One Pocket Questions

POCKETWOLF

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just starting out in one pocket, and i need a few things cleared up. Does the breaker declare the pocket before or after the break? If the breaker makes a ball off the break in his pocket, do you continue the run? They are beginner questions, i know, but i didn't have access to the game until recently. And yes, i went to one pocket.org, but i need clarification on these points. I loved the game the second i played my first rack-now i seek knowledge:D. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
You pick your pocket before the shot.
The only way to continue shooting is to pocket a ball in your pocket.
 
You pick your pocket before the shot.
The only way to continue shooting is to pocket a ball in your pocket.

So do you have to call the ball, or is it---i hate even saying this--- ok to slop in off the break?
 
You dont have to call anything. If it goes in your pocket from a legal shot, its good and you get to keep on shooting :)
 
Cool, thanks for the info. I played a game against the ghost last night and ran 8 and out- i think i like this game. I'm sure i'll have more questions soon enough, back to the table....thanks again!
 
Cool, thanks for the info. I played a game against the ghost last night and ran 8 and out- i think i like this game. I'm sure i'll have more questions soon enough, back to the table....thanks again!

Humm ,
The last time I broke and run was several weeks ago against Sammy Jones .
I don't think you quite have the jest of it yet !!
P.S. I play ALOT of 1 hole !!!
 
Wish you were in nebraska bill, not a lot of one hole players that i know of. Again, it was against the ghost, so i wasn't worried about leaving a shot for the opponent. Trust me, i know it ain't easy! I need a break from checkers, i need to play chess for a while;).
 
As I've always understood it, when you break it is apparent which pocket is yours. I've never declared which pocket I was playing before the break. I guess there may be break shots where there would be a question, but I've never seen such a shot.
If you make a ball in your pocket on the break you continue to shoot.
 
Okay, for argument sake, let's say i break and make a ball in the right pocket. If you declare which pocket is yours prior to the shot(as per the rules), then it's obvious. I might have wanted the left pocket, but since i made one in the right and didn't speak up i can shoot without you knowing any better. advantage breaker. This is why i asked this question, i have one call it and two don't call its.
 
I'm sure you were only asking your question hypothetically, but if you aren't an honorable person there aren't many who would play against you.

Unless you are a rank amateur (where you shouldn't be playing one pocket anyway) it will be obvious to every opponent which pocket you're claiming. A serious one hole player isn't trying to make a ball in his pocket on the break, but to create an advantage for himself by both moving balls toward his hole while leaving his opponent no shot.
 
I'm sure you were only asking your question hypothetically, but if you aren't an honorable person there aren't many who would play against you.

Unless you are a rank amateur (where you shouldn't be playing one pocket anyway) it will be obvious to every opponent which pocket you're claiming. A serious one hole player isn't trying to make a ball in his pocket on the break, but to create an advantage for himself by both moving balls toward his hole while leaving his opponent no shot.

Is that a joke? "where you shouldn't be playing one pocket anyway"
 
Okay, for argument sake, let's say i break and make a ball in the right pocket. If you declare which pocket is yours prior to the shot(as per the rules), then it's obvious. I might have wanted the left pocket, but since i made one in the right and didn't speak up i can shoot without you knowing any better. advantage breaker. This is why i asked this question, i have one call it and two don't call its.

If you break from the left side hitting the left side of the rack, it is understood you are choosing the right hand pocket. This would allow for the balls to spread towards your chosen pocket and allow the cue ball to rest near the opposite rail using the majority of the balls as blockers to protect the balls by your hole.

Many people use this as a way to keep track of who's break it is if both players are selecting the same pocket for their breaks (but this is not mandatory).

If you want to break them like 8-ball/rotation like Corey D has done in competition, you must make your pocket known before you break or it will be assumed it is the traditional pocket. Corey broke them hard from the left side and selected the left pocket before hand. If you continue to break them the same way, it would be assumed he is choosing the same side that he is pocketing unless he says he is changing.

Dave
 
I'm sure you were only asking your question hypothetically, but if you aren't an honorable person there aren't many who would play against you.

Unless you are a rank amateur (where you shouldn't be playing one pocket anyway) it will be obvious to every opponent which pocket you're claiming. A serious one hole player isn't trying to make a ball in his pocket on the break, but to create an advantage for himself by both moving balls toward his hole while leaving his opponent no shot.

