Here's a ring-game/learning exercise/auto-handicapping pool game for any reasonable number of players. So it won't seem like I'm encouraging questionable behavior 
, I'll talk in terms of playing for pennies. As far as I know, I've invented this game, though it's clearly based on a combination of three-ball and classic progressive drills. If I'm ripping off an existing idea, I apologize.
PLAYING THE GAME:
(1) Each player antes a penny (or whatever), then, one player at a time, tries to break and run out some number of balls. Everyone who successfully breaks and runs out splits the pot. If all players successfully break and run, all the pennies stay in the pot for the next round.
(2) The number of balls a player must break and run is progressive, based on the number of balls *that player* broke and ran last time. A player who successfully ran N balls last time must run N+1 balls next time, up to a maximum of 15 balls. A player who failed to run N balls has to run only N-1 balls next time, down to a minimum of three balls. "N" can never be less than three.
(3) Players *do not* have to make a ball on the break. At all other times, failure to legally pocket a ball constitutes a failed runout and ends a player's turn.
(4) Immediately after breaking, a player may either leave the cue ball where it came to rest, or purchase ball-in-hand anywhere on the table by adding another penny to the pot. BIH can be purchased *only* immediately after the break. Note how, if you were playing with one other person, purcahing BIH automatically gives the other player 2:1 odds, unless that person also purchases BIH.
(5) Scratching or otherwise fouling at any time, including on the break and on the last ball, constitutes a failed runout and ends a player's turn.
VARIATIONS:
Straight pool variation: Balls may be run in any order. All object balls made on the break stay down.
Rotation variation: Balls must be run in numerical order. All object balls pocketed on the break stay down. Making the highest-numbered ball on the break *does not* count as a successful break-and-run; the remaining balls must still be run in accordance with traditional rotation rules.
8-ball variation: One of the object balls must the eight, and it must be pocketed last, in a called pocket. If there are eight or fewer balls in the opening rack, all balls other than the eight must be from the same group (all solids, or all stripes). If there are more than nine balls on the table, the opening rack must contain all seven balls from one group, plus the eight, plus some number of balls from the other group. All the balls from the group with more balls on the table must be pocketed first, then all the balls from the other group, then the eight.
Additional 8-ball style rule: If the 8 is pocketed on the break, it spots up. All other balls made on the break stay down.
Bank pool and one-pocket variations are left as exercises for the reader.
Note how weight is not an issue in this game, though better players should probably start with more balls than worse players. In a few rounds, all players will be struggling to run out when it is their turn.
By the way, this game needs a name. Any ideas?
, I'll talk in terms of playing for pennies. As far as I know, I've invented this game, though it's clearly based on a combination of three-ball and classic progressive drills. If I'm ripping off an existing idea, I apologize. PLAYING THE GAME:
(1) Each player antes a penny (or whatever), then, one player at a time, tries to break and run out some number of balls. Everyone who successfully breaks and runs out splits the pot. If all players successfully break and run, all the pennies stay in the pot for the next round.
(2) The number of balls a player must break and run is progressive, based on the number of balls *that player* broke and ran last time. A player who successfully ran N balls last time must run N+1 balls next time, up to a maximum of 15 balls. A player who failed to run N balls has to run only N-1 balls next time, down to a minimum of three balls. "N" can never be less than three.
(3) Players *do not* have to make a ball on the break. At all other times, failure to legally pocket a ball constitutes a failed runout and ends a player's turn.
(4) Immediately after breaking, a player may either leave the cue ball where it came to rest, or purchase ball-in-hand anywhere on the table by adding another penny to the pot. BIH can be purchased *only* immediately after the break. Note how, if you were playing with one other person, purcahing BIH automatically gives the other player 2:1 odds, unless that person also purchases BIH.
(5) Scratching or otherwise fouling at any time, including on the break and on the last ball, constitutes a failed runout and ends a player's turn.
VARIATIONS:
Straight pool variation: Balls may be run in any order. All object balls made on the break stay down.
Rotation variation: Balls must be run in numerical order. All object balls pocketed on the break stay down. Making the highest-numbered ball on the break *does not* count as a successful break-and-run; the remaining balls must still be run in accordance with traditional rotation rules.
8-ball variation: One of the object balls must the eight, and it must be pocketed last, in a called pocket. If there are eight or fewer balls in the opening rack, all balls other than the eight must be from the same group (all solids, or all stripes). If there are more than nine balls on the table, the opening rack must contain all seven balls from one group, plus the eight, plus some number of balls from the other group. All the balls from the group with more balls on the table must be pocketed first, then all the balls from the other group, then the eight.
Additional 8-ball style rule: If the 8 is pocketed on the break, it spots up. All other balls made on the break stay down.
Bank pool and one-pocket variations are left as exercises for the reader.
Note how weight is not an issue in this game, though better players should probably start with more balls than worse players. In a few rounds, all players will be struggling to run out when it is their turn.
By the way, this game needs a name. Any ideas?
