Gambling Terminology

Colin Colenso

Colin Colenso

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Guys,
I often read stuff here such as give someone the 7, or play you 9-7 (one pocket). Now I guess getting the 7 at 9-ball means you win if you can pot the 7, 8 or 9 and 9-7 in one pocket means you must score 7 before your opponent scores 9.

Anyway, I see bits and pieces and I know each type has variations, but maybe some of you could explain the common betting proposition lingo to me, or direct me to somewhere that explains them all.

All these terms are a foreign language to Australians playing pool. About as complex as we get is 3 start best of 11. That's because it's mainly 8-ball I guess.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Guys,
I often read stuff here such as give someone the 7, or play you 9-7 (one pocket). Now I guess getting the 7 at 9-ball means you win if you can pot the 7, 8 or 9 and 9-7 in one pocket means you must score 7 before your opponent scores 9.

Anyway, I see bits and pieces and I know each type has variations, but maybe some of you could explain the common betting proposition lingo to me, or direct me to somewhere that explains them all.

All these terms are a foreign language to Australians playing pool. About as complex as we get is 3 start best of 11. That's because it's mainly 8-ball I guess.
Click to expand...

Things may have changed in the last 20 years but if you offer someone the 7, that means only the 7 and the 9 are the money balls. If you offer someone the 7 out, it means 7,8, and 9.FWIW

no-sho
 
In one pocket:
8-8, 9-8, 9-7, 10-6, etc: the ball count necessary for each person to win. If I give someone 10-6, I have to make 10 balls to win and they need 6 to win. Easiest terminology to understand.

9-ball:

--'The "Call X,"' whereby X can be any number: If I give someone the "call 6" they can win by making the 6-ball (called) or the 9 as usual
--'The "Wild X,"' whereby X can be any number: If I give someone a ball wild, it just means they've got two money balls (the 9 and whatever the spot ball) and it doesn't need to be called.
--'X on the wire'. If I give someone games "on the wire", it's just games spotted. So 3 on the wire in a race to 7 means they have to win only 4 games.
--"Last two/three/four/whatever": The last # of balls on the table regardless of number, can be made to win. If I give someone the last two and make the 8 on the break, their money ball is the 7 and the 9. If I make the 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the break, their money balls are the 9 and the 4. Whatever the last two (or three, etc.) are on the table are, those are the money balls.
--"Orange crush": giving up the 5-ball as a money ball
--"The seven out": The seven, eight and nine are all money balls. Any time you say the "# out" means that the money ball begins with that number, and anything after that is a win. If I give someone the 7 out, at any time they can make the 7-8-9 to win.
 
By the way ...

Getting a game or two 'on the wire' is much better
than like getting the '7' ball because with games
on the wire (or spotted), you have sure wins, with
the '7' ball spotted, you may never get to shoot
at the 7 the whole set if you are playing a good player.
 
crush?

StevenPWaldon said:
--"Orange crush": giving up the 5-ball as a money ball
QUOTE]

I consider the "crush" part as the break
Orange Crush = 5-ball and the breaks
Click to expand...
 
StevenPWaldon said:
In one pocket:
8-8, 9-8, 9-7, 10-6, etc: the ball count necessary for each person to win. If I give someone 10-6, I have to make 10 balls to win and they need 6 to win. Easiest terminology to understand.

9-ball:

--'The "Call X,"' whereby X can be any number: If I give someone the "call 6" they can win by making the 6-ball (called) or the 9 as usual
--'The "Wild X,"' whereby X can be any number: If I give someone a ball wild, it just means they've got two money balls (the 9 and whatever the spot ball) and it doesn't need to be called.
--'X on the wire'. If I give someone games "on the wire", it's just games spotted. So 3 on the wire in a race to 7 means they have to win only 4 games.
--"Last two/three/four/whatever": The last # of balls on the table regardless of number, can be made to win. If I give someone the last two and make the 8 on the break, their money ball is the 7 and the 9. If I make the 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the break, their money balls are the 9 and the 4. Whatever the last two (or three, etc.) are on the table are, those are the money balls.
--"Orange crush": giving up the 5-ball as a money ball
--"The seven out": The seven, eight and nine are all money balls. Any time you say the "# out" means that the money ball begins with that number, and anything after that is a win. If I give someone the 7 out, at any time they can make the 7-8-9 to win.
Click to expand...

Thanks,
That helped clarify a few things...but...I'm still not real clear on the 'Wild X', just the same as 'Call X' but you don't need to call it.

I guess there are variations on some of these such as making the call X or wild X or the seven out off the break or combinations.

Perhaps you could explain the most commonly accepted version as it relates to making these balls off breaks or combinations.
 
9 ball

Wild means if it goes on any shot after hitting the proper
object ball first, it counts.

