How big is the called 8?

Thunderball

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Been thinking of playing a set racing 10 giving up the called eight.The guy I'll be playing is under my speed for sure (imho,not his I'd imagine).I do think I'll have the better of it though EXECEPT nine ball is his game,not actually mine,so he may defend the table a little better.

I do gamble a little fron time to time,but its always with guys at my speed so no spots are given or taken and most nights end up even or close to it.

I think I'm on the right side of this one,if I'm not stepping on my d*ck giving up the 8.So I ask.

FWIW he won't play without the spot,so in his mind it's a big enough spot to give him the edge.What do you guys think?
 
It's like a mythical unicorn...

It's really amazing if it comes into play, but most likely it's a figment of your imagination.




To be totally honest, if you were to play him to 13 and would win by at least 2 games the call 8 should be no sweat (unless it's mental). Most likely the guy believes he plays you almost dead even and any weight would put the game in his favor.
 
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Thunderball said:
Been thinking of playing a set racing 10 giving up the called eight.The guy I'll be playing is under my speed for sure (imho,not his I'd imagine).I do think I'll have the better of it though EXECEPT nine ball is his game,not actually mine,so he may defend the table a little better.

I do gamble a little fron time to time,but its always with guys at my speed so no spots are given or taken and most nights end up even or close to it.

I think I'm on the right side of this one,if I'm not stepping on my d*ck giving up the 8.So I ask.

FWIW he won't play without the spot,so in his mind it's a big enough spot to give him the edge.What do you guys think?
I would think that called 8 equates to giving up a game in a race to 9 or something,the last 2 is less of a spot then the called 8 I do believe.
 
If you both shoot well it's a very small spot.

Otoh, if you are both C-level players, the call 8 could definitely come into play for a couple of games.
 
Everyone answering is totally correct. The call 8 is nothing if both players can run an average of four or more balls. Assuming you are both better than D players, and you are correct that you play better than him...

Give him the call 8 ...
Then give him the call 8 last 2 ...
Then give him the wild 8 last 2


If you can even, none of these spots should make more than a 1 in 12 games difference (unless neither of you can run four balls).
 
I considered everything you said, like your not being a frequent gambler, and his probable idea that he plays as well as you. Think about why you have to get THIS guy to the table. If you rarely get in action there are probably more than a few you could sneak up on. If you play very close, but you feel that you have an edge, why give it up ? Make him play you even.

One more old school spot. Even less than the call 8 OR the last two is THE ROTATION EIGHT ! The eight ball only in rotation, no combos. It's almost a gaff spot, but it does relieve him of getting shape on the Nine and making it, so it is SOMETHING. Good luck...Tom
 
Great,thanks guys.!!

Thats what I thought fwiw,but I like to run these sort of things by profesional gambling buds (you guys) before moving forward.

Now,to futher display my ignance,what exactly would I be giving up with the "last two" ? I can think of a few things this might mean....
 
The last two balls on the table are money balls. In other words, if the 7 and 9 are the last two balls on the table. If you make the 7 or 9 with a good hit you win. It's almost not even a spot.

-J Chao
 
Thunderball said:
Been thinking of playing a set racing 10 giving up the called eight.The guy I'll be playing is under my speed for sure (imho,not his I'd imagine).I do think I'll have the better of it though EXECEPT nine ball is his game,not actually mine,so he may defend the table a little better.

I do gamble a little fron time to time,but its always with guys at my speed so no spots are given or taken and most nights end up even or close to it.

I think I'm on the right side of this one,if I'm not stepping on my d*ck giving up the 8.So I ask.

FWIW he won't play without the spot,so in his mind it's a big enough spot to give him the edge.What do you guys think?

I might get slammed for this, but I'm gonna reach to the other side of this and say it depends on the speed you guys play and I don't mean that to be insultive at all.

When the top players play, say John Schmidt and Rodney Morris, hypotheticaly, The call 8 would mean very, very little and might show up once maybe twice in a long set. They run out like gas through a funnel anyway.

