Kid-
Oddball is a forgotten game...but one of the most enjoyable for 4 players. It's fun and a good wagering game.
The rules are simple. Some of this may be obvious, but I'll assume you want the full run-down. Choose a shooting order for the 4 players - usually reachin down into the ball return and blindly grabbing a ball. Then, rack the balls as you would for rotation - with the one ball on the spot.
The number 1 player breaks. If a ball is pocketed, player 1 stays at the table. If he/she doesn't make a ball, number 2 shoots, etc. After that, play with basic 9-ball rules - balls must be played in rotation, with a push-out after the break. Ball in hand if the correct ball isn't contacted, illegal safety, etc.
Here's the good part (finally). The person who sinks the 1, and the person who sinks the 7 are partners. Odd balls count 1 point each (8 of them) and the high total (add the numbers on the balls) counts 2 points, for a total of ten points. Both odd and even balls count towards the total.
So if one team sinks 6 odd balls and has a winning point total, say 94, they have 8 points, and the other team obviously has 2 points. So the winners each get paid on the difference of 6 points. So you play for some amount of $$ per point.
My memory isn't clear about what happens if the same person makes the 1and the 7...but I'm quite sure that the person who makes the next odd ball becomes their partner (eg: 9, 11, 13 or 15). If someone runs out (unlikely) everyone pays him.
One last thing - and I apologize for the long post - but lets say player 1 makes the one ball, and misses the 2. The next player makes the 2, then misses the 3. The next 2 players both miss the three, and it comes back to player 1, who proceeds to run out. Then, you would be player 1's partner.
Tycoon
