Pea Pool (Kelly Pool)

[seb1899]

As a kid growing up in Ontario we played 'Pea Pool' but after nearly 50 years I am fuzzy on some of the rules.

When we played this I believe the 16 was 'wild' and that it was impossible to 'kill' the holder.

We would play this in rotation and also shoot any ball. When playing rotation if you did not hit the object ball (ball on) does the following player play with ball in hand behind the head string?

We were really big time gamblers 25 cents a kill and 25 cents from each of your oponents when you sunk your own pea

 

[Cuetips]

I remember playing this all the time, on a 6 X 12 table about 45 years ago but I don;t believe there was a #16 pea .

The rules were simple, once you sank your pea, you got the money on the bottle which sat on the blue spot. Money built up with everyone putting in the 25 cents ante for the game, plus 25 cents if they scratched or they knocked down the bottle. The balls were sunk in random order and as you sank an opponents ball, they had to pay you 25 cents on the spot. Once you sunk you ball, the game was over and you got the money laying on top of the pea bottle

great game - don;t see it too often, same as skittles, another great game which also needed to be played on a 12 footer as well ( great memories)

 

[tonmo]

I just read that the 16 could be assigned to the cue ball. If you have the 16, you just have to sink the cue ball to win -- but after hitting the lowest ball on the table first. If you miss, and others realize you have the 16, they'll scratch for you, after low-ball contact (in which case you're out). Haven't played it yet but am starting soon...

 

[tonmo]

I'm surprised at how hard it is to find a good, common set of rules for Kelly Pool. After much research, here are the rules I've decided on, we'll see how it goes!

Kelly Pool – 2 to 15 player game of elimination – pocket your secret ball

• Kelly Pool rack: triangle (1-15) – 1 at the foot spot, 2 and 3 on the wings, 15 in the center
• Player order determined by draw from pill bottle
• Secret ball assignments determined by separate draw from pill bottle
• Must hit lowest ball first (as in 9-ball); called shots not necessary
• Spot sunken balls on fouls
• Pocket your secret ball to win
• When your secret ball is pocketed by another player, you are “dead”, but you keep playing in rotation
• You must tell other players you are dead before your next shot – $1 penalty if you don’t.
• Unless 15 is your secret ball, combos on 15 ball not allowed (must spot if so)
• If no one sinks their secret ball, person who sinks 15 ball (last ball on table) wins
• If you draw the 15 pill, you must sink the 15 to win (and for you, combo on 15 is allowed)
• If you draw the 16 pill, you are assigned the cue ball. You must hit the lowest ball first, then scratch the cue ball to win. If someone else hits the lowest ball first then scratches, you’re dead.

 

[larrynj1]

a few pills always seem to disappear after each session. people go home with the last game's pill in their pocket. i've done it myself. now, i always use beer bottle tops and a black magic marker to number them. 1 or 2 get lost, mark another bottle top or two. the workbench in the basement always has more than enough extra bottle tops laying around.i don't know how they get there?? keep them near the table in a small coffee can.

 

[LessThanMike]

I'm surprised at how hard it is to find a good, common set of rules for Kelly Pool. After much research, here are the rules I've decided on, we'll see how it goes!

A few things that has been different when i played:

if we had like 4 or 5 guys, we'd only play with like 6 or 9 balls, more live balls that way = more payouts. ALso instead of whoever sank the last ball wins, if no one made their "secret" ball, we'd keep going and the next round was a Double (i.e whoever sinks their secret ball collects double from each opponent). I've seen it get as high as 5 or 6 times (you really wanna win these games) We also didnt have the scratch with the cue ball wins part

 

[tonmo]

The rules you describe seem to be the standard. I have about 10 people. We'll play in groups of 5, winner takes all. The winner of each group gets the table for head to head match of 8, 9, or 10 ball at their own stakes. Then we do it all again.

I like the re-ante idea, but don't want people getting frustrated waiting for their game to start - hence the 15 ball rule. I saw the 16 pill = cue ball rule somewhere online, seemed like fun. We'll see how it goes!