versions of billiards, including the various versions that the BCA lists in the rule book, that this is part of what hurts billiards around the world in terms of being more popular as a spectator sport?
Click to expand...

No, to the contrary, it's the only thing that keeps billiards alive these days, especially three cushion - it's thriving down in NY with the immigrant population, they don't give a crap if it's on TV or not. If the whole of billiards was the numbing bore that 9 ball is, the last couple viewers would sign off forever. I love billiards, any, really, but if I click around the channels and see Corr vs. Fisher at the casino, race to whatever again, I can't change the channels fast enough.
 
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