Is playing safe ever cheap?

TheNewSharkster

TheNewSharkster

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I was playing some guy last weekend for a drink at 8ball. I was holding the table so I asked if we were playing call pocket BIH rules. He made a smug remark about how that is the way he always plays. I break dry. He runs 6 balls off and misses. I run 4 balls and set up my 5th dead straight into the corner.

At this point I could have attempted to complete the run out and it was well within my skill level. But since I was dead straight if I played a stop shot he would have little chance of making a legal hit because he was snookered and would have a low percent 2 rail kick shot. The run out was super easy with BIH for me.

So I call safe (and made sure he heard me), knock in my 5th ball and turn the table over to my opponent. At this point he starts getting angry at me saying I should have tried to run out and it was cheap to hit a ball in and call safe. Walks up to the table and slams the cue ball. Missing his ball by a mile. I get ball in hand and complete the table.

I was slightly irritated by his attitude about playing a safe so I told him I wanted a jack and coke and walked away. Later that night he proceeds to give me a earfull about my play.

Anyways, I just wanted to hear some other opinions on a deliberate safe play. I think he was just mad he go screwed with a TERRIBLE leave.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
So I was playing some guy last weekend for a drink at 8ball. I was holding the table so I asked if we were playing call pocket BIH rules. He made a smug remark about how that is the way he always plays. I break dry. He runs 6 balls off and misses. I run 4 balls and set up my 5th dead straight into the corner.

At this point I could have attempted to complete the run out and it was well within my skill level. But since I was dead straight if I played a stop shot he would have little chance of making a legal hit because he was snookered and would have a low percent 2 rail kick shot. The run out was super easy with BIH for me.

So I call safe (and made sure he heard me), knock in my 5th ball and turn the table over to my opponent. At this point he starts getting angry at me saying I should have tried to run out and it was cheap to hit a ball in and call safe. Walks up to the table and slams the cue ball. Missing his ball by a mile. I get ball in hand and complete the table.

I was slightly irritated by his attitude about playing a safe so I told him I wanted a jack and coke and walked away. Later that night he proceeds to give me a earfull about my play.

Anyways, I just wanted to hear some other opinions on a deliberate safe play. I think he was just mad he go screwed with a TERRIBLE leave.
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if he's complaining about someone playing safe on him then chances are he doesn't play well enough for you to care what he thinks about your game.

when i do that kind of thing in a bar i normally miss the shot on purpose instead of playing safe. that way he doesn't get his feelings hurt
 
I don't see where you did anything wrong or cheap if that was within the rules that were agreed.however in the local league I play in (sort of modified BCA) there is no such thing as a called safety here.just play safe.
however if you make a ball that you did not call on any shot your opponent has the option to make you shoot again or take the shot.
 
No, it's never cheap. Do everything you can within the rules to maximize your chance of winning. Play the percentages as you see them, and don't worry about how it's perceived by others.

Needless to say, there are bars where it's considered poor etiquette to play a lot of defense, and you should either not play in them or live by their etiquette.
 
Whether it is a called safe or not is irrelevant. If you are playing pool, safes (deliberate or the result of a break/shot safety) and bad leaves, are all part of the game, especially if playing for something.

If someone can't deal with it, they need to STFU about it and whine to someone else or quit the game.
 
That sounds like typical sports bar pool behaviour.

I've played for 5 years in a sports bar and most of the players prefer to "go for the shot" rather than to hide the cue ball on purpose, even if the shot is near impossible to make.

True billiard enthusiasts will most likely say or think "nice move!" to a well hidden cue ball.

A lot of casual sports bar players, on the other hand, will often think of it as the equivalent of an older person calling a "safe zone" in a game of tag and the younger person, not knowing any better, having to comply due to the age difference.

In my opinion, it's not cheap, it's a part of the game one should take advantage of when necessary; however, bear in mind that there are different mentalities towards the game depending on where and whom you play with.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
So I was playing some guy last weekend for a drink at 8ball. I was holding the table so I asked if we were playing call pocket BIH rules. He made a smug remark about how that is the way he always plays. I break dry. He runs 6 balls off and misses. I run 4 balls and set up my 5th dead straight into the corner.

At this point I could have attempted to complete the run out and it was well within my skill level. But since I was dead straight if I played a stop shot he would have little chance of making a legal hit because he was snookered and would have a low percent 2 rail kick shot. The run out was super easy with BIH for me.

