One Ball One Pocket

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ActionDan22

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was at the SBE this year and this seem to be the game alot of action was on. I watched for a little while and it seemed to be alot of dispute over the rules as the pockets changed sometimes and the balls were allowed to fly off the table with no real penalty. Anybody got an idea of the rules??? Thanks

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ActionDan22 said:
I was at the SBE this year and this seem to be the game alot of action was on. I watched for a little while and it seemed to be alot of dispute over the rules as the pockets changed sometimes and the balls were allowed to fly off the table with no real penalty. Anybody got an idea of the rules??? Thanks

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In my experience, it is one of those games that is so rare that it still has different 'house rules', depending on whose house you happen to be at.

We played spot a ball for all fouls, around here.
 
I've played quite a bit of this.

Start with ball on the spot and cue ball on the line straight down from the spot, as if it was on spot at other end. First person shooting can shoot whatever they want, but if they make the ball in their pocket, then it spots up.

You'll usually find that someone lags it up really close and the cue ball comes 1 2 3 rails and sits near the first diamond far upper end of the table. Other people don't go for their hole first shot because of the cross side which can be left.

Frequently good players will give lesser players you need 1 I need 2 and play with both balls spotted.

Fouls cost you a ball, so you no longer need 1, and if a ball is hanging so you follow it in or you jump the ball off the table, then you owe one and its ball in hand behind the line with the ball you made plus one spotted.
 
They put the ball down at center bottom rail and it looked like a regular one pocket game, you had opposite pocket of where you broke from. Then as the game went on it seemed like the pocket could change to the side for one of the shooters but I dont know how or what determined it. I think maybe after the ball made you could pick one? Idk. I think if the ball dropped any other pocket it was a loss, but you could shoot the ball off the table and not get a penalty. I think a little bit of a language barrier helped the confusion as well lol.

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At SBE, they were playing "Dominican rules" which is a different version. Usually, it's played pretty much the same as 1pocket, but as if you're on the last ball.

But Dominican rules are different. Game starts with object ball frozen to the end rail, in the center. You break by banking the ball up table towards your pocket. If you make it, you dont win, just start the game over. But basically, the breaker gets a pocket up table and the other guy gets the opposite pocket down table.

You can scratch without penelty, the cueball just goes behind the head string. If the object ball is behind the headstring, you must kick at it.

I've played it but don't remember all of the little rules. But it's a fun game.
 
tommyceilings said:
I've played quite a bit of this.

Start with ball on the spot and cue ball on the line straight down from the spot, as if it was on spot at other end. First person shooting can shoot whatever they want, but if they make the ball in their pocket, then it spots up.

You'll usually find that someone lags it up really close and the cue ball comes 1 2 3 rails and sits near the first diamond far upper end of the table. Other people don't go for their hole first shot because of the cross side which can be left.

Frequently good players will give lesser players you need 1 I need 2 and play with both balls spotted.

Fouls cost you a ball, so you no longer need 1, and if a ball is hanging so you follow it in or you jump the ball off the table, then you owe one and its ball in hand behind the line with the ball you made plus one spotted.
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You do not start with the OB on the spot. You start with the OB frozen to the middle of the short rail (middle spot) at the foot of the table. You are not allowed to play a shot to pocket the OB ball on the first shot of the game, you must play a safe usually knocking the OB near the side pocket
on the side away from your pocket. Trying not to leave a long straight back or a three railer towards his pocket.

I used to play this a lot at Chelsea Billiards in NYC against Teddy The Greek. I don't know where the first 3 or so posters are getting the rules they mentioned but that doesn't sound anything like One Ball One Pocket.
 
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the420trooper said:
Winner of coin toss shoots a spot shot, if he misses, play continues. I ran 10 racks this way once. :yikes:
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The way it is supposed to be played is whoever serves can't shoot at their hole. The point of the game is to work on out moving the opponent. It's a drill designed to improve your endgame


Both balls start on opposite spots, not the end rail
 
itsfroze said:
No they do not!!!!!!!And you call yourself Dr. One Pocket HA
The OB absolutely starts on the bottom rail, frozen at middle diamond.

Where is Jay Helfert or Freddie the Beard I'm sure they can straighten this out. The OB never starts on the spot, never!
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I have played this game in 3 different states and they all start the ob on the spot. There is a reason for this, use your little brain and try to figure out why! Maybe you can learn something today
 
DrOnePocket said:
The way it is supposed to be played is whoever serves can't shoot at their hole. The point of the game is to work on out moving the opponent. It's a drill designed to improve your endgame


Both balls start on opposite spots, not the end rail
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NO they don't, the object ball never starts on the spot.
Always starts frozen to the middle diamond on the foot rail, always.

