How to Play One Pocket – with the Semi-Official Rules

book collector said:
dr_dave said:
FYI, I just posted a new video that uses excerpts from the Video Encyclopedia of One-Pocket (VEOP) to discuss and demonstrate the generally-accepted rules and strategy of the wonderful game of one-pocket. Check it out:


Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Game Basics
2:30 - Rules
3:58 - Fouls
6:58 - Ball Spotting
8:58 - 3-Foul Rule
9:45 - End-Game Strategy
14:11 - Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!
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Thanks Dave! You always provide the highest quality information.
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You’re welcome, and thank you. Bob obviously helped with this one. We aim to swerve. 🤓
 
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dr_dave said:
You’re welcome, and thank you. Bob obviously helped with this one. We aim to swerve. 🤓
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I figured that! Two smart guys!!
dr_dave said:
Good list. I don’t plan to do a follow-up video, but this is even more justification for “official rules” that are complete, clear, and as consistent as possible with rules of other well-established pool games, with no “options” or “alternatives” listed. Tournaments or gamblers might not always follow all the “official rules” exactly, but at least it will be clear what the “official rules” are when there is any uncertainty or debate.
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Just to be clear, all of the “options” in the onepocket.org rules are pretty clearly separated from the official rules, and they are identified as “options”. Personally I’m with you and Bob btw — in favor of “base of the ball” vs “whole ball”, but even if it was “official” for One Pocket, I’d venture most of the major 1P tournaments and feature stream challenges would be playing “whole ball”.
 
1pocket said:
Personally I’m with you and Bob btw — in favor of “base of the ball” vs “whole ball”, but even if it was “official” for One Pocket, I’d venture most of the major 1P tournaments and feature stream challenges would be playing “whole ball”.
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Tournament directors do make up their own rules at times (for example, Derby City 9-ball and Predator 10-ball), but having an “official” set of WPA rules does help limit this sort of thing.

Concerning the head string question, I honestly think it is ridiculous to use a rule (for example, full ball clear of the head string on either side) that is in contrast with how all other pool games are played. Pool game rules should always be as consistent as possible, unless there is a necessary and compelling reason to do something “nonstandard.” I don’t care if gamblers have played that way. It doesn’t make it right.
 
1pocket said:
I figured that! Two smart guys!!

Just to be clear, all of the “options” in the onepocket.org rules are pretty clearly separated from the official rules, and they are identified as “options”. Personally I’m with you and Bob btw — in favor of “base of the ball” vs “whole ball”, but even if it was “official” for One Pocket, I’d venture most of the major 1P tournaments and feature stream challenges would be playing “whole ball”.
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i think "whole ball "
is easier to judge
and in favor of that rule
 
bbb said:
i think "whole ball "
is easier to judge
and in favor of that rule
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I disagree. Do you also think the WPA should change the rules of straight pool, 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and all other pool games to the non-standard one pocket “custom” on this issue?
 
dr_dave said:
Tournament directors do make up their own rules at times (for example, Derby City 9-ball and Predator 10-ball), but having an “official” set of WPA rules does help limit this sort of thing.
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Well now that you mention 9-ball (shiver lol). That’s a good example of a game that has trouble making up its mind as to what “official” means. Especially regarding the rack and break!

dr_dave said:
Concerning the head string question, I honestly think it is ridiculous to use a system (full ball clear of the head string on either side) that is in contrast with how all other pool games are played. Pool game rules should be consistent whenever possible, unless there is a compelling reason to do something non-standard.
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I get it about whole ball vs base for that very reason. Like I said above, I agree with you. But I listen and look intently and “whole ball” is actually more popular for serious One Pocket, so….

Likewise I personally like traditional “keep shooting” for a ball made on the break. But that rule (re-rack on a ball made on the break) definitely came out of a trend that began with top players — and they break a lot better than me and my sparring partners lol.
 
dr_dave said:
I disagree. Do you also think the WPA should change the rules of straight pool, 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, and all other pool games to the non-standard one pocket “custom” on this issue?
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we can agree to disagree on whether its easier to see if the base of the ball is in the kitchen or the whole ball is in the kitchen
especially on tables where there is no line to demarcate the kitchen
it would be rediculous to change the standard in those other games as its been written in time as a standard
just like i think its rediculous to change the rule in one pocket
a legal break in onepocket does not have the same requirement as straight pool
should we change the legal break rule in onepocket to conform to the traditional "king" of games straight pool?
my answer would be emphatically NO !!!!!!!!
 
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dr_dave said:
Tournament directors do make up their own rules at times (for example, Derby City 9-ball and Predator 10-ball), but having an “official” set of WPA rules does help limit this sort of thing.

Concerning the head string question, I honestly think it is ridiculous to use a rule (for example, full ball clear of the head string on either side) that is in contrast with how all other pool games are played. Pool game rules should always be as consistent as possible, unless there is a necessary and compelling reason to do something “nonstandard.” I don’t care if gamblers have played that way. It doesn’t make it right.
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You forgot the part at the end that goes: "in my opinion."

In addition, it's worth noting that 1pocket has always been a gambler's game so decades of precedent in regards to how the game is played carries more than a little weight.

Lou Figueroa
 
dr_dave said:
Nothing yet, but One Pocket is certainly well established and popular enough for the WPA to consider making the game “official,” IMO.
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Well then, perhaps we can jump off that bridge when we get to it.

But here's the thing: for the here and now the onepocket.org rules are the official rules, or as close to official as we as a pool community have, and should be given proper deference and precedence.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Well then, perhaps we can jump off that bridge when we get to it.

But here's the thing: for the here and now the onepocket.org rules are the official rules, or as close to official as we as a pool community have, and should be given proper deference and precedence.

Lou Figueroa
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Agreed. That's why I have links to the onepocket.org rules on my billiards.colostate.edu and VEOP websites, even though I strongly disagree with the entire-ball-off-the-head-string rule. IMO, it is a ridiculous "rule," given the "standard" in every other pool game.
 
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dr_dave said:
Agreed. That's why I have links to the onepocket.org rules on my billiards.colostate.edu and VEOP websites, even though I strongly disagree with the entire-ball-off-the-head-string rule. IMO, it is a ridiculous "rule," given the "standard" in every other pool game.
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The truth of the matter on that point is that that has always been whatever the house rule is and there ain't no "official" about it.

I've played in rooms all over the country and when you match up it's one of the first thing you ask: do you guys play base-of-the-ball or whole ball here? And if you don't like the answer, whippin' out an "official" set of rules is not going to help.

Lou Figueroa
 
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