So I call safe (and made sure he heard me), knock in my 5th ball and turn the table over to my opponent. At this point he starts getting angry at me saying I should have tried to run out and it was cheap to hit a ball in and call safe. Walks up to the table and slams the cue ball. Missing his ball by a mile. I get ball in hand and complete the table.

I was slightly irritated by his attitude about playing a safe so I told him I wanted a jack and coke and walked away. Later that night he proceeds to give me a earfull about my play.

Anyways, I just wanted to hear some other opinions on a deliberate safe play. I think he was just mad he go screwed with a TERRIBLE leave.
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I assume since "drink" was involve that the setting was a bar. Eventhough, I myself hate the bar rules, I also don't like people trying to induce another/extra rule into the mix just because it's written somewhere. Bar rules suck, but if there is already a prevailing, you might want to stick with it.

My suggestion is to ask for the prevailing rule when in a bar situation because there are many of them rules that don't follow the professional rule.
 
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LA toolman said:
I don't see where you did anything wrong or cheap if that was within the rules that were agreed.however in the local league I play in (sort of modified BCA) there is no such thing as a called safety here.just play safe.
however if you make a ball that you did not call on any shot your opponent has the option to make you shoot again or take the shot.
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Same thing in the APA league. Which is one of the reason I dislike APA. It takes away some of my strategy.
 
It was at the eagles club down the road from where I live. Most of the people I play against know call pocket BIH. Yes these were 8' bar box tables though.

I had actually played against the same guy earlier and when I had scratched he had no problem placing the ball anywhere on the table.
 
crosseyedjoe said:
I assume since "drink" was involve that the setting was a bar. Eventhough, I myself hate the bar rules, I also don't like people trying to induce another/extra rule into the mix just because it's written somewhere. Bar rules suck, but if there is already a prevailing, you might want to stick with it.

My suggestion is to ask for the prevailing rule when in a bar situation because there are many of them rules that don't follow the professional rule.
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I had asked him if he was ok with call pocket BIH.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
It was at the eagles club down the road from where I live. Most of the people I play against know call pocket BIH. Yes these were 8' bar box tables though.

I had actually played against the same guy earlier and when I had scratched he had no problem placing the ball anywhere on the table.
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come on nobody thinks my idea is any good. just miss the ball and leave it near your pocket. it locks him up and he doesn't feel bad because you "pulled a cheap move" on him.

i do this almost every time i play in a bar for drinks.i get to drink all night and everyone i beat just thinks i got lucky
 
TheNewSharkster said:
I had asked him if he was ok with call pocket BIH.
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However, "bar rules" always often involve "honest effort" to pocket or hit the object ball, safety shot is not expected in this case unless that specific rule is previously spoken about.
 
Amongst good/advanced players it's common knowledge that a great safety, is much better than a great shot.

But, if ur gambling in a bar against "bar" players is always +EV to know your environment, when in rome...

poolplayer2093 said:
just miss the ball and leave it near your pocket. it locks him up and he doesn't feel bad because you "pulled a cheap move" on him.
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The above is going to make you the most loot... in every possible way in the situation you mentioned, a dump safe like poolplayer2093 is the play.
 
I wouldnt't say playing safe is cheap,
but I would say NOT playing safe can be expensive!!!



poolplayer2093 said:
come on nobody thinks my idea is any good. just miss the ball and leave it near your pocket. it locks him up and he doesn't feel bad because you "pulled a cheap move" on him.

i do this almost every time i play in a bar for drinks.i get to drink all night and everyone i beat just thinks i got lucky
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I do this often. Its the easy way to avoid the drunk opponent throwing a temper tantrum.
 
One of many reasons I no longer play 8 ball and haven't for a long time. Safety play is part of any game of pool.
 
That kind of response baffles me...I would count my lucky stars if you turned over the table to me when I didn't expect to get another shot. You never know what's gonna happen when you let 'em kick into the balls. Your tricky little safety just might end up putting you in jail. :)
 
mosconiac said:
That kind of response baffles me...I would count my lucky stars if you turned over the table to me when I didn't expect to get another shot. You never know what's gonna happen when you let 'em kick into the balls. Your tricky little safety just might end up putting you in jail. :)
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This is so true.

Anytime you let your opponent back at the table, anything can happen. He could get a lucky roll or somehow pocket a ball or scramble the balls unexpectedly.

If it's within your ability to run out, then you should go for it and not let your opponent get back to the table.
 
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