One Pocket decision

1 Pocket Ghost

1 Pocket Ghost

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Here's a situation that came up for me the other day in a game - I've had this same situation come up other times too, and it's a simple, but interesting example of a one pocket shot decision.....It's my shot, the top pocket is mine, I need both balls and my opponent (customer ) needs one.......My decision is whether to pocket the sure-thing 1 ball and then play a safety (there's too much angle to hold the cue ball for a bank on the 5 ball with my next shot), settling for playing it out from there with the score tied 7 to 7......Or, give up making the 1 and being on the hill, and instead gambling to get out right there by shooting the 5 ball two-railer, which is laying just about straight on, hoping to make it and then shoot the 1 ball in for the win - If I choose this option, I would shoot the 5 at pocket speed and draw back a little and try to snooker my opponent with the 1 ball in the event that I miss the 5........If I remember correctly, the coupla times I was in this situation I went for the two-railer and the win - just couldn't resist it.

So I'm curious which shot you experienced one pocket players on the forum would choose in this spot ?........Here's the table layout html >>>


%Ab5F0%BB8\1%CB7B7%DB5\4%Er8H4%FB9B8%GB5\3%HB6\0%I B5[9%JB1B7
%KB4B8%LB8B6%MB5\6%NA7\3%OA8B4%Po4E3



....And here's the link to the 'wei table' that will display the shot situation >>> http://onepocket.org/table/pooltable2.html
 
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(a). I think a lot of people would prefer you use the www.CueTable.com table, which you can display directly on the forum. (thank you jude)
(b). This shot can be player dependant, but I like the two railer in general a lot more.

While shooting in the 1 ball is easy, and puts you up on the hill with your opp. The two-railer can win you the game out-right, and even if you miss, you're likely going to be leaving him snookered.
 
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Go to www.cuetable.com


Select the table you wish to use in the right panel of the screen.


Create your diagram


When you're done, press this button cuetable button.gif(this puts the diagram link in your clipboard):


Create your post in the azbilliards forum.


When you're ready to enter your diagram, press this button az button.gif located above the text box and hit CTRL+V. This pastes the diagram into your post surrounding it with the proper wei-tags.

Preview your post to make sure the diagram is properly displayed and submit.


Hope this helps.
 
I like the two-railer a bit more as well but both are good shots. I might prefer to get on the hill if I either feel I outmove my opponent by a good deal or am not feeling the bank and/or speed at that moment for some reason. Normally though, I'd shoot the two-railer.
 
Thank you Jude... I'm so used to using cuetable, I don't even know how to use the wei.

I'd go for the 1 with draw at pocket speed... then play safe on the 5... maybe lock 'em up... or leave the cue on the opposite short rail.
I don't play much 1 pocket, but this is what I'd do.
 
I shoot the one ball and try to draw the cue ball back for a cross bank on the five ball. The cross bank on the five is easier than the two railer on the five. I would never shoot the five ball first because it gives your opponent to fire at his hole.

Or if I am playing a lesser player, I cinch the one ball and play a lock-up safe on the five ball.

It really just depends on who I am playing. It's not easy to make both of those balls in one inning but it might be worth the gamble against a better opponent.

JoeyA
 
Neil said:
I'm going with what AZE posted in post #5. I don't know why you think it's showing-off. I have a free shot to get on the hill, and a medium bank (easier than the two railer on the 5) to win.

I'm no great one pocket player, but I don't see why you would play it any other way. You keep hoping you can get an open shot at your hole, and you want to pass it up? For what? You think your next shot will be better? I doubt it. He can bank or cut in the one from where it is. Why give him the chance to win?
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I would have to disagree with you here Neil.However,thats the beauty of pool.Not everybody's preferences are the same.
That said,being a onepocket player for many years,I have learned some of the deeper aspects of the game.Percentages and what not.The 2 railer in this instance is the best choice for me for a few reasons.The most important thing that MUST happen when hitting the 2 railer is that the cueball has to end up where it started.Basically blocked from hitting the ball I just banked.This puts my opponent in a very difficult spot.He will have only two options from that point.He could either try to slice the ball into his pocket,which is a low percentage shot,especially due to the fact that if he misses he loses because it will sell the whole game.His only other option is to graze the 1 ball and put the cue in the bottom left corner(as we view the screen) provided that the ball I banked 2 rails isn't sitting in the hole.If it is,he is almost forced to go all out for the cut shot.But more than likely the ball will be sitting around the first diamond on the long rail.That being the most probable case,I could then go ahead and bank the 1 ball three cushions to my hole and and leave whitey up table.Now I have both balls by my pocket and am a huge favorite to win.
Of course,there are other variables.Other things could happen,like hitting the bank real poorly,etc.My answer is based on the thought that the shots will all be executed correctly.
Something else to note:That second bank shot in your way of going about it isn't easy at all.Maybe for Bugs or Eddie Taylor.The ball is frozen to the rail.
 
