I'm only familiar with the title, but as a fan of eastern stuff and of course, pool, I'm curious- any reviews out there?
The Art of War Versus the Art of Pool: How Sun Tzu Would Play Pocket Billiards
- Thread starter evergruven
- Start date
His book is all about intensive planning, strategy, the need to adapt from situation to situation, a mix of decisiveness with a willingness to continuously reassess, and a risk-reward sense that must always guide the combatant in a confrontation.
I think Sun Tzu would have liked one pocket, as it is likely the most cerebral battle that can take place on a pool table, and a game that requires the kind of planning, evaluation and patience that he saw as fundamental to winning.
I think Sun Tzu would have liked one pocket, as it is likely the most cerebral battle that can take place on a pool table, and a game that requires the kind of planning, evaluation and patience that he saw as fundamental to winning.
Interesting topic!
It looks to be a philosophical approach to a winning strategy and to be a discipline to strengthen your mental game. Reminds me of a 'self help' book.
Samples – The Art of War versus The Art of Pool
The Art of War versus The Art of Pool
These are sample pages from the book. The book provides some of the
philosophic attitudes necessary to be an effective competitor. Using
Sun Tsu’s strategic and tactical recommendations will help you win
more games.
Introduction & welcome
The words of the famous and ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu have
been read, studied, and applied by millions of students of warfare and
those who compare their livelihood to be a similar life and death
competition. Many advisors to the movers and shakers of the world
have made their fortunes by converting Sun Tzu’s words into the
strategies and tactics of business and politics.
Many aspects of this 2500 year old treatise on how to wage war have
a direct application to the tactics and strategies used in games played
upon pocket billiard tables. This book is a presentation of those
similarities. For the differences between actual war and pool, read the
Concept of pool in the Notes section at the end of the book.
Sun Tzu’s comments that do not have a similar match in the
competitions of pool are still included. In order to study this properly,
read the words of Sun Tzu's Art of War in the ITALIC font. Then, to
learn its particular application in pool, read the corresponding
commentary of the Art of Pool in the REGULAR font.
Read the first part, then the second. Stop and consider how the
information can be used in your playing strategies and tactics. With
the new viewpoint, reconsider the choices you made in your past
competitions.
As you become aware of these new ways of thinking, your viewpoint
will shift and adjust. You will see aspects of the game that previously
were hidden. These discoveries belong to you and you alone. This is
your personal voyage of discovery that leads to your new realization.
The application of that knowledge will stay with you until the last day
you ever pick up a stick.
Here's a link to a 19 page sample of the book:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...-of-Pool.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0_G3MsS52Bri2UUFraCluG
Sun would use spies to find your house, then send agents to mess with your equipment and poison your water bottle.
Samples – The Art of War versus The Art of Pool
The Art of War versus The Art of Pool
These are sample pages from the book. The book provides some of the
philosophic attitudes necessary to be an effective competitor. Using
Sun Tsu’s strategic and tactical recommendations will help you win
more games.
Introduction & welcome
The words of the famous and ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu have
been read, studied, and applied by millions of students of warfare and
those who compare their livelihood to be a similar life and death
competition. Many advisors to the movers and shakers of the world
have made their fortunes by converting Sun Tzu’s words into the
strategies and tactics of business and politics.
Many aspects of this 2500 year old treatise on how to wage war have
a direct application to the tactics and strategies used in games played
upon pocket billiard tables. This book is a presentation of those
similarities. For the differences between actual war and pool, read the
Concept of pool in the Notes section at the end of the book.
Sun Tzu’s comments that do not have a similar match in the
competitions of pool are still included. In order to study this properly,
read the words of Sun Tzu's Art of War in the ITALIC font. Then, to
learn its particular application in pool, read the corresponding
commentary of the Art of Pool in the REGULAR font.
Read the first part, then the second. Stop and consider how the
information can be used in your playing strategies and tactics. With
the new viewpoint, reconsider the choices you made in your past
competitions.
As you become aware of these new ways of thinking, your viewpoint
will shift and adjust. You will see aspects of the game that previously
were hidden. These discoveries belong to you and you alone. This is
your personal voyage of discovery that leads to your new realization.
The application of that knowledge will stay with you until the last day
you ever pick up a stick.
Here's a link to a 19 page sample of the book:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...-of-Pool.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0_G3MsS52Bri2UUFraCluG
Sun would use spies to find your house, then send agents to mess with your equipment and poison your water bottle.
he'd put more emphasis on defence than the current standard imo
he'd be good at sharking too
he'd be good at sharking too
In one battle, Sun Tsu took his condemned prisoners and had them lead the first assault. As they approached the other army, the all slit their own throats. THis caused the other army to panic, and Sun Tsu won the day.
I don't know how this would work in pool, due to the blood, gore, guts, and police investigation. But it would throw off the opponent.
the art of a brave heart
I know the book and have read it, sun tsu believed in spying on the enemy to gain a tactical advantage. In pocket billiards ie 14.1 if your good enough you will find by focusing on a well study of practice moves rather than your opponent or opponent's for that matter will be very helpful in the art of winning. My favorite discipline is Straight Pool, unlike like chess or one pocket - where a player often DOES need to consider the opponents next move. it's been my experience that those who enjoy spying on the opponent will often sign up for sharking as well - this is a sure sign of weakness. Much better to focus on what I can do rather than obsessing on what my opponent (or his enemy camp) can try to do. This is not to say that all who play chess and one pocket are spying cowards, i just enjoy the art of total offense and not so much the counter punch big brother deal. The study of war and enemy camps spying on other enemy camps is a non productive pursuit unless your playing chess or one pocket. Also in 14.1 the opposing player cannot try and manipulate the rack at the beginning of each game - as they CAN in One Pocket. 'The good guys don't hide - nor do they need drama'.
