How popular is the game of 8 Ball - Last Pocket, and who do you think is the Best?

A

animatedvmaker

Banned
I have been following this player's, Reyes Gomez, matches on a New York facebook group for awhile, and his game of choice is Last Pocket 8 ball.

I am not sure, but he might be the best Last Pocket 8 ball player out there, because he is seemingly willing to play anyone at the game.

I watched him play Francisco Bustamante some Last Pocket 8 ball, and though I did not see the entire match, I believe he won in the end.

Anyway, it seems to be a very interesting game. It really makes the player think, and have to really plan things out, making it a much more difficult game then standard 8 ball.

Maybe it is a very popular game in New York, but I have very rarely seen it played by anyone, in person, and I have only played the game a few times.

I feel that a player like Dennis Orcollo for example should be able to beat this player named Reyes Gomez, but I do not know.

Does the game really require a special type of skill set, that takes years and years of practice, or is there a lot more competition out there for players like Reyes Gomez, playing Last Pocket 8 ball?

Just curious.
 
For the last several months, that is all I have been playing.

If you have experience in all the other games, you can steamroll players who only play rotation games.

It is like one-pocket and 14.1 a lot.

You have to study the table and know when to make your "moves".
 
Last pocket 8 ball is very popular in NYC and with Latinos especially Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. All the Spanish bars ect that is all they play.
 
First piece of advice I was ever given was that unless you're definitely going to run out on this turn, make sure you don't make your last ball into a side pocket, as you'll set yourself up for failure.

The end game in eight ball last pocket can be particularly tricky if there's a tug of war on the eight ball, and is only similar to one pocket when opponent has a corner pocket adjacent to your own. Back pocket nine and ten ball are much more similar to one pocket that last pocket eight ball.

As noted by another poster, the Hispanic-Americans both love and excel at this version of eight ball.
 
sjm said:
First piece of advice I was ever given was that unless you're definitely going to run out on this turn, make sure you don't make your last ball into a side pocket, as you'll set yourself up for failure.

The end game in eight ball last pocket can be particularly tricky if there's a tug of war on the eight ball, and is only similar to one pocket when opponent has a corner pocket adjacent to your own. Back pocket nine and ten ball are much more similar to one pocket that last pocket eight ball.

As noted by another poster, the Hispanic-Americans both love and excel at this version of eight ball.
Click to expand...

What I meant when I referred to one-pocket, is that a lot of the game consists of "moves" rather than just shooting balls in. You get your balls near holes and in the clear before you start trying to run out. If you aren't sure you can run out, you tie up the other persons balls or keep them hidden. You only make your own balls when it is advantages to YOU. Also, you can use combinations to make the others person's balls when they are sitting in the hole and you can take their easy shots away from them, while putting yours into position.

The way we play it, you can make "intentional fouls" and give up BIH. If you are down to the 8 and I have no way to run out or hide, I will shoot the 8-ball somewhere that it can't be made in their pocket. For example, up behind a stack of my balls between the 8-ball and their pocket.
 
We play it fairly often around here. In fact, we usually play a modified version of the game, 'last pocket, back-8'. Never during a tournament, but casually at bars or among friends, after a tournament, whatever.
 
Also known as "Spanish 8 ball" An almost exclusive pool game in some latin bars that I played in even 35 years ago in the more ethnic latino neighborhoods in the Northeast.
 
animatedvmaker said:
I have been following this player's, Reyes Gomez, matches on a New York facebook group for awhile, and his game of choice is Last Pocket 8 ball.

I am not sure, but he might be the best Last Pocket 8 ball player out there, because he is seemingly willing to play anyone at the game.

I watched him play Francisco Bustamante some Last Pocket 8 ball, and though I did not see the entire match, I believe he won in the end.

Anyway, it seems to be a very interesting game. It really makes the player think, and have to really plan things out, making it a much more difficult game then standard 8 ball.

Maybe it is a very popular game in New York, but I have very rarely seen it played by anyone, in person, and I have only played the game a few times.

I feel that a player like Dennis Orcollo for example should be able to beat this player named Reyes Gomez, but I do not know.

Does the game really require a special type of skill set, that takes years and years of practice, or is there a lot more competition out there for players like Reyes Gomez, playing Last Pocket 8 ball?

Just curious.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's the game I haven't heard in a while. Are you please able to post a link to that Facebook group you mentioned ?
 
Reyito is the best, IMO....with a caveat

He plays by Dominican rules.........very interesting rules. U have to know them real well.
That’s his biggest edge.
 
I don't like any game that has a gaffe rule to it, make the ball in the hole without any type of extra add-ons is my favorite game. Limits would be one pocket for me with the one pocket per person rule. Anything else is just setup for specialists like those guys that can shoot free throws as good as any pro basketball player but can't actually play the game with a full team nearly as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top