Yes john, it's a hypothetical. Yes, i believe i am an honorable person, though i don't feel the need to try and prove it online. Yes, i am new to one pocket. Does this qualify me as a "rank amateur"? If so, i will disregard the 20 plus years i've been playing, sell the thousands of dollars of cues i own, and take up darts. By calling the pocket before the break, in my amateur mind i take out of question a persons honor. If you were a friend of mine, i'd know--if you were someone i'd been chasing down to gamble, i'd like the courtesy. I understand the reason for a strategic break, it's really a what if scenario. I also understand that i don't know much about one pocket rules, which is why i asked the questions. Sorry if this comes off harsh, but i don't know why my honor comes into play.
 
Okay, for argument sake, let's say i break and make a ball in the right pocket. If you declare which pocket is yours prior to the shot(as per the rules), then it's obvious. I might have wanted the left pocket, but since i made one in the right and didn't speak up i can shoot without you knowing any better. advantage breaker. This is why i asked this question, i have one call it and two don't call its.

As I said in my previous post, it is not necessary to indicate your pocket prior to the break, unless, as someone else stated, you were going to break them like Cory Duel, with a blast break.
There may be some regional/area rules, but, in upstate NY, where I learned to play in the late '70s, after learning Straight Pool and 9 ball, we never called the pocket before the break.
 
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If you break from the left side hitting the left side of the rack, it is understood you are choosing the right hand pocket. This would allow for the balls to spread towards your chosen pocket and allow the cue ball to rest near the opposite rail using the majority of the balls as blockers to protect the balls by your hole.

Many people use this as a way to keep track of who's break it is if both players are selecting the same pocket for their breaks (but this is not mandatory).

If you want to break them like 8-ball/rotation like Corey D has done in competition, you must make your pocket known before you break or it will be assumed it is the traditional pocket. Corey broke them hard from the left side and selected the left pocket before hand. If you continue to break them the same way, it would be assumed he is choosing the same side that he is pocketing unless he says he is changing.

Dave

That's what i was talking about. Not that i'm gonna powerbreak in one pocket, but if it were to happen to me i needed a clarification. Thanks for the info dave.
 
Just starting out in one pocket, and i need a few things cleared up. Does the breaker declare the pocket before or after the break? If the breaker makes a ball off the break in his pocket, do you continue the run? They are beginner questions, i know, but i didn't have access to the game until recently. And yes, i went to one pocket.org, but i need clarification on these points. I loved the game the second i played my first rack-now i seek knowledge:D. Thanks in advance for the help.

The rules questions have been answered already. If you want to seriously improve your one pocket game, (assuming you have a fair grasp of the basic fundamentals), the best way is find a great 1p player, and let him beat you for a couple of years. ;)

If a great player isn't available, visit accu-stats.com:

http://www.accu-stats.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=007&DEPT=000005&BACK=A0009A1B0000003B1C0000121C1F0000003F1G0000121G1I000010I1J0000720J1

Any match with Efren Reyes will teach you a lot about advanced principles. Other players to learn from include: Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Shannon Daulton, and many others.
 
As another poster already stated, if you break from the left hand side of the table it is assumed you are choosing the right corner pocket. If you break from the right side then you are choosing the left corner pocket.
Once the pockets are designated, 1 pocket is not a call your shot game. If any ball goes in your hole on your shot, you continue to shoot until you miss.
Good luck with your new found chess game, very simple in design but limitless possibilities. Every shot you have to choose between offense or well played defense. Cue ball control is a must for this game. Have fun.......
 
Thanks chris, are you still in tucson? I lived there for 19 yrs, had to escape the heat and moved north. I'll be looking for an old school guy who wants to share some knowledge, hopefully i find one.
 
The rules questions have been answered already. If you want to seriously improve your one pocket game, (assuming you have a fair grasp of the basic fundamentals), the best way is find a great 1p player, and let him beat you for a couple of years. ;)

If a great player isn't available, visit accu-stats.com:

http://www.accu-stats.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=007&DEPT=000005&BACK=A0009A1B0000003B1C0000121C1F0000003F1G0000121G1I000010I1J0000720J1

Any match with Efren Reyes will teach you a lot about advanced principles. Other players to learn from include: Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Jeremy Jones, Shannon Daulton, and many others.

Thx troop, i've limited access to one pocket players, but i have upscale one pocket on the way, as well as a video or two.
 
Thx troop, i've limited access to one pocket players, but i have upscale one pocket on the way, as well as a video or two.

Glad to help, but in my opinion, the instructional tapes don't have nearly as much value as simply watching the greats play the game. You come to realize that the smart players do the same things over and over, in similar situations.

Sometimes, there's only one 'right' shot, and watching top level matches will teach you those faster (and cheaper) than most instructional videos...imo.
 
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