Last Pocket 8-ball Rules?

Push&Pool

Push&Pool

Professional Banger
Silver Member
I've been wondering... How many of you like to play the version of 8ball where you need to pocket the 8 only where you dropped your last OB? If you play call-shot, there's no need for it really, but when no shot calling rules are on, I think it makes the game more complex and exciting. In APA you need to mark the pocket where you intend to shoot the 8, but still you're allowed to choose the easiest pocket. Here you need to plan ahead and watch out where you shoot your last ball, or you can end up in trouble. It's just my personal preference, but I don't like the rules where you can drop the 8 anywhere just like any other ball, it becomes too easy to win once you clear the table, defense is almost impossile and the games last too short. Also, it allows the players to slam the 8 and it will usually drop somewhere even if they had no good shot. I generally have nothing against slops, but when it comes to the black, it's a whole different thing and profound strategy should matter a lot more here. I never play call-shot, but with last pocket rules on, the battle over the 8 can last for a very, very long time, and if you play smart, you can keep away your opponent from winning even if all of your balls are still on the table, and ultimately turn the tide of the match.
 
It's interesting and all but I prefer no slop. I like every shot to be a called shot because while the black ball is important in the grand scheme of the game it isn't any more important than the first seven OBs. Plus if I wanted to play a game where luck can take you just as far as skill I'd just play poker. Now call ball plus last pocket that could be interesting.
 
mrcymstr said:
It's interesting and all but I prefer no slop. I like every shot to be a called shot because while the black ball is important in the grand scheme of the game it isn't any more important than the first seven OBs. Plus if I wanted to play a game where luck can take you just as far as skill I'd just play poker. Now call ball plus last pocket that could be interesting.
Click to expand...

It certainly would be :smile: Maybe I'll try it, in case I decide to get more experience in no slop rules and if I manage to persuade my crew to play by a different ruleset... But rules allowing slop are very entertaining and games can just be hilarious, plus luck isn't nearly as big factor as in most card games. Out of all games I played, I had only a few where 75% or more of my shots were successful due to simple luck.
 
I think that if somebody wants a more complex game, they should play One Pocket.
I like the standard rules in any game, but if the players wants, they can play by any rules.
 
Last Pocket is a great bar game to get some action going. You always have a great safe by blocking their pocket or leaving them some impossible two-cushion bank.

My favorite move is playing bank-the-called 8, even in slop rules otherwise.
 
tenzip said:
Try this. It also leads to some strategy and safety play that normally wouldn't happen in 8-ball games.

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~billiard/house_rules/one_fifteen_eight_ball.html

This is the first 8-ball game I ever played, and I didn't know it could be played any other way until I got out in the world.
Click to expand...

That looks pretty cool, but isn't feasible on most bar boxes since you have to pay to spot the balls each time. That's why called-shot 8-ball bar rules are so common. Allows for faster play on pay-boxes.
 
Yep, it won't work (mostly) on bar boxes, but is great on an open table.

Actually, now that I think of it, I've never played it on a 7' table. Only on a 9' table, or a 10' snooker table.
 
tenzip said:
Try this. It also leads to some strategy and safety play that normally wouldn't happen in 8-ball games.

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~billiard/house_rules/one_fifteen_eight_ball.html

This is the first 8-ball game I ever played, and I didn't know it could be played any other way until I got out in the world.
Click to expand...

At my regular bar, one - fifteen is one of our most popular games on free pool night. We play closer to BCA 8 ball rules with the special ball rules added. We also don't use the 1 and 15, but rather a pair of same colored balls (i.e. the 1 and 9, or 5 and 13), which I think makes more sense other than you would have to come up with a new name for the game.

Speaking of different rules, why no jumping? Also, is shooting your opponents ball in really a legal shot?
 
Proposition games are a terrible way to play. This includes last pocket 8-ball and bank the 8. Bad players like it because it usually forces a player to come with some ridiculous trick shot at the end to win the game.

Here's what typically happens when you play one of these goofy proposition 8-ball games, whether it be 8-ball last pocket or bank the 8:

Player 1 makes all his balls. He has no shot on the 8. He shoots a wind trick shot and misses.

Player 2 gains ground as player 1 misses trick shot after trick shot. Eventually player 2 gets down to the 8-ball.

Whoever makes the first wild trick shot wins the game.
 
Last pocket 8 ball was generally a game to make sure the better player wins. In a bar atmosphere it gave the better player Waaaaaaaaay the best of it, and if there's 10 quarters on the rail.............you know the drill. In the seventies, allot of the west coast La area Mexican bar pool hustlers liked this game.
 
Back in my day, I did a lot of what you say here Bill. One rule that we also liked was that both players could not have the same last pocket. The better player will always have the best of it in last pocket eight ball.
 
dabarbr said:
Back in my day, I did a lot of what you say here Bill. One rule that we also liked was that both players could not have the same last pocket. The better player will always have the best of it in last pocket eight ball.
Click to expand...

That is a standard Last Pocket rule, in my experience. If you take the same last pocket as the first established player, said player gets to pick your last pocket.

Definitely a hustler's proposition.
 
incognito said:
Proposition games are a terrible way to play. This includes last pocket 8-ball and bank the 8. Bad players like it because it usually forces a player to come with some ridiculous trick shot at the end to win the game.