I know the book and have read it, sun tsu believed in spying on the enemy to gain a tactical advantage. In pocket billiards ie 14.1 if your good enough you will find by focusing on a well study of practice moves rather than your opponent or opponent's for that matter will be very helpful in the art of winning. My favorite discipline is Straight Pool, unlike like chess or one pocket - where a player often DOES need to consider the opponents next move. it's been my experience that those who enjoy spying on the opponent will often sign up for sharking as well - this is a sure sign of weakness. Much better to focus on what I can do rather than obsessing on what my opponent (or his enemy camp) can try to do. This is not to say that all who play chess and one pocket are spying cowards, i just enjoy the art of total offense and not so much the counter punch big brother deal. The study of war and enemy camps spying on other enemy camps is a non productive pursuit unless your playing chess or one pocket. Also in 14.1 the opposing player cannot try and manipulate the rack at the beginning of each game - as they CAN in One Pocket. 'The good guys don't hide - nor do they need drama'.
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Howdy
I noticed that you thought the art of the 9 ball rack was less predictable than that of the ten ball rack, I respectfully disagree. Of course it is much easier to see that the corner ball in 9 ball is a constant, makes me wonder why you thouight' this? With a normal wooden rack (or plastic) the nine ball rack will send the wing ball to the corner like a deer will look into a spotlight at night. Sometimes it would seem that there are political motivations for keeping the game of 9 ball alive - maybe it's easier to control who can and cannot make the corner ball. Bad vermon.
I noticed that you thought the art of the 9 ball rack was less predictable than that of the ten ball rack, I respectfully disagree. Of course it is much easier to see that the corner ball in 9 ball is a constant, makes me wonder why you thouight' this? With a normal wooden rack (or plastic) the nine ball rack will send the wing ball to the corner like a deer will look into a spotlight at night. Sometimes it would seem that there are political motivations for keeping the game of 9 ball alive - maybe it's easier to control who can and cannot make the corner ball. Bad vermon.
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Not sure what it has to do with this thread, but I do think it a lot easier to make a ball on the break in nine ball than in ten ball, and I didn't suggest otherwise.
That said, though, I noted that the path of five of the ten balls is, more or less, known on a ten ball break (top three and both corner balls) so that, added to the pattern racking that is rampant in ten ball today, the layouts repeat more often in ten ball, and that it makes the game a little less interesting for a fan.
That's my opinion, and you certainly may disagree if you choose.
That is correct.
As a player he would have been a nit, but he’d have been a hell of a stakehorse. Or better yet get him to Captain the US Mosconi Cup team.
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
ok
nope, I understand your thinking - however for me watching the corner ball go time after "" is much less interesting than the say two balls that bank around four rails and rest in same place. I understand that they can pattern rack in 9 ball as too. I guess it was a bit off topic, thanks for the answer. As for the art of wer' I would add that a great positional player will defeat a great tactical player all day.
nope, I understand your thinking - however for me watching the corner ball go time after "" is much less interesting than the say two balls that bank around four rails and rest in same place. I understand that they can pattern rack in 9 ball as too. I guess it was a bit off topic, thanks for the answer. As for the art of wer' I would add that a great positional player will defeat a great tactical player all day.
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Sun Tzu would probably be playing with an ebony nosed Southwest. Being from China, the only game he'll know is 9-ball, Chinese 8-ball and Snooker. No one plays one pocket or straight pool over there, but he's a fast learner. I wonder if he would prefer taking lessons or playing cheap sets.
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Sun Tzu may be the mythical perfect general
Leanings lately are that Sun Tzu never lived but was created to embody the perfect general. Whether he lived or not, his tactics have been studied for hundreds or thousands of years. He would be the wily old player that makes a good game then sets up the young aggressive player to trip over his own toes.
Many gambling matches are won before the first ball is hit. Sun Tzu would be a master at matching up, his major claim to fame. He either found a major advantage before a battle or he didn't fight. He hated an even fight almost as much as one he was overmatched in. If he fought, the advantage was his.
"I match up well, you are a nit!" I have never yet seen somebody calling somebody else a nit when they weren't trying to get them in a bad game. You aren't gonna get ol' Sunny in a bad game so I guess you can call him a nit. Call him what you want, if you play he will end up with the cash!
Hu
Leanings lately are that Sun Tzu never lived but was created to embody the perfect general. Whether he lived or not, his tactics have been studied for hundreds or thousands of years. He would be the wily old player that makes a good game then sets up the young aggressive player to trip over his own toes.
Many gambling matches are won before the first ball is hit. Sun Tzu would be a master at matching up, his major claim to fame. He either found a major advantage before a battle or he didn't fight. He hated an even fight almost as much as one he was overmatched in. If he fought, the advantage was his.
"I match up well, you are a nit!" I have never yet seen somebody calling somebody else a nit when they weren't trying to get them in a bad game. You aren't gonna get ol' Sunny in a bad game so I guess you can call him a nit. Call him what you want, if you play he will end up with the cash!
Hu
I agree Stu. I think he would have been a student of the shot making process.
He would have perfected how he looked at each situation cataloging how to treat each
type of angular shot. When he knew this he would know more about his percentages to
succeed. He would know when to duck because he would know his abilities and he
would be a ferocious safety player with his cue ball setting many traps.