One Pocket

dsoriano

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've read post on One Pocket before and didn't think much of the game. I recently watched a Bustamante vs. Richeson-One pocket Game on youtube to learn the game.
Holy Hell was I confused, so I did a search and read the rules. I am even more dumb founded than before. I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?
Maybe the rules are not what I need to read, but the instructions.
 
I've read post on One Pocket before and didn't think much of the game. I recently watched a Bustamante vs. Richeson-One pocket Game on youtube to learn the game.
Holy Hell was I confused, so I did a search and read the rules. I am even more dumb founded than before. I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?
Maybe the rules are not what I need to read, but the instructions.

The rules aren't that tricky when you get down and play it. The strategy involved leads people to do some pretty odd things if you don't understand it, though. If you give up a shot to your opponent, that could easily turn into a loss at a high level, by either giving them the upper hand in strategy, giving them a run or some of both.
 
I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?

No. Any ball can be shot at any time during the game. Same legal shot rules as in any other game (an object ball or the cueball must hit a rail after contact, etc.). You must pocket eight balls into your pre-designated pocket before your opponent pockets eight balls into his (straight-up game, no weight).

It's a game chocked full of cueball/object ball positioning/repositioning that can look confusing to a person new to the game. If you watch YouTube videos of two top tier players playing the game, you will notice that they are extremely careful of where they leave the cueball, sometimes even taking an intentional foul (or multiple intentional fouls) to keep their opponents from having a shot at their own pockets, or to keep the opponent from being able to move a ball that they just moved near to their pocket.

It's a great game though. The "chess match" of pool. Don't give up on it.

Maniac
 
No. Any ball can be shot at any time during the game. Same legal shot rules as in any other game (an object ball or the cueball must hit a rail after contact, etc.). You must pocket eight balls into your pre-designated pocket before your opponent pockets eight balls into his (straight-up game, no weight).

It's a game chocked full of cueball/object ball positioning/repositioning that can look confusing to a person new to the game. If you watch YouTube videos of two top tier players playing the game, you will notice that they are extremely careful of where they leave the cueball, sometimes even taking an intentional foul (or multiple intentional fouls) to keep their opponents from having a shot at their own pockets, or to keep the opponent from being able to move a ball that they just moved near to their pocket.

It's a great game though. The "chess match" of pool. Don't give up on it.

Maniac[/Q

WELL SAID..........DON'T GIVE UP ON IT. AT TIMES IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO BREAK YOUR STICK, PULL OUT YOUR HAIR, AND TARE YOUR CLOTHES (LIKE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT), BUT DON'T GIVE UP ON IT!
 
I've read post on One Pocket before and didn't think much of the game. I recently watched a Bustamante vs. Richeson-One pocket Game on youtube to learn the game.
Holy Hell was I confused, so I did a search and read the rules. I am even more dumb founded than before. I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?
Maybe the rules are not what I need to read, but the instructions.

The rules are simple, the play is not. You should find an instructional video or book about the game to really "get" it as to why people do what they do when you watch a match.
 
Sir
Aren't you the gentleman that built that top of the line pool room outback and posted pics on here so we could follow you ? If so all you need to do is ask and I'm sure there is someone close that would be more than willing to come to you and teach you in that magnificent room you built !
 
I've read post on One Pocket before and didn't think much of the game. I recently watched a Bustamante vs. Richeson-One pocket Game on youtube to learn the game.
Holy Hell was I confused, so I did a search and read the rules. I am even more dumb founded than before. I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?
Maybe the rules are not what I need to read, but the instructions.
One pocket is one of those games that takes an hour to learn and a lifetime to master.

I was in the same boat as you until a few years ago when I asked a knowledgeable friend, who played it, to give me a quick lesson. Wow! There are a ton of new shots to be learned in this game! It truly is chess on the green cloth.

I'd be glad to stop by next time I'm in Austin and give you a lesson.

Brian in VA
 
Listen to the Maniac...

No. Any ball can be shot at any time during the game. Same legal shot rules as in any other game (an object ball or the cueball must hit a rail after contact, etc.). You must pocket eight balls into your pre-designated pocket before your opponent pockets eight balls into his (straight-up game, no weight).

It's a game chocked full of cueball/object ball positioning/repositioning that can look confusing to a person new to the game. If you watch YouTube videos of two top tier players playing the game, you will notice that they are extremely careful of where they leave the cueball, sometimes even taking an intentional foul (or multiple intentional fouls) to keep their opponents from having a shot at their own pockets, or to keep the opponent from being able to move a ball that they just moved near to their pocket.

It's a great game though. The "chess match" of pool. Don't give up on it.

Well said by a prolific AZer, the great thing about the game is that it teaches you to see banks and cue ball position in a way that no OTHER game does. After playing it for a little while and then going back to your primary game of choice, you will be amazed at the angles and bank shots that you see that you never knew were THERE THE WHOLE TIME! Very ADDICTIVE, forces you to constantly THINK !:idea::idea:
 
I discovered one-pocket about six months ago, and now I won't watch anything else on youtube, etc. Everything else seems boring now. (I don't get to play it much because of lack of others who play it...and my game isn't good enough yet).

The rules are simple. You have to pocket balls in one (and only one) of the foot-corner pockets. Your opponent has to pocket in the other. Any ball (no rotation) and obviously no call-pocket :smile:.

The thing to remember is that it is a defensive game. You'll often see a great player like Efren "overshoot" a difficult bank shot and wonder "why did he do that?" Well, he did it because his first concern was where he left the CB; he had to leave the CB where his opponent doesn't have a shot even if it means overshooting the bank shot.

As you learn the game you'll begin to appreciate a shot as FANTASTIC based on where the shooter left the CB, regardless where the OB landed. At an EfrenReyes-level of play it is truly a chess match where he's placing CB and OBs in positions for shots 5-6 innings down the road.

As a player you'll have to learn how to make shots you rarely, if ever, need to make in any other game.

Don't give up on it. But I warn you, other games begin to look pretty boring.
 
I've read post on One Pocket before and didn't think much of the game. I recently watched a Bustamante vs. Richeson-One pocket Game on youtube to learn the game.
Holy Hell was I confused, so I did a search and read the rules. I am even more dumb founded than before. I just dont get it. Do the balls have to be shot in a certain sequence?
Maybe the rules are not what I need to read, but the instructions.

buy this
http://www.amazon.com/Upscale-One-Pocket-Jack-H-Koehler/dp/0962289035
find someone to teach you the basics
join
onepocket.org
this is the home page
http://www.onepocket.org/index.html
you will see in the upper right there is a message board
click on that and check out the forums
you will find some wwyd threads
that stands for what would you do now
its usually a layout and members give their shor choices and we discuss the pros and cons
eventually we find out what the pro did
other shot selection threads will have the pros names competing and a layout
very informative site
its the greatest game there is
 
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One pocket is the best game but it can be boring as hell to watch. I have spent up to 60 hours getting through one match. I love it so much and there is always a new move to learn. Kind of hard for me here with no players who like it but I try to learn something new anyway when I can.
 
simplest rules in pool, and perhaps the most complex game. for sure the BEST game
 
another resource for learning the game would be accu-stats tapes... ANY 1pkt match with Bill Incardona (BI) in the booth. Might I recommend starting with Shannon Daulton vs Efren Reyes (SF) 1998 Legends of One Pocket Championships (longer race)...

This one has Bill and Grady in the booth. You can learn more strategy, thought process and options just listening then playing 50 games.. IMHO
 
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