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pocket size

AZE said:
and if you want to show off (two page)....

CueTable Help

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Bruce, if I was confronted with this decision I would definetly consider the size of the pockets,since it's a close call which shot is correct.The bigger pocket would encourage me to shoot the two railer because of the following reasons. You're close enough to the two railer to hit it well.With a bigger pocket and the right speed you should either pocket the ball or leave it close to the pocket ,if not make it.If you should happen to make the two railer you are then a huge favorite to win from there. If you do not pocket the ball you're probably not going to be more than a 6/5 under dog from the position you leave your opponent in.Plus on bigger pockets needing two balls to your opponents one is not as big of an disadvantage as you may think.Playing on a triple shimmed table I would play the one ball.
 
I would pot the 1 and cross the 5 to my hole. I dont like the 2 rail because I feel my % in potting the 1 is much greater than the 2 rail bank. If I shoot the 2 rail and try to use the one as a blocker of the 5 (if I miss the bank) now odds are I have left either a cut or a bank on the 1 for my opponents game ball. If I dont block the 5 my opponent can play defense on the 5 and the CB resulting in me not having another good opportunity for who knows how long.

Potting the one gives me the opportunity to gain control of the table.
 
I think that I would go for making the one ball, and get to the hill. But actually it depends on the following:

a) Who am I playing?
b) Am I in stroke?
c) Tight or loose pockets?

If I am playing Efren I would thank the Lord for finally getting the chance to pocket a ball again. (Trust me, I have been playing Efren and if you get a chance to pocket a ball, grab it. Don't hesitate)

If I am playing a lesser player, and I am also way out of stroke (cause of lots of safeties, misses and long hard-shots) I would go for the 2-railer. It can give me some confidence even if I don't make it, and I don't risk missing the one, which would kill my confidence.

If I am playing an opponent of the same poor quality as me, and on tight pockets, I would probably go for the one ball and try to outmove him. If it was loose pockets against same opponent I would probably go for the bank.

Summary for me: It all depends on how I have been playing the last hour, what table and the speed of my opponent. (Never play the opponent, play the table. Yeah right)
 
wincardona said:
Bruce, if I was confronted with this decision I would definetly consider the size of the pockets,since it's a close call which shot is correct.The bigger pocket would encourage me to shoot the two railer because of the following reasons. You're close enough to the two railer to hit it well.With a bigger pocket and the right speed you should either pocket the ball or leave it close to the pocket ,if not make it.If you should happen to make the two railer you are then a huge favorite to win from there. If you do not pocket the ball you're probably not going to be more than a 6/5 under dog from the position you leave your opponent in.Plus on bigger pockets needing two balls to your opponents one is not as big of an disadvantage as you may think.Playing on a triple shimmed table I would play the one ball.
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Billy,Why would the size of the pockets matter?Please explain your reasons:)
 
wincardona said:
Bruce, if I was confronted with this decision I would definetly consider the size of the pockets,since it's a close call which shot is correct.The bigger pocket would encourage me to shoot the two railer because of the following reasons. You're close enough to the two railer to hit it well.With a bigger pocket and the right speed you should either pocket the ball or leave it close to the pocket ,if not make it.If you should happen to make the two railer you are then a huge favorite to win from there. If you do not pocket the ball you're probably not going to be more than a 6/5 under dog from the position you leave your opponent in.Plus on bigger pockets needing two balls to your opponents one is not as big of an disadvantage as you may think.Playing on a triple shimmed table I would play the one ball.
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Two rail the 5-pocket speed-trying to hide behing the 1. If the 5 lies close to your hole, he'll probably kick it away, but then you have a pretty good bank on the 1.
 
again

Onepocket73 said:
Billy,Why would the size of the pockets matter?Please explain your reasons:)
Click to expand...

read my post again,it clearly explains why pocket size is crucial to the decision in choice of shots.
 
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