Fellow one-holers -- value of a pick?

M

MHarris

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I periodically match up in 1P with a guy who plays a few balls under me. I'm looking for some more creative ways to spot him....uptable games are becoming more common and creating some very long games with me going to 11 or 12. I don't want to give up the breaks.

So I'm curious, what is the value of a pick? Is it worth about the same as the break, or maybe a little less?

For those unfamiliar with the term, immediately after the opening break,the player receiving the pick will be allowed to spot any ball in play. Any balls pocketed on the break stay down, and in that case, the breaker will be allowed to continue shooting until his inning is over.
 
MHarris said:
So I periodically match up in 1P with a guy who plays a few balls under me. I'm looking for some more creative ways to spot him....uptable games are becoming more common and creating some very long games with me going to 11 or 12. I don't want to give up the breaks.

So I'm curious, what is the value of a pick? Is it worth about the same as the break, or maybe a little less?

For those unfamiliar with the term, immediately after the opening break,the player receiving the pick will be allowed to spot any ball in play. Any balls pocketed on the break stay down, and in that case, the breaker will be allowed to continue shooting until his inning is over.
Click to expand...

The pick is about like 9/7,8/7 ..The hit and the pick is about like 9/6.
 
Kamakiriad said:
The pick is about like 9/7,8/7 ..The hit and the pick is about like 9/6.
Click to expand...

I would agree in general, but a lot would depend on how well the player is able to capitalize on it. Some players just aren't able to use it to as much of an advantage as they could. I have seen a player use it to full advantage by using a very agressive break (they were getting the hit and the pick). They would normally worry about selling out using that break, but they felt pretty safe having the pick, and were making a ball on the snap and running several pretty often.
 
MHarris said:
.

So I'm curious, what is the value of a pick? Is it worth about the same as the break, or maybe a little less?

For those unfamiliar with the term, immediately after the opening break,the player receiving the pick will be allowed to spot any ball in play. Any balls pocketed on the break stay down, and in that case, the breaker will be allowed to continue shooting until his inning is over.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure where you play, but down here, the "pick" is taking any ball off the table -> and putting INTO YOUR HOLE. That is way more than 8/7, as you can pick any ball near your opponent's hole. Hit and pick is even more of a spot, as you can hit the break harder, and simply "eat" the corner ball that always moves towards your opponents hole. This almost always results in a much stronger position.

Also, why are you so against giving up the break? It's actually only 1/2 a spot. If my opponent doesn't have a lock-tight break, I would rather give up the breaks than a ball (but NOT the breaks if you are also giving weight...)

-td
[edit] Freddy the Beard posted on this as well: http://www.onepocket.org/forum/showthread.php?t=671&highlight=spot

[edit] I found this on onepocket.org

Hit and the pick – A One Pocket handicap that means to give up the break, plus the breaking player gets to pick one ball of their choosing off the table and deposit it in their own pocket. Thus it is a spot of both the break and a ball, but even stronger than the standard 8-7 spot because the breaking player gets to choose the ball to be removed – thus increasing the value of the opening break.
 
Last edited:
td873 said:
I'm not sure where you play, but down here, the "pick" is taking any ball off the table -> and putting INTO YOUR HOLE. That is way more than 8/7, as you can pick any ball near your opponent's hole. Hit and pick is even more of a spot, as you can hit the break harder, and simply "eat" the corner ball that always moves towards your opponents hole. This almost always results in a much stronger position.

Also, why are you so against giving up the break? It's actually only 1/2 a spot. If my opponent doesn't have a lock-tight break, I would rather give up the breaks than a ball (but NOT the breaks if you are also giving weight...)

-td
[edit] Freddy the Beard posted on this as well: http://www.onepocket.org/forum/showthread.php?t=671&highlight=spot

[edit] I found this on onepocket.org

Hit and the pick ? A One Pocket handicap that means to give up the break, plus the breaking player gets to pick one ball of their choosing off the table and deposit it in their own pocket. Thus it is a spot of both the break and a ball, but even stronger than the standard 8-7 spot because the breaking player gets to choose the ball to be removed ? thus increasing the value of the opening break.
Click to expand...

This was my immediate take on this, also. Never heard of spotting a ball with the pick.
 
As a side note, make sure you specify before play whether the pick occurs right after the break, or at the end of the first inning. It can be a huge difference.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

desert1p, my understanding was that it occurs immediately after the break. I figured the value changes drastically if the pick is after the first inning and one or both of us are making balls on the break.

td, I'm from Jersey. The pick is not a very commonly used spot here, at least not in my area. A few years back,a top local player was giving another player a spot that included the pick, and that was how he explained it to me. I figured it might mean something else in other areas.

As far as being apprehensive about giving up the break, it's very situational for me. I have good reason not to give it up to this guy, as he plays pretty good and tends to ask for things like 8-6 and the break. His break is pretty decent. I'm not looking to give that type of advantage to a nitty player who frequently pulls up when he's stuck two games. He will NEVER play if he's going to 8, and I'm ok with that, as long as I can negotiate something I like.

I'm really just looking for another way to handicap to help keep the games from turning into marathons, as I'm always going to at least 10. I think this might be the right way to go, so I'll give it a whirl and see if he'll accept my offer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top