One-Pocket Strategy Question

one-pocket question

This is the same bill stroud that makes cues and plays one-pocket.

The shot I proposed is a shot for the good player but the rewards are great.
You will have put your opponent in a terrible position and have a good chance to win the game in the next inning.

If you do happen to make the 5 ball it is a good thing. Never move a ball near the side pocket on your opponents side and ALWAYS move the ball near the side pocket on your side because it blocks end rail banks.

To play ultra safe in this situation is to give your opponent more chances to win. If you are a better end rail banker then perhaps the is some logic to moving the balls up table. If not, don't.

I bank better than most and have still lost games with the balls up table.

Also the score looks like you are playing well and bunting balls around for a long time will often cause you to lose momentum.

Play agressive. It's the way to win and has served me well. It will you too.
 
Since mostly, nobody knows exactly who's who on here, or their actual skill/knowledge level, I just wanted to say that speaking for myself...I've been playing One Pocket competitively for 30 years, and I give One Pocket lessons ( as a matter of fact my teaching of One Pocket was very favorably mentioned in an issue of Billiards Digest last year ). So anyway, all of that said, I've instructed a couple of my One Pocket students re. the game situation given on this thread.....In discussing playing aggressive in this situation and not sending the balls up-table, here's one small strategic component of what I told them.....

.....Several people have posted how important or crucial it is to breakup the 11 and 2 ball cluster at this point - imo, and with all due respect to the other posters, this is incorrect.....Breaking up that cluster now is a one-dimensional thought to have re. that cluster....First of all, you don't have an angle to safely break up the cluster while also snookering your opponent from seeing the two balls afterwards - But more imporantly, if you analyze the cluster situation further, you will realize that the cluster, although you can't make them right now, are actually HELPING at this time - They are helping you, because as they are clustered right now, they can't be banked cross-corner into your opponents pocket and also they are blocking the 7 ball from being banked cross-corner into your opponents pocket - This is huge in defending that quadrant of the table......................Ghost
 
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bstroud said:
This is the same bill stroud that makes cues and plays one-pocket.

The shot I proposed is a shot for the good player but the rewards are great.
You will have put your opponent in a terrible position and have a good chance to win the game in the next inning.

If you do happen to make the 5 ball it is a good thing. Never move a ball near the side pocket on your opponents side and ALWAYS move the ball near the side pocket on your side because it blocks end rail banks.

To play ultra safe in this situation is to give your opponent more chances to win. If you are a better end rail banker then perhaps the is some logic to moving the balls up table. If not, don't.

I bank better than most and have still lost games with the balls up table.

Also the score looks like you are playing well and bunting balls around for a long time will often cause you to lose momentum.

Play agressive. It's the way to win and has served me well. It will you too.
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Thanks Bill, I appreciate the advice. I noticed on your website that it lists Austin as the most recent location for Josswest; is that where you currently reside?
 
1 Pocket Ghost said:
...more imporantly, if you analyze the cluster situation further, you will realize that the cluster, although you can't make them right now, are actually HELPING at this time - They are helping you, because as they are clustered right now, they can't be banked cross-corner into your opponents pocket and also they are blocking the 7 ball from being banked cross-corner into your opponents pocket - This is huge in defending that quadrant of the table......................Ghost
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That makes sense as well. So, you would recommend sending whitey uptable until a better opportunity to deal with the 11/2 presents itself?
 
Aaron_S said:
That makes sense as well. So, you would recommend sending whitey uptable until a better opportunity to deal with the 11/2 presents itself?
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Yes, if, we've decided to play this situation aggressive style, rather than sending the balls up-table.
 
1 Pocket Ghost said:
Yes, if, we've decided to play this situation aggressive style, rather than sending the balls up-table.
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I'd love to see what Freddy B. says about this, because IMHO, he has called more correct shots whilst commentating on championship One Pocket play than I believe even Billy I. or Grady M. has.

From where the cue ball is, I am freezing the cue ball to the back ball, leaving ONE shot, a safety off the left side of that ball, which will push the ball uptable. I think any shot that attempts to put a ball closer to your hole in this situation is suicide.

Russ
 
3 immediate shots

depends on who I am playing and for how much (money or tournament).

1) Safe patient way - break with 11, playing cue downtable from 11.
2) 2 rail 7 between 4 &5 and bring it to middle of table while taking cue ball
to end rail uptable.
3) Risky shot, but big rewards - graze the 11 and come off long rail ticking
5 on the way out, sending cue ball between 4 and 8 over uptable to opponenets side. Even if you miss ticking 5, it could hit the 8 and carry cue ball on uptable, and any shot for him would be extremely hard.