Calling Jay Helfert or Freddie the Beard, I'm sure they can straighten this out.

Dr. One Pocket what area do you play in, or where did you learn this game, wondering?

You know I was trying to be polite and just discuss this as a gentleman but you seem to want to call people names so
PISS OFF!!!!!!!!!!! OK

Chelsea Billiards was the biggest action spot in NYC and that is how they play One Ball One pocket there.
All the best players in the Northeast used to come there to play, but I guess you know better. HA!

Some of the players that played there, Tony Robles, Frankie Hernandez, Ginky, Flaco, Gypsy, Jeanette Lee, Bumpers,
and many more I can't think of right now but you know better right smart guy!

You must play safe the first shot.

I like to learn something every day, but only from people that know what there talking about, that leaves you out, Sorry!
 
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Have only played this as a practice game with friends.We started with the OB frozen to the center of the foot rail and the CB on the head spot,can also have BIH in the kitchen and shoot at your hole if you wish.

As a betting game you can place the OB just out of the jaws of the non shooters pocket.
 
The reason the cue ball starts on the spot and NOT on the end rail is because that is a situation that comes up frequently in One Pocket. Not shooting at your hole the first shot teaches you strategy that can and will be used in a real game.

If the ball is frozen on the end rail and you have ball in hand behind the line, a good player will 4 rail the ob to his hole and get safe everytime. Making the ball a lot once you learn the table. It's pointless to play it that way

Another problem with playing your way is, why wouldn't I just cut the ball in my hole over and over again?
 
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The only way I've ever played this game(not very well, I might add) was starting with the ball frozen on the rail. This game was played frequently at Tacony Billiards when I was a regular there and it always started with the ball frozen on the rail...
 
DrOnePocket said:
I have played this game in 3 different states and they all start the ob on the spot. There is a reason for this, use your little brain and try to figure out why! Maybe you can learn something today
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Sorry, I guess I'll learn something for my "little brain" too. The only way I've played or seen it played is with the OB frozen to the rail with the stipulation that you couldn't shoot at your hole the opening shot. Always saw it played this way around Philly and NY. Sweated a match at Q-Masters in VA during the U. S. Open a few years ago where it was played on a bar table (again with OB frozen to the rail).
 
I saw it played for $1k per game (Lil Jon vs Edgar) in Houston. They where starting the OB froze to the center of the foot rail with no offensive shot on the opening break. They were trying to bunt the OB in front of their own side pocket without selling out the two railer. And balls would spot for fouls just as normally would. And they would take fouls on occasion.
 
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DrOnePocket said:
The reason the cue ball starts on the spot and NOT on the end rail is because that is a situation that comes up frequently in One Pocket. Not shooting at your hole the first shot teaches you strategy that can and will be used in a real game.

If the ball is frozen on the end rail and you have ball in hand behind the line, a good player will 4 rail the ob to his hole and get safe everytime. Making the ball a lot once you learn the table. It's pointless to play it that way

Another problem with playing your way is, why wouldn't I just cut the ball in my hole over and over again?
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The first line of your post makes no sense at all I never said the cue ball started on the rail.
If you and read what I wrote you would see that I said the OB starts on the foot rail frozen to the middle diamond.
In fact I never mentioned where the cue ball started at all, the cue ball starts on the head spot. Again if you had bothered to read what I said, your not allowed to shoot at your pocket on the first shot of the game, you must play safe.

Oh by the way this is what Jay Helfert said a while ago. Agreeing that the OBJECT BALL starts frozen to the middle of the foot rail.
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04-06-2009, 12:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pushout View Post
The object ball is frozen to the middle diamond on the bottom rail. Cue ball in hand behind the head string. First one to pocket the object ball in his pocket wins. That's the way I've seen it.

Edit: Rethinking, it's been a long time, cue ball may start on the head spot, ball could probably be cut in from the side rail with ball in hand. Makes more sense.

Quote by: Jay Helfert
This is correct, except you are banking the ball back up table to your corner pocket. Maybe that will help refresh your memory.

Jay goes on to say he's scene it played where the opponents have the head rail pockets or the foot rail pockets.

If you weren't so busy being full of yourself and calling people names maybe you'd learn something!!!!!
 
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