Here's what typically happens when you play one of these goofy proposition 8-ball games, whether it be 8-ball last pocket or bank the 8:

Player 1 makes all his balls. He has no shot on the 8. He shoots a wind trick shot and misses.

Player 2 gains ground as player 1 misses trick shot after trick shot. Eventually player 2 gets down to the 8-ball.

Whoever makes the first wild trick shot wins the game.
Click to expand...

Well, if you don't like it then you don't have to play it. The final trick shot is just why I like that rule. Although if you're cunning, you won't go for some crazy shot which will leave the 8 open. You'll either play safeties or go for other, simpler, defensively-oriented shots until your opponent loses it and makes the mistake first by leaving you a great shot or by pocketing the 8 in a wrong pocket. However, sometimes that tactic will bite you back if the opponent actually makes the shot :D After all, when you play casually, the whole point of the game is to have fun and try the trick shot hoping for the best.

dabarbr said:
Back in my day, I did a lot of what you say here Bill. One rule that we also liked was that both players could not have the same last pocket. The better player will always have the best of it in last pocket eight ball.
Click to expand...

In our variant both players/teams also can't have the same last pocket. We played like that before when we were fresh beginners, and our rules also allowed a player to shoot the opponent's last OB into a very difficult pocket, dooming them by making it their last pocket. After we got better we wanted some more challenging and more objective rules, so we came up with the following.

If you shoot your last OB in the opponent's LP, you get the opposite LP. If you accidentally drop your opponent's last ball, then they get to choose their LP. Fair and square. There's a lot of strategy about getting the 8 to the opposite pocket early in the game if you already know you're gonna finish off your last ball in their LP. Also, you can get them to think they're safe if the 8 is on the other part of the table, make them position their defense around other pockets, and then at the right moment drop your last one straight into their LP and acquire the pocket right next to the 8. Dirty but useful :) And to prevent your opponent from intentionally shooting your last OB into a difficult pocket, we have that "choose your last pocket" rule.
 
I almost always decline when some player wants to play by these rules. The only players who ever want to play these rules are shitty players who can barely run 3 balls. I can play play perfect patterns, run out to the 8, and not have a shot at the end, and then lose to some mediocre player who knows nothing about pattern play or strategy, and makes some crazy trick shot at the end. That ain't pool.

Push&Pool said:
Well, if you don't like it then you don't have to play it. The final trick shot is just why I like that rule. Although if you're cunning, you won't go for some crazy shot which will leave the 8 open. You'll either play safeties or go for other, simpler, defensively-oriented shots until your opponent loses it and makes the mistake first by leaving you a great shot or by pocketing the 8 in a wrong pocket. However, sometimes that tactic will bite you back if the opponent actually makes the shot :D After all, when you play casually, the whole point of the game is to have fun and try the trick shot hoping for the best.
Click to expand...
 
8 in the side

I am learning that making my last ball in the side, makes it a bit uphill pocketing the 8. :eek:
 
Push&Pool said:
I've been wondering... How many of you like to play the version of 8ball where you need to pocket the 8 only where you dropped your last OB? If you play call-shot, there's no need for it really, but when no shot calling rules are on, I think it makes the game more complex and exciting. In APA you need to mark the pocket where you intend to shoot the 8, but still you're allowed to choose the easiest pocket. Here you need to plan ahead and watch out where you shoot your last ball, or you can end up in trouble. It's just my personal preference, but I don't like the rules where you can drop the 8 anywhere just like any other ball, it becomes too easy to win once you clear the table, defense is almost impossile and the games last too short. Also, it allows the players to slam the 8 and it will usually drop somewhere even if they had no good shot. I generally have nothing against slops, but when it comes to the black, it's a whole different thing and profound strategy should matter a lot more here. I never play call-shot, but with last pocket rules on, the battle over the 8 can last for a very, very long time, and if you play smart, you can keep away your opponent from winning even if all of your balls are still on the table, and ultimately turn the tide of the match.
Click to expand...


Hmmm, I highlighted a couple spots in your thread.
First off, even in APA rules, you have to call the 8 ball. You can't just slam it and hope it falls in any hole. How long have you been playing?
Last pocket 8 ball has been around forever. Nothing new there, it definitely favors the better players.
 
incognito said:
I almost always decline when some player wants to play by these rules. The only players who ever want to play these rules are shitty players who can barely run 3 balls. I can play play perfect patterns, run out to the 8, and not have a shot at the end, and then lose to some mediocre player who knows nothing about pattern play or strategy, and makes some crazy trick shot at the end. That ain't pool.
Click to expand...


Your right, it's REALITY....front and center. So what is fair, LIFE....;)
 
tucson9ball said:
Hmmm, I highlighted a couple spots in your thread.
First off, even in APA rules, you have to call the 8 ball. You can't just slam it and hope it falls in any hole. How long have you been playing?
Last pocket 8 ball has been around forever. Nothing new there, it definitely favors the better players.
Click to expand...

LOL I said you need to mark the pocket in APA :grin: (and btw I don't play in APA, I'm not from the US). What I meant is that I generally don't like the rules where you can drop the 8 anywhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top