Last Pocket 8 Ball Rules Question

[eastcoast_chris]

Hi,

Was playing last pocket 8 ball with a friend last night and this situation came up.

He ran 6 (6th was in a side pocket) and then missed his seventh and hung it in the corner.

His 7th/last ball was blocking a few of my balls, so I played a safe (blocking any path to the 8 for him), but also pocketed his last ball intentionally in the corner with one of my balls.

So, my question is, what is his "last pocket"? Where does he have to make the 8 ball?

We decided it should be the last pocket that he legally pocketed a ball. i.e. the side.

Is this correct? Or should it become the corner where I sunk his last ball?

 

[straightline]

That should probably be a negotiable option. Legally pocketing your opponent's last ball is a handy strategic option regardless of whose shot the pocket goes to.

 

[hang-the-9]

The rules that are out there talk about the last pocket being wherever the last ball drops no matter who shot it.
I don't really like that, too many moves can be done there. If I was playing I would try to play by the rule where the last ball the player actually made is the last pocket.

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

www.billiardsforum.com

How to Play and Win Last Pocket 8-Ball

Last pocket 8-ball offers a minor variation on regular 8-ball rules that makes the play longer and changes the strategies.

www.liveabout.com

 

[JuanM]

The rules that are out there talk about the last pocket being wherever the last ball drops no matter who shot it.
I don't really like that, too many moves can be done there. If I was playing I would try to play by the rule where the last ball the player actually made is the last pocket.

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

www.billiardsforum.com

How to Play and Win Last Pocket 8-Ball

Last pocket 8-ball offers a minor variation on regular 8-ball rules that makes the play longer and changes the strategies.

www.liveabout.com

i like that better

played a fair amount of last pocket over the years, i am a little surprised that i cant remember this situation ever coming up

 

[Scott Lee]

I've played last pocket 8ball for 50 years, and it has always been where the opponents last ball went, whether they shot it in or not. Also both players cannot have the same last pocket.

Scott Lee
2019 PBIA Instructor of the Year
Director, SPF National Pool School Tour

 

[HawaiianEye]

I've played last pocket 8ball for 50 years, and it has always been where the opponents last ball went, whether they shot it in or not. Also both players cannot have the same last pocket.

Scott Lee
2019 PBIA Instructor of the Year
Director, SPF National Pool School Tour

I agree.

That is the way I play it.

However, I play that both players can have the same last pocket.

That makes safes extremely tricky when it gets down to the 8 ball.

 

[fastone371]

The rules that are out there talk about the last pocket being wherever the last ball drops no matter who shot it.
I don't really like that, too many moves can be done there. If I was playing I would try to play by the rule where the last ball the player actually made is the last pocket.

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

Last Pocket Eight Ball Rules

www.billiardsforum.com

How to Play and Win Last Pocket 8-Ball

Last pocket 8-ball offers a minor variation on regular 8-ball rules that makes the play longer and changes the strategies.

www.liveabout.com

Doesn't that make it part of the strategy though? If you can pocket your opponents last ball legally I think its fair game that that pocket should be used as your opponents last pocket. I read the linked rules and it talks about strategy and moving the 8 away from your opponents last pocket but it doesn't say anything requiring it to be a legal hit on the 8, it seems to me that if its your shot and you choose to move the 8 around that your opponent gets BIH if its not a legal shot.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Doesn't that make it part of the strategy though? If you can pocket your opponents last ball legally I think its fair game that that pocket should be used as your opponents last pocket. I read the linked rules and it talks about strategy and moving the 8 away from your opponents last pocket but it doesn't say anything requiring it to be a legal hit on the 8, it seems to me that if its your shot and you choose to move the 8 around that your opponent gets BIH if its not a legal shot.

I play that you can take an intentional foul and move any ball, including the 8.

Your opponent gets BIH.

 

[eastcoast_chris]

Thanks for all the responses/links. Intentional foul to move the 8 is greasy but I can see when it makes sense to screw the other guy if you have no easy way of getting out from the lay out the table. Last pocket = last pocket any of your balls go in/any way makes perfect sense.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Lets say a player has 2 balls left, and during a shot, both balls fall at the exact same time indifferent pockets.
Does player have the option of which pocket was last ?
Does player get to shoot at both/either last pockets ?

 

[Black-Balled]

Removing the possibility of making your opponent's last ball and therefore determining his last pocket would have poor effect on a HUGELY strategic tool.

Akin to removing the intentional foul, imo.

The player shooting always has to make a legal shot, so it would be rare instances where shooting the opponent's ball in without making one of your own suit would make sense.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Lets say a player has 2 balls left, and during a shot, both balls fall at the exact same time indifferent pockets.
Does player have the option of which pocket was last ?
Does player get to shoot at both/either last pockets ?

Somebody ought to write down a good set of rules for last pocket.

In general the order that balls go in on a single shot is never considered at pool. I'd give the choice of a single pocket to the group owner regardless of the order of drop.

Someone ought to write down a complete set of rules for last pocket.

 

[Floydbeth]

Hi,

Was playing last pocket 8 ball with a friend last night and this situation came up.

He ran 6 (6th was in a side pocket) and then missed his seventh and hung it in the corner.

His 7th/last ball was blocking a few of my balls, so I played a safe (blocking any path to the 8 for him), but also pocketed his last ball intentionally in the corner with one of my balls.

So, my question is, what is his "last pocket"? Where does he have to make the 8 ball?

We decided it should be the last pocket that he legally pocketed a ball. i.e. the side.

Is this correct? Or should it become the corner where I sunk his last ball?

If you pocket his last ball, you’re opponent gets to choose his last pocket.

 

[eastcoast_chris]

If you pocket his last ball, you’re opponent gets to choose his last pocket.

Not according to the rules I read today and some knowledgeable people who commented above.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Thanks for all the responses/links. Intentional foul to move the 8 is greasy but I can see when it makes sense to screw the other guy if you have no easy way of getting out from the lay out the table. Last pocket = last pocket any of your balls go in/any way makes perfect sense.

Nothing “greasy” in strategic play.

 

[HawaiianEye]

If you pocket his last ball, you’re opponent gets to choose his last pocket.

Says who.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Removing the possibility of making your opponent's last ball and therefore determining his last pocket would have poor effect on a HUGELY strategic tool.

Akin to removing the intentional foul, imo.

The player shooting always has to make a legal shot, so it would be rare instances where shooting the opponent's ball in without making one of your own suit would make sense.

It mostly comes into play when you have to reverse a situation where you are trapped where you cannot make one of your balls or get a guaranteed safety.

 

[Floydbeth]

Not according to the rules I read today and some knowledgeable people who commented above.

So if opponent makes his second to last ball in side pocket or his Last ball is by side pocket I’m going to make his ball in side pocket.
Intentionally making opponent to have side pocket as his last pocket should not be allowed.

 

[HawaiianEye]

So if opponent makes his second to last ball in side pocket or his Last ball is by side pocket I’m going to make his ball in side pocket.
Intentionally making opponent to have side pocket as his last pocket should not be allowed.

Says who?

 

[fastone371]

So if opponent makes his second to last ball in side pocket or his Last ball is by side pocket I’m going to make his ball in side pocket.
Intentionally making opponent to have side pocket as his last pocket should not be allowed.

A side pocket in and of itself is not necessarily a disadvantage, they are usually the easiest pockets to bank into. The location of the 8 ball is probably the biggest decider in whats a bad last pocket. If my opponent wants to give up his frame by pocketing my last ball who am I to complain, Im always happy to make it back to the table, its hard to win while you are sitting in your chair.