Bottom line - Any player good enough to get out on you in 1 inning will have to play Alex's speed in 1 pocket or better, therefore you can take enough risk where he might run 3-4 balls, but then leave you an out ball, or to at least get balls close to your pocket to close in on the kill.

Anyone that has learned to win, not just play well, will tell you you bet on the TOTAL odds for the game, and not just on a shot. That means taking into account the shots you opponent will have off your leave, and how good they are making that particular shot, then how good they would be to get shape off that shot, in order to complete a run to win the game.
They may be a 84 in one pocket, but if you leave them a shot where they only make it 45% of the time, the odds are in your favor, but deciding when to do that is on you, and the stakes involved.
 
I'm with Russ!!!!!!

This could be the first time but I'm in with Russ on this one. I want some insurance balls (minium of three) unless I get something juicey to shoot pocket speed. Then an only then am I going to be shooter, right now I want to be a mover. I'm no expert but i know what works for me. I guess in the long run thats what counts.If I lost this game from this position it would be on instant replay in my head after this session was over an thats a bad thing. Frustrating your opponet is a big part of dominating an right
now its time to crank up the frustrater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
 
Pinocchio said:
This could be the first time but I'm in with Russ on this one. I want some insurance balls (minium of three) unless I get something juicey to shoot pocket speed. Then an only then am I going to be shooter, right now I want to be a mover. I'm no expert but i know what works for me. I guess in the long run thats what counts.If I lost this game from this position it would be on instant replay in my head after this session was over an thats a bad thing. Frustrating your opponet is a big part of dominating an right
now its time to crank up the frustrater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
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Roger that! Beginning One Pocket players don't put enough value in "breaking down" their opponent's stroke. If you leave him a wacky shot at his pocket, and he goes for it full bore, it doesn't matter if he makes it or not, still gets to let his stroke out.

My shot slection gives him absolutely 0 shots to shoot at, and will result in two balls moving uptable in the next two innings. Give your opponent nothing to shoot at shot after shot, and you know what happens?

He forgets how to shoot, and it takes him a game or two to remember! What could be better?

Russ
 
Pinocchio said:
Year before last I believe at DCC Efren lost a match to a big man out of Cal
I believe his name was John????????? Anyway he needed one ball the guy from Cal. needed 6. Efren tried a tough shot made a little error his opponent makes 4, moves one toward his hole and the first thing you know Efren is eliminated. If i was going to get a little crazy here I would bank the 4 ball 2 in the corner but play it long where you come in the back door an break up your two ball cluster. It's not that hard to execute an cueball control no problem. I would lay off that shot though you've
got money in the bank if you are patient.
Pinocchio
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I think Efren lost to Billy Palmer a few years ago, but Efren wasn't eliminated. Efren has won every DCC one pocket tournament he has entered. I'm not sure how the format works, I think it's 1 loss and then you get a buy-back. Efren must have bought back in and then won the tournament from there. I have a tape of Efren having a rematch with Billy Palmer and Efren beats him pretty handily.
 
cuetechasaurus said:
I have a tape of Efren having a rematch with Billy Palmer and Efren beats him pretty handily.
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Now that you mention it, I have that match as well. IIRC, that was the one where they had the weird thing where Efren dropped his chalk on the table, and it hit an ob and moved it a bit. It was obvious that Billy is a great 1-p player, but as usual Efren left few opportunities and punished every mistake.
 
Cuetec

I think somebody told me he was from Sacrament, Ca. I'm pretty sue it was 2 or three yrs. ago. I was not aware Efren had won DCC every year he entered. Thanks for the info!!!!!!! Right now I'm lusting for your tapes.
Pinocchio
 
Pinocchio said:
I think somebody told me he was from Sacrament, Ca. I'm pretty sue it was 2 or three yrs. ago. I was not aware Efren had won DCC every year he entered. Thanks for the info!!!!!!! Right now I'm lusting for your tapes.
Pinocchio
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Billy palmer is from oakland,CA.I played him once.:cool:
 
Vagabond!

I"ve experienced the same many times. When that happens I would always hear when are you going to quit playing THEM road players.
Then when you are lucky enough to beat one if you play on your own money you get to hear I knew you'd win an how overrated your opponent
was. Sound Familiar!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
 
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