One-Pocket 9-Ball

Bob Callahan

Bob Callahan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Based on the amazing success of the last game I posted--A new game--Odds & Evens (Still waiting for the call from the BCA...)--it seems like a good idea to introduce One-Pocket 9-Ball. Not my invention. Been around for a while.

It's played as a combination of 1P & 9-Ball (Surprise! Surprise!). Balls are shot in order, trying to make something in your pocket, and the first with 5 balls or the 9 in their pocket wins. Texas express rules for fouls. Combinations, caroms, kisses, etc are OK. Balls in opponent's pocket stay down, unless a foul. Spot illegally made balls. Spot balls in wrong pockets.

It's a pretty good way to get 1P & 9B players to actually play each other, and it's a great way to work on safeties, since only one ball is available at a time.

Need any rule clarifications, just let me know--or make up your own. If you've played before, it'd be cool to know where and when, since I have no idea about it's history.
 
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Now I know what I'm going to be playing next time I'm down at the club. :D
 
Sounds like fun. I'm going to try it next time I'm at the table. Any rules for the break? Do you break soft or hard?
 
one pocket nine ball.

i have actually played this game multiple times. i had seen a listing for it by cue buddy whom i believe started the game. i will pm cue buddy so he can post here with his web site for rules and such. the game is a lot of fun. it will definitely improve your safety game. try it out with a friend and have some laughs. you will see that it gives that must play feeling we all had the first time we struck a ball. enjoy the game.
 
bmoretallpaul said:
i have actually played this game multiple times. i had seen a listing for it by cue buddy whom i believe started the game. i will pm cue buddy so he can post here with his web site for rules and such. the game is a lot of fun. it will definitely improve your safety game. try it out with a friend and have some laughs. you will see that it gives that must play feeling we all had the first time we struck a ball. enjoy the game.
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Thanks for covering me BMTPaul:D. Yes I would like to lay claim to this game because myself and a friend came up with the game about ten years ago. Then a couple of years ago I met a fellow AZer who is many times smarter the me and he wrote the rules under my tutalage and then made a web site that I have sadly neglected:embarrassed2:. That might change soon because of the interest that a few in the pool world are showing for the game.

I have been told that a very similar game has been played well before we came up with http://einstein-nine.com/ and thats alright too. Rather then telling you how amazing the game is I will try to dig up and older thread where myself and forum member fd_colorado tell how amazing the game is.

I will be back;)
 
Give Einstein Nine a try. The game is totally addictive. The main difference in playing E9 versus one-pocket is that you really have to watch out where you hit the lowest numbered ball.

Cuebuddy took 10 years of playing and changing around the rules to come up with the current ruleset. There is an incredible depth of strategy in this game with many of the twists and turns coming from the spottiing and foul rules.

I think it took me probably 15 or so games of playing einstein-nine to start seeing the richness that this game possesses and the way that it increases a player's artistry and creativity both in shotmaking and safety play.

Cheers!
 
Einstein 9 seems like it would be a fun game to try. I think I'll try it tomorrow if I get the chance.

Alternatively, has anyone thought of playing onepocket using the same rules as normal, but designating the head rail corner pockets instead? This seems like it would be an interesting variant as well.
 
jalapus logan said:
Einstein 9 seems like it would be a fun game to try. I think I'll try it tomorrow if I get the chance.

Alternatively, has anyone thought of playing onepocket using the same rules as normal, but designating the head rail corner pockets instead? This seems like it would be an interesting variant as well.
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I have played it before and it's fun...slower but fun. It changes the game more then you would think!
 
5andout said:
How about the break for this? I looked on the site but nada.
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It would be better to show on a video then to explain and I will work on that, you can break off the one ball and send the rock into the side rail and behind the pack. Separation of the CB and OB is always huge.
 
Cuebuddy/fd_colorado, thanks for creating this great game.

sandfoot said:
Sounds like fun. I'm going to try it next time I'm at the table. Any rules for the break? Do you break soft or hard?
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Broken both ways, depending on who the opponent is. ;)

jalapus logan said:
Alternatively, has anyone thought of playing onepocket using the same rules as normal, but designating the head rail corner pockets instead? This seems like it would be an interesting variant as well.
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Yep. And the side pockets, too. Used both variations as a spot.

It's great to finally know the history of this game.
 
5andout said:
kinda like a safe break or a cut one hole break
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Yes I can often hit the side of the one ball firmly with bottom left and the bottom draws it to the side rail and then the left kicks in and sucks it down to the foot rail behind the pack.


This way looks cool when done right but you can do the same thing just using the correct angle and speed.
 
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