Considering picking up a little gambling on 8-ball, maybe it will help my game. Most people I'll be playing on the weekends aren't serious players, but still interested to know what are some common spots to ask for/offer when negotiating. Any help is appreciated.
Guide to spots for 8-ball?
- Thread starter leto1776
- Start date
Offer to let them pick up 2 or 3 of their balls off the table and put them in the pockets. They will pick up the toughest shots, clear up clusters for you in the process, and when they miss you will have a nice clear run out. 
If you want to give yourself a challenge, run your balls in order while your opponent plays regular rules.
You could also play that you have to bank the 8 and your opponent doesn't or play last pocket 8 as your spot.
If you want to give yourself a challenge, run your balls in order while your opponent plays regular rules.
You could also play that you have to bank the 8 and your opponent doesn't or play last pocket 8 as your spot.
I always play last pocket 8, my favorite variation of 8-ball. Bank on the 8.....interesting. As far as gambling on 8ball, I like to play short rack last pocket 8-ball, makes for shorter games. I play it race to 5 for 25, same as I do 9-ball.....and thats on the rare occasion I play for money.
Same rules apply as regular 8 ball, except racked in a diamond like 9 ball. 4 stripes, 4 solids, 8 in the middle.
https://sites.google.com/site/poolandbilliard/Home/fast-8
Hand span
Games is to me the most generous spot to give. Giving the hand span once a game or several in a set is an interesting spot and can be added to other types of spots. Hand span means they can move cb any direction the size of their hand. After you hook them or they hook themselves or get out of line or on the rail. You can also adjust it to not using it on the last ball or two before the eight. This will make them use it earlier in the game which is better for you.
Games is to me the most generous spot to give. Giving the hand span once a game or several in a set is an interesting spot and can be added to other types of spots. Hand span means they can move cb any direction the size of their hand. After you hook them or they hook themselves or get out of line or on the rail. You can also adjust it to not using it on the last ball or two before the eight. This will make them use it earlier in the game which is better for you.
I played in an in-house league that did it like this:
AA vs. C.........AA banks the 8 into the side pocket
A vs. C..........A banks the 8
Any matchup when there was only one skill level difference, 2-balls off the table after the break, lower ranked player gets to chose high or low balls.
It was tough to bank the 8 in the side when it was hanging in a corner pocket until we changed the rules so we could make the 8 and call safe.
Scratch on the break was ball in hand
The system worked very well
AA vs. C.........AA banks the 8 into the side pocket
A vs. C..........A banks the 8
Any matchup when there was only one skill level difference, 2-balls off the table after the break, lower ranked player gets to chose high or low balls.
It was tough to bank the 8 in the side when it was hanging in a corner pocket until we changed the rules so we could make the 8 and call safe.
Scratch on the break was ball in hand
The system worked very well
Games on the wire is your best bet.
Depending on your speed....I really like getting the break on a barbox playing with a magic rack.
Depending on your speed....I really like getting the break on a barbox playing with a magic rack.
1) You can limit the stronger players pockets...either for the 8 ball or for all balls. I used to play my friend even, but I could only make balls in one of the back corners. A *really* tough one is that you can only make the 8 in 1 side pocket.
2) the stronger player has to run out in rotation.
3) Stronger player must bank the 8.
4) Stronger player cannot pocket a ball until you have only a certain number or less balls remaining. I used to give the spot where I can't make a ball until my opponent had only 2 balls left. It was a fantastic practice game...built up my 8 ball safeties and moving.
Hope these help,
KMRUNOUT
2) the stronger player has to run out in rotation.
3) Stronger player must bank the 8.
4) Stronger player cannot pocket a ball until you have only a certain number or less balls remaining. I used to give the spot where I can't make a ball until my opponent had only 2 balls left. It was a fantastic practice game...built up my 8 ball safeties and moving.
Hope these help,
KMRUNOUT
on the wire
One player starts the match having to win fewer games. If you give up two on the wire in a race to 5. They have to win 3, you have to win 5.
One player starts the match having to win fewer games. If you give up two on the wire in a race to 5. They have to win 3, you have to win 5.
games on the wire don't mean anything if you are not capable of getting to the money ball against your opponent.
take last sat night for example. my friend " who is an apa 6" matched up against another apa 6 for 1,000.00. my friend gave up 2 games on the wire in a race to 10.that made it a 10-8 race. this was 8 ball.
my friend won 10-2.
wish i had been there...my nose would have been wide open bettin on the rail. i would have taken every bet i could get bettin on my friend.
I agree. Our local players group uses games on the wire for our tournaments...and it's not working. The same two players keep winning all the tournaments (I'm one of them, but that's beside the point). Good handicapping should result in more competition for first place. The one advantage of "games on the wire" is that it's easy to understand (we're all casual players; they're not into extensive rules/systems, i.e. in 8-ball we play "Play what you make" because they can't handle the additional rules of Open Table After the Break).
I've been asked to explore other handicapping methods. For 8-ball I think I might try the "remove a ball (or two balls)" method. For 9- and 10-ball it seems like "Wild 7-8- or 9" might be best.
Suggestions appreciated.
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When I would play a weaker player for money in 8 ball and they wanted a spot I would offer them the breaks. Usually a weaker player wont run out from the break but will remove some of the traffic making it easier for me to run out.
Sounds simple but it is effective.
Another spot I would offer is to give them ball in hand after the break and after any fouls that I committed. (Plus games on the wire if needed)
Sounds simple but it is effective.
Another spot I would offer is to give them ball in hand after the break and after any fouls that I committed. (Plus games on the wire if needed)
Last pocket 8??
You have to put the 8-ball in the last pocket you made a ball in.
IMO, 8-ball is a terrible gambling game if one player needs a lot of weight. Games on the wire is probably the most fair way, but even that becomes unmanageable if the gap between the players is large enough (say, a C player versus an A player). Most spots involving balls are just hustles when you get down to it - the stronger player will try to give just enough weight so that the weaker play can clear some traffic before missing, giving the stronger player an easy runout. Unless you are fairly close in skill (or just trying to straight hustle someone), my recommendation is to play a different game, perhaps 10-ball, 14.1, or one pocket. All of those games are easy to handicap fairly.
Aaron
Aaron
In my area, few people have heard of those games, let alone played them.