Cowboy Pool: Rules Question

Black-Balled

Black-Balled

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_pool

So, I have been playing this exclusively for a week, based on the comments made by some guy named Dennis Hatch...

I have yet to make a carom in which I touched all 3 OBs. It is hard!

But I am not clear on one thing: In the event of a scratch, all 3 balls behing the headstring, what happens?

Anybody else play it? I like, but there is too much going to the bin to respot balls :shrug:

I'd love to see a vid of someone who knows how to play doing it. I don't know what to do on the opening shot and would also like to see a few core shots- one I have learned that comes up often is (WEI, why have you forsaken me?) when 1 or 3 is in a corner and CB near, can cut 5 in side and go 2 or 3 rails with inside for a hi-point score. Gotta be some more 'naturals', especially with respect to control of the object balls.
 
On your opening shot try pocketing the middle ball in a side pocket you should be able to make a billiard on the next ball up table. That was always my open shot.

Gerry S.
 
bflgvs said:
On your opening shot try pocketing the middle ball in a side pocket you should be able to make a billiard on the next ball up table. That was always my open shot.

Gerry S.
Click to expand...

Rules state the 3 must be hit first...and it is on foot spot.
 
Oops

Black-Balled said:
Rules state the 3 must be hit first...and it is on foot spot.
Click to expand...

Oops, I see that I didn't mention that we had our own set of bastardized rules that we used. We didn't play all the way to 100 points either but only to 50; with only billiards and no scratches from 25 to 50. Our own set of 'House Rules' applied as there was no internet back in '65 and the only published set of rules was at the front desk.

Does this help?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080404121648AAznWOC

Gerry S
 
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bflgvs said:
Oops, I see that I didn't mention that we had our own set of bastardized rules that we used. We didn't play all the way to 100 points either but only to 50; with only billiards and no scratches from 25 to 50. Our own set of 'House Rules' applied as there was no internet back in '65 and the only published set of rules was at the front desk.

Does this help?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080404121648AAznWOC

Gerry S
Click to expand...
I always thought you were a bastard, but it is only now that I know I was right!

Hahahaha!;)

The link does help:

The situation you are describing is a common occurrence in games where you have cue ball in hand behind the headstring after a scratch. In some games, like straight pool, the rules will specifically state that if all legal object balls are above the headstring the player may spot one of them before taking his shot. This is NOT the case in Cowboy Billiards. The player must attempt to hit the cue ball past the headstring, then back into the kitchen to touch an object ball.

You may not know this, but Cowboy Billiards has a 3 foul rule. What this means is that if a player commits 3 consecutive fouls, he automatically loses the game. So, if a player were to scratch and give you ball in hand where all the object balls were behind the headstring, you could simply intentionally scratch and give it right back to him. If this situation goes back and forth (he scratches on purpose again, you scratch on purpose again), then he will hit 3 fouls first and lose the game. So, in this situation, the best play is to intentionally scratch if you do not feel that you can pocket a kick shot back into the kitchen.
 
Black-Balled said:
I have yet to make a carom in which I touched all 3 OBs. It is hard!
Click to expand...

There is no reason to shoot for this it only gets you an extra point at the sacrifice of judging position in the carom phase of the game. The reason the game is so instructive is that during the carom phase of the game you are looking to set the balls up for an easy next shot meaning BOTH the CB AND the OB’s. if you are just firing around and not attempting to get OB’s close together for the next carom you are not getting the most out of the game.

Black-Balled said:
But I am not clear on one thing: In the event of a scratch, all 3 balls behing the headstring, what happens?
Click to expand...

You have to kick at the balls that are behind the headstring, you have 3 targets not only is it unlikely that you will 3 foul but it is unlikely that you won’t make a point. Unless you are very unlucky or an extremely poor kicker.


Black-Balled said:
I don't know what to do on the opening shot
Click to expand...

The opening is a spot shot you can use Ray Martin’s method in the 99 critical shots in pool or Robert Byrnes method (that is really Bob Jewitt’s) in Byrnes Standard book of pool & Billiards. If you don’t know them PM me and I will tell them to you.

Black-Balled said:
and would also like to see a few core shots- one I have learned that comes up often is (WEI, why have you forsaken me?) when 1 or 3 is in a corner and CB near, can cut 5 in side and go 2 or 3 rails with inside for a hi-point score. Gotta be some more 'naturals', especially with respect to control of the object balls.
Click to expand...

Not sure how to tackle this one, in the balls worth their value stage just run to 90 (you can do a shorter game to whatever # you want.) Then in the carom phase make the caroms and set yourself up for an easy carom on the next shot; then on point 100 try to set up for an easy scratch off the 1ball.
 
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