Call means you have to call the pocket on the break or a combo.
 
Snapshot9 said:
Wild means if it goes on any shot after hitting the proper
object ball first, it counts.

Call means you have to call the pocket on the break or a combo.
Click to expand...
Ah, I got it. Thanks Scott.

Now, I'll give anyone 3 on the wire, call 7 out and wild 4, race to 11!

For $5...It'll be worth that to learn how it works in practice :p

Is my pool grammar right?
 
This is dependant on the level of players.

Amongst A players, getting games on the wire is better. You're certainly right about that. Chances are that if your opponent (or yourself) is on the 7-ball, 90% of the time the game is pretty much over.

But amongst B and C players, they're not always going to get out from the 7 ball so it's a pretty big spot. They'd get more out that sort of spot.

Really it just depends on the two players and their level of play. I know a lot of B players that are willing to give a game or two, but won't give up the 8. But then you've got guys like Manalo and Chohan matching up, and giving up the 8 instead of games on the wire.


Snapshot9 said:
Getting a game or two 'on the wire' is much better
than like getting the '7' ball because with games
on the wire (or spotted), you have sure wins, with
the '7' ball spotted, you may never get to shoot
at the 7 the whole set if you are playing a good player.
Click to expand...
 
Give me 2:1 on the money* and you've got a game!


*I'm sure you can figure this one out, but my $ to your 2($). So if I'm putting up $500, you're putting up $1000. Just one more thing to think about!



Colin Colenso said:
Ah, I got it. Thanks Scott.

Now, I'll give anyone 3 on the wire, call 7 out and wild 4, race to 11!

For $5...It'll be worth that to learn how it works in practice :p

Is my pool grammar right?
Click to expand...
 
sometimes you just gotta feed the fish

(usually used as an excuse for losing to a “weaker” player)
 
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StevenPWaldon said:
Give me 2:1 on the money* and you've got a game!


*I'm sure you can figure this one out, but my $ to your 2($). So if I'm putting up $500, you're putting up $1000. Just one more thing to think about!
Click to expand...
Sure 2 to 1 is standard odds format for us in Australia.

But if we say '2 to 1 on', it means 1 to 2. Or bet two to win one. Not sure if it is said that way in the US. So we try to avoid saying gimme 2 to 1 on the money, as it may lead to a misunderstanding. Just gimme 2 to 1.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Guys,
I often read stuff here such as give someone the 7, or play you 9-7 (one pocket). Now I guess getting the 7 at 9-ball means you win if you can pot the 7, 8 or 9 and 9-7 in one pocket means you must score 7 before your opponent scores 9.
.
Click to expand...

http://www.sfbilliards.com/jargon.html

One that's missing is the word "out" as in the 7-out, which means the player only needs to pocket the 7, 8 or 9 to win the game.

Getting the 7 means only the 7 or 9 are his winning balls.


Fred
 
Snapshot9 said:
Getting a game or two 'on the wire' is much better
than like getting the '7' ball because with games
on the wire (or spotted), you have sure wins, with
the '7' ball spotted, you may never get to shoot
at the 7 the whole set if you are playing a good player.
Click to expand...
True that, especially if it called 7... 7 on break or on accident doesn't count so a good player can usually "Neutralize" the 7 against a lesser player...
 
Colin Colenso said:
Thanks,
That helped clarify a few things...but...I'm still not real clear on the 'Wild X', just the same as 'Call X' but you don't need to call it.
Click to expand...
Yes, you don't have to call the 7 just like the 9 a banger can just send it around the table 5 rails and hope if they want...

Good way to lure bangers into a money game... they might not be enticed if you say call 7 or call 8...
 
Colin Colenso said:
Sure 2 to 1 is standard odds format for us in Australia.

But if we say '2 to 1 on', it means 1 to 2. Or bet two to win one. Not sure if it is said that way in the US. So we try to avoid saying gimme 2 to 1 on the money, as it may lead to a misunderstanding. Just gimme 2 to 1.
Click to expand...

2 to 1 in America normally means if I put in 1, I can win 2. So I take back 2 plus the 1 I put in. I triple my money on a 2:1 winning wager.

A common saying is "He's getting 2 to 1 on his money." In poker, for example, that means you're calling a bet which is half the pot (your opponent made a pot-size bet).

Fred
 
"Wild" also means or can be called "slop" or "cheese" so ununtended pay balls that drop after a legal hit count.
 
GStrong said:
IF you are giving the "Orange Crush" is it just the 5 Wild? or is it 5-9 are all money balls?
Click to expand...

My understanding is that the ‘orange crush’ is only the wild 5 ball without necessarily having the break, but could be included. The term is mostly said jokingly and seldom played from my experience. But, what do I know I couldn’t win with the Snap, banana and bunch.

The black and crack is often heard too.

Rick
 
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