Pool Rules

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nrhoades

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Everybody at one point has had to explain rules to somebody. The most common well-known set of rules today is found in a lot of games, and that is:

"...Hit the object ball first or it is a foul. After a collision, a ball must be pocketed or a ball must hit a rail or it is a foul. Ball in hand on a foul..."

yada yada.

There must be a name for this core rule set, no? I've been calling it "Basic Pocket Billiard Rules" but that is probably incorrect. And I have to end up saying something similar to the phrase above. More than about 20 words confuses people if hearing it for the first time.

What's the shortest phrase you can think of to get the point across?
 
nrhoades said:
What's the shortest phrase you can think of to get the point across?
Click to expand...

You ask, "Wanna play bar rules or ball-in-hand?"

If they ask, "What's BIH?" You say, "So, it's bar rules then?"

If they say, "Let's play BIH." You're good to go for the most part.
 
I'd rather practice by myself then play with bar rules. Bar rules infuriate me.

Edit: No... this is off topic. Anyone else?
 
nrhoades said:
I'd rather practice by myself then play with bar rules. Bar rules infuriate me.

Edit: No... this is off topic. Anyone else?
Click to expand...

I will not gamble playing bar rules, it is ridiculous to play with no penalty for a foul. Beyond that I like what "WoodyJ" has to say.
 
Around here it is "gentleman's call" and "league rules" or ball-in-hand.

I have found out the hard way, if you are going to play someone for money that is not familiar with ball-in-hand, just play by the rules they know. You will avoid a lot of arguments that way, and you'll probably crush them anyways. Also don't make any obvious safes, make sure your shots look like you are trying to make something. They might cry otherwise.
 
nrhoades said:
Everybody at one point has had to explain rules to somebody. The most common well-known set of rules today is found in a lot of games, and that is:

"...Hit the object ball first or it is a foul. After a collision, a ball must be pocketed or a ball must hit a rail or it is a foul. Ball in hand on a foul..."

yada yada.

There must be a name for this core rule set, no? I've been calling it "Basic Pocket Billiard Rules" but that is probably incorrect. And I have to end up saying something similar to the phrase above. More than about 20 words confuses people if hearing it for the first time.

What's the shortest phrase you can think of to get the point across?
Click to expand...

I think a lot of formal games use ball in hand, but most bar games don't. You get more time out of your quarters if you don't play ball in hand on a foul. Well, bangers do.

My favorite game to play is call pocket, ball in hand. I definitely don't end the description of the game with "bar rules", 'cause some people think that's call shot, some call pocket, some slop, some ball in hand, some kitchen, some either kitchen (that's a weird one but i like it). You have to spell it out well before the break or people think you're making things up.

Usually where I'm playing there are lots of league players in addition to the weekend bangers, so we'll have a bangers table and a league table. Just pick the right table and avoid the idiots. Unless you like slumming, pick your poison!

About the "either kitchen" version, the reason I like this is it negates the option for your opponent to scratch on purpose when your last ball is in the kitchen, since you can play from either kitchen on a scratch. Call it a restricted ball in hand. You can play it for fouls, too.
 
"Ball-in-hand" seems like the perfect phrase. I'll use that from now on.
 
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nrhoades said:
Everybody at one point has had to explain rules to somebody. The most common well-known set of rules today is found in a lot of games, and that is:

"...Hit the object ball first or it is a foul. After a collision, a ball must be pocketed or a ball must hit a rail or it is a foul. Ball in hand on a foul..."

yada yada.

There must be a name for this core rule set, no? I've been calling it "Basic Pocket Billiard Rules" but that is probably incorrect. And I have to end up saying something similar to the phrase above. More than about 20 words confuses people if hearing it for the first time.

What's the shortest phrase you can think of to get the point across?
Click to expand...

World Standardized Rules. That's actually what they're called. See www.wpa-pool.com
 
nrhoades said:
Everybody at one point has had to explain rules to somebody. The most common well-known set of rules today is found in a lot of games, and that is:

"...Hit the object ball first or it is a foul. After a collision, a ball must be pocketed or a ball must hit a rail or it is a foul. Ball in hand on a foul..."

yada yada.

There must be a name for this core rule set, no? I've been calling it "Basic Pocket Billiard Rules" but that is probably incorrect. And I have to end up saying something similar to the phrase above. More than about 20 words confuses people if hearing it for the first time.

What's the shortest phrase you can think of to get the point across?
Click to expand...

There are no Pool rules. Behind the line or ball in paw. It pisses me off, what about "house rules". U come from Western Australia and "insist" on playing by "your" rules. Two balls in hand on a foul?? That's rather presumptuous I think? U and Swen from Sweden "insist" on playing by your home country rules. U are not in your home country. Challenged as often as I am, I won't even consider playing someone that want's to bring his/her version of the game to the table, LET alone someone that "smokes" while having a cue in his/her hand.

As FU'ed as the PI is, they know how to play by "international" rules....at least the Pro's do.
Any form of "pool" is open to interpretation. 14.1 , One Pocket, or Snooker are the Only way to go. The rules are clearly defined.
 
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Pangit said:
There are no Pool rules. Behind the line or ball in paw. It pisses me off, what about "house rules". U come from Western Australia and "insist" on playing by "your" rules. Two balls in hand on a foul?? That's rather presumptuous I think? U and Swen from Sweden "insist" on playing by your home country rules. U are not in your home country. Challenged as often as I am, I won't even consider playing someone that want's to bring his/her version of the game to the table, LET alone someone that "smokes" while having a cue in his/her hand.

As FU'ed as the PI is, they know how to play by "international" rules....at least the Pro's do.
Any form of "pool" is open to interpretation. 14.1 , One Pocket, or Snooker are the Only way to go. The rules are clearly defined.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. Did you mean to quote me? Everything in bold doesn't make sense. I live in the U.S. and I don't know a Swen from Sweden.
 
mohrt said:
... I have found out the hard way, if you are going to play someone for money that is not familiar with ball-in-hand, just play by the rules they know. You will avoid a lot of arguments that way, and you'll probably crush them anyways. Also don't make any obvious safes, make sure your shots look like you are trying to make something. They might cry otherwise.
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Sage advice. When you're in a social situation and it's best to adapt to the house rules. Especially if you are playing for money.

Easy enough to just watch for a while to figure out what the rules are. Otherwise, a friendly brief rule discussion first helps.

Players not familiar with BIH generally think it's "chicken$hit" pool and no amount of explaining is going to change their mind that it's "immoral" and you are lower than pond scum for playing safeties.

My best friend used to bartend at the local pub and still feels that way deep down. At the bar, we play by their rules. At my home, they can ***** all they want but my house rules are BIH.
 
Bar rules rock! "I'll play the 3 ball in the upper left hand corner off the 2 ball (the 3 may hit the rail slightly). But the three ball will bounce off the back of the pocket and drop without bouncing.
 
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