Explaining BCA Rules to a Banger

the chicken

the chicken

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I live in a rural community and shoot pool on tables located in the lounge of a bowling alley.Every now and then, a person will wander in, order a beer, and notice that I'm shooting, alone.

He (sometimes a she!) will wander over and ask if I'd like to play a game.

I ask what game they like (I'm playing on a 4x8 Peter Vitallie table that rents by the hour). The answer is almost universally Eight Ball.

I play in a weekly double elimination eight ball tournament that follows BCA rules. I know all the regular players and this guy isn't one of them. So I ask, "Are we going to follow BCA rules?" The 99th percentile answer is "What are BCA rules?"

So, the question is, do you take time to explain differences between bar box eight ball vs. BCA rules, or don't even bother asking the question?

Shoot Safe, My Friend!

Regards,

John
 
BCA:
a) Table is open after the break
b) Called goes in called pocket (circumstances on how it gets there are irrelevant)
c) Ball in Hand Fouls
d) Table scratch is a foul !!
e) Must call any non-obvious shot (or simply must call all shots)
f) After contact a ball must drop in pocket or must hit a <sometimes different> rail

Typical Bar Box (but non exclusive):
a) You are what you made on break
b) No slop--must call all nuances of called ball getting to called pocket
c) Ball in kitchen scratches
d) Table scratch is not a foul if CB comes close to OB (quality shot)
f) see d.
 
Absolutely not.

If that person or yourself is just looking to play a game why bother with all the details. Depending on your skill level or knowledge and such just ask the person "how do you like play?" or "what rules do you normally play?" That person will almost always answer "oh i don't know, just regular 8 ball rules i guess", right there you know what you have.

you see, some times you have to assess the situation and know that a short answer will result in a saving time by avoiding a lengthy conversation with someone who genuinely won't care about what you're saying or explaining.

my suggestion my friend is to K.I.S.S

P1: Hey want to shoot some?
P2: sure, what do you want to play? (or) 8 or 9 ball?
P1: 8 ball is fine
P2: Cool, what rules do you normally play?
P1: Oh i don't know, regular 8 ball rules i guess
P2: So, open on the break or shoot what you make?
P1: Answer
P2: Does the 8 have to fall clean and does a ball need to touch a rail?

Once again, none of the above will really matter, depending. So just play and ask the question during the game "is the table open or do i have to shoot what I make?", "does a ball have to touch a rail on shots?", "hey, does the 8 have to fall clean?" you'll know this persons knowledge so treat them accordingly
 
I have experienced bar bangers who insist that "bar rules" are the real rules. They will tell how many years they have played, and they know the "rules".
If they insist they know the rules they don't play them. Some of them make up the most ridiculous rules. One person said that because a player hit his called ball and it went in, but another ball went in first into a different pocket it was not a legal shot.
I said to them lets bet a drink that I can find the a set of rules on the internet that confirm what I am saying, but they cannot find any rules that backup what they are saying. Although they "know" the rules I have never had anyone take me up on this bet.
 
The funkier their rules are the more confident I am that I will get the better of it with the exception of games designed to close the skill gap like last pocket, bank 8 etc. Good players generally know good rules.

So just play and roll with it.

JC
 
We have APA, BCA, and other local leagues in my area. So, I usually start off by asking if he/she want to play by league rules and which one. If not, then I would ask him/her to clarify the rule set.

My game should be strong enough to handle the differences in rule sets. Also, when I play with strangers, it's not worth arguing over a game. For example, intentional safeties considered dirty pool, or honest attempt at every shot (offense only, no defense).
 
You would have better results with explaining Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

Ha, Ha! I'll have to remember this one. Too funny!
 
This may sound snobby but if they're not enough of a pool player to have some idea of what BCA rules means then I'm not really interested in playing them. They likely won't be much competition and it won't be a lot of fun. I'd get more/better table time practicing alone.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
I ask them what they want to play for before I ask them anything else. Their response to that question dictates how I handle the rest of the situation.
 
the chicken said:
You would have better results with explaining Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

Ha, Ha! I'll have to remember this one. Too funny!
Click to expand...

Where the heck do you play in Jackson ? ... Any decent tables in the area ?
I am currently at my home in the Gold Country, less than 40 miles away.
 
If I were playing for something I'd worry about what rules we play by. If not, it's a "try and run out" fest ...who cares about rules.:smile:
 
Where the heck do you play in Jackson ?
Go to the the bowling alley (Gold Country Lanes) near the junction of Hwy 104 and 49. They have a web site, so you can google it.

Any decent tables in the area ? They have two 4x8 Peter Vitallie and two smaller coin operated tables.
All the tables are in good condition.

I shoot every day, in the the early afternoon. So, come on down...

I am currently at my home in the Gold Country, less than 40 miles away.
 
Yeah, I hear ya. But, the thing is, there's not much competition to be found in this area. Except for the weekly tournament (and that's sometimes a bust) I've shot for weeks on end with zero competition.

So, when a Tuna (sorry!) does walk in, I don't want to get too aggressive, or appear cocky. I'd rather play a few games with a stranger, regardless of their skill level, just to maintain that playing edge, small as it may be considering the total number of games played (which usually works out to two or three - sob).
 
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