Ring game advice needed
- Thread starter Jallan
- Start date
I would stick with 9 ball, and make the 5 and the 9 money balls. I would use the standard push out rules with no ball in hand. Using these rules if some one doesn't make contact with the lowest number ball the incoming player can tell the shooter to shoot again or except the balls where they lay. Using these rules, on a scratch ball in hand is in the kitchen, and if the next ball in rotation is also in the kitchen it is spotted. In addition, if the money balls are made by a legal combination before they are the next ball in rotation, they are spotted and this includes those made on the break. Playing like this can bump the pot up a great deal and it adds a little more incentive to making a 5 or 9 out of turn.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Craig.... I think that the group will not get over 4 or 5 guys. Is there any advantage to having 2 tables going if it does. If there are 8 or so I think we would be best off on 2 tables with a random order draw every hour or so... I don't know, maybe I am giving it too much thought. Just want to see it run smooth and fair with everyone aware of the rules and procedures.
I started a weekly 10-ball ring-game in my area based on a format and a set of rules I got from mikeyfrost. It is similar to the DCC ring game, where players have poker chips and the ante for each game increases as time goes on. Ours has a three-tiered handicapping system and some slightly different rules, however. If you think you are interested in doing something like this, you can PM me your email address and I'll send you some information.
Aaron
Aaron
With 5 or more guys I would play 10 ball to help keep it interesting.
Also, to make it fair, rotate the break, if there's a really good player in the group, eliminate winner breaks. Also, only allow each player one chance at (redraw ie.) changing the player/breaking/shooting order and it has to be announced before the beginning of the next complete rotation.
We do a 9-ball ring game after league on Wednesdays. One point for the 5, two for the 9, race to 10.
I do like the idea of rotating the break, tho. Might try that tonight.
I do like the idea of rotating the break, tho. Might try that tonight.
This sounds like an excellent idea! I am going to keep an eye on this thread and gather up as much info as I can. I saw a bit of video from the DCC ring with the chips and per-rack buy-in, and it looks like an interesting way to handle things. It'd be 10-ball for sure, standard no-safeties, in the kitchen on a scratch, option to give back on a foul setup. There's a couple of guys who might be interested who could run out at will, but the rest of us need a couple of innings... would it be better to try that handicap thing or just rotate the break, so if he runs out, he doesn't get to break'n'run the next rack?
would it be better to try that handicap thing or just rotate the break, so if he runs out, he doesn't get to break'n'run the next rack?[/QUOTE]
Yep, I would to give the underdog a good chance.
Yep, I would to give the underdog a good chance.
In our ring games, we use a handicapping system to determine how many chips each player begins with (A=10, B=15, C=20), and then we change the order every 1/2 hour (when the ante increases). Rotating the break is not a bad idea, but we just haven't had the need to do so in our games. The biggest package we've had was a 4, and that only happened once.
Aaron
Aaron
Keep it cheap and you want to build up a large pool of players that will jump in and out of the game. No ball in hand, if someone dose not hit the ball you can make them shoot till they either hit it or the incoming player wants the shot. You change rotation of players every so many games by drawing pills or what ever way you devise. That is very important.
I have played in ring games that went on for years on a regular basis. You also may run into problems with the table time depending on how the place charges. So make sure they know what you are doing. It is common for someone to get in for just a few games for one reason or another and then get out. I would advise against starting more then one game. The reason being in no time you will find guys who just want to play with each other and not want the game to be open. You want people sitting waiting to get into the game, that is the whole point.
The thing about a ring game is that they are very hard to handicap, and you will probably have some people who will not play if it isn't handicapped. If you run it like a tournament (with poker chips and all that), you can handicap it based on the number of chips they start with. Otherwise, if you run it like a regular ring game, you will have to find another way. I will often give weight in ring games by allowing the other players to get paid for more balls than I do. For instance, you could play a $1/$2 ring game, but make it so that the 5-ball only pays for certain players. With 10-ball, you could go a bit further and have several pay balls. For instance, you could say that "C" players get paid for the 4, 7, and 10, "B" players get paid for the 5 and 10, and "A" players only get paid on the 10. Stronger players will still probably have the advantage, but those are the only ideas I've come up with for handicapping ring games.
Aaron
Aaron
In a ring game it is often you may go for many games without ever getting a chance to win, all you do is pay. Now you finally win a game and they take the break away from you? Bad idea.
Ring game story.
I was with a player and we went into a place known to have a strong ring game every Sunday morning. We walk in and they are playing a six handed game for $50.00 a man. This is a game you could go a half dozen games and never get a shot. We decide my buddy will play and pool our money. He gets in and low and behold the first ball he shoots at is a hung 9-ball. Seven handed game now so you win $300.00 every game. He proceeds to between combos and run outs along with two on the break, to win the next eight game.
We are up $2400.00 in like 20 minutes. Knowing how tough this game is we want to take the money and run. He stays in s a few more games and someone else wants in and we bow out and leave. I know "NITS" but not really these guys are cut throat and tough gamblers. No different then getting up from the table at a casino you can leave when ever you want. In fact most of the money dropped in the game are from guys taking a few game shot who go bust quick and leave their money behind. As we had done many times ourselves I should say.
Just to give you an idea how tough this game was, most Sundays the players would be guys like Danny Diliberto, Big Bob, Jimmy Reid, Three fingered Ron and whoever else may be around, Miz, Rempy, whoever.
Anyone seeing Danny DiLiberto anytime soon, ask him about the Sunday morning game at the CrossRoads bar and wait to be regaled with a few hours worth of great stories. Some may even involve the something in the nature of, "And at that point he pulled a gun and Suger Shack pulled his gun" etc.
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The only thing I know about a ring game.........
is, ... Never, EVER, get in the middle of a sandwich! :wink:
td
Anyone have any comments on 1-5-9 vs. 3-6-9? We always played 3-6-9 and it made a lot of sense to me. We all know the 1 is kind of a random crapshoot (unless soft breaking lol)... but to get on the 3 you need to have the cue ball in control generally. So the 3 feels like it's more "earned" than the 1.
The other thing is... keep the mood light. These things are supposed to be fun. It's a way for friends to play three handed, the money isn't really the point IMO. Maybe at the higher levels it is but I've seen regulars do ring games forever and nobody flips out over fouls, or non-jokingly yells at someone for selling out. Spots may or may not happen and vary depending on the day of the week and the shooter's mood. Do it right and keep it fun and it's something to look forward to every night for the next 10 years.
The other thing is... keep the mood light. These things are supposed to be fun. It's a way for friends to play three handed, the money isn't really the point IMO. Maybe at the higher levels it is but I've seen regulars do ring games forever and nobody flips out over fouls, or non-jokingly yells at someone for selling out. Spots may or may not happen and vary depending on the day of the week and the shooter's mood. Do it right and keep it fun and it's something to look forward to every night for the next 10 years.
I don't know about that... If you play by the rules listed in this thread, it's awful hard and not really worth it to chop someone up. You can't play safe and it would become obvious real quick, IMO. I have spent more hours playing ring games than any other form of betting on myself in pool and only once have I been in a situation where eveyone was playing against me. Funny actually. There were 5 of us playing, two dropped out and the only way they would keep playins is if they could play against me. Safetys, pushing out to each other, etc. I said OK and still out ran it until they quit. :thumbup: Having said that, they played REALLY bad.
Search for threads I created and you'll find a monster set of rules for running a competition ring game. I really had a super ring game going out here for a couple months last summer. People had a very good time and played their strongest.
I have had them printed for a week... I remember the talk about it well. Thanks for the outline.