However in a game where players {like us} who don't get out all the time they are supposed to, then it can be a factor. If he is getting shots on the 5 out, it could be a big factor.

The main thing,IMO, is you have to believe you can give it up and play your game. Don't be intimidated and alter your game. That to me is the key to giving up weight. Ignore it a play.

Think positive and take it down.
 
Last two is the "last two balls on the table".

If you make the 8 on the break, you are now giving the 7&9 in that rack.
If the 6,7,8 are made on combos you are now giving the 5&9 in that rack.

Also remember the size of the spot relies heavily on the equipment and type of player.

I played a short stop with the 7-inturn (ie no combos). If we played on an open table he was a favorite. If we played on a triple shim I got the best of it. I move as good as him, he just shoots better. The tighter table chopped up the rack and allowed me to move.

Everything to consider when matching up.
 
How heavy weight gets is predicated on how fast the player giving it up runs.

For the "call 8" to be a factor both players speed has to be in the same zip code. The higher level of speed the less meaningfull it is to the point that at the top of the food chain it's irrelavant.

For "A" level players it may be equal to 1 game in a race to 10. IMO it's far from as strong as 2 on the wire going to 10.

For "C/D" level players it may be as strong as 3 or 4 games on the wire.
 
Thanks for the claifiaction on the "last two".Thats what I thought but did not want to assume.

I see your point Adam.FWIW we aint world beaters by any stretch.I guess we would fall into the c level somewhere,but if its c he's at c- and I'm at c + if that makes sense.

With the replies in this thread I'm going to make this happen at first available chance.I'll post back in this thread how it all worked out.
 
The called 8 should be the same size as the regular 8-ball. Otherwise, someone's trying to pull a fast one on you.
 
It could throw off someone's rhythm , like the person giving up the spot .....

in a short race it could be an advantage to either player ....
 
Thunderball said:
Great,thanks guys.!!

Thats what I thought fwiw,but I like to run these sort of things by profesional gambling buds (you guys) before moving forward.

Now,to futher display my ignance,what exactly would I be giving up with the "last two" ? I can think of a few things this might mean....

ask Tupac what it's like
 
At pro level, I'd say the call 8 is worth a game on the wire in a race to 13.
At "A" level, I'd say the call 8 is worth a game on the wire in a race to 9.
At "B" level, I'd say the call 8 is worth a game on the wire in a race to 7.
At "C" level, I'd say the call 8 is worth two games on the wire in a race to 9.
At "D" level, I'd say the call 8 is worth two games on the wire in a race to 5.
 
Thunderball said:
Been thinking of playing a set racing 10 giving up the called eight.The guy I'll be playing is under my speed for sure (imho,not his I'd imagine).I do think I'll have the better of it though EXECEPT nine ball is his game,not actually mine,so he may defend the table a little better.

I do gamble a little fron time to time,but its always with guys at my speed so no spots are given or taken and most nights end up even or close to it.

I think I'm on the right side of this one,if I'm not stepping on my d*ck giving up the 8.So I ask.

FWIW he won't play without the spot,so in his mind it's a big enough spot to give him the edge.What do you guys think?


if he doesn't have the stones to play you even.... he's not worth worrying about...

if you like him enough to possibly lose a few bucks to teach him something .. go ahead...

if he's a loudmouth who will brag about winning with a spot....let him play someone else...


JMO
 
iba7467 said:
It's like a mythical unicorn...

It's really amazing if it comes into play, but most likely it's a figment of your imagination.




To be totally honest, if you were to play him to 13 and would win by at least 2 games the call 8 should be no sweat (unless it's mental). Most likely the guy believes he plays you almost dead even and any weight would put the game in his favor.


i don't think so! i think it's fairly big. if the guy ties up the 8 then the guy giving it up can't run out! i know that works both ways but he doesn't have to run out, he just has to make the 8.

and it's an extra money ball he could combo in or if it even looks close could call just incase.

i've won because of it before so i think it's fairly big. when i did win i didn't play good, i played smart.
 
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