POOL

[durrrr]

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In a bar when on the black, and you don't make contact with it, instant loss?

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yah this also... if you hit 3 rails its not a loss generally (at least w/ bar rules ive heard)

[El Diablo]

durrrr,

Standard bar rules as I've always played in CA/Texas:

"if you scratch (cue into a pocket) the cue needs to be placed anywhere behind the headstring (correct?)"

Yes.

"what if you have one ball left which is also behind the headstring?"

You have to make the cue ball pass the headstring first before hitting your ball.

"Another question is what happens when you hit the wrong ball first (some people say stnd. scratch some say ball in hand anywhere on table)."

Bar rule scratches are generally never ball in hand anywhere on table.

"edit: also safeties... is it true that after you hit a 'target' ball one of either your cue ball or the target ball must either go into the pocket or hit a rail (or another ball) to not be a scratch?"

See offical rules. In bars, if you hit your ball, it's generally not a scratch.

Another bar rules argument comes up when you scratch on the break. Many people play instant loss, but not everyone.

Also, when you have just the 8-ball left, most people play that it is only a loss if you put the 8-ball into the wrong pocket or put the cue ball into a pocket. However, some people play that other scratches (ie: you don't hit the 8-ball first) are also a loss.

Rules on the wall are never a bad idea.

[durrrr]

[ QUOTE ]
"what if you have one ball left which is also behind the headstring?"

You have to make the cue ball pass the headstring first before hitting your ball.

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this just seems dumb to me... ive played where you spot it up (on the dot on other end), but i feel as people get better thats a little too easy.... it sucks having to bank fulltable tho b/c the other guy scratched- seems to make scratching wayyyy too viable of a strategy.

[El Diablo]

durrr,

Yeah. That's how pretty much everyone plays in bar games, though. It can indeed get quite retarded if both people have balls behind the headstring and both scratch on purpose.

[ahnuld]

I find scratching by missing the 8 ball and losing rule to be the most abused in bars.

I just read the instructions for 8 ball. I couldn't find any time where they say ball in hand anywhere on the table, but I had been playing that way at my house forever. Do you guys play ball in hand anywhere as well?

[El Diablo]

ah,

I don't think it's standard to ever play ball-in-hand anywhere in 8-ball. 9-ball, yes.

[kitaristi0]

A pretty common bar rule I've seen is you have to pot the 8 in the opposite pocket of where you potted your last ball. That makes games last a bit longer and gives you more bang for buck. It also sets up some fun tactical warfare type situations when you both only have the black left.

[ QUOTE ]
what if you have one ball left which is also behind the headstring?

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The way I play is as long as the cue ball goes down the table after you hit your shot it's fine. So you could put a ton of backspin on it or just hit it at an angle to cause the cue ball to roll down the table.

[anklebreaker]

[ QUOTE ]
A pretty common bar rule I've seen is you have to pot the 8 in the opposite pocket of where you potted your last ball. That makes games last a bit longer and gives you more bang for buck. It also sets up some fun tactical warfare type situations when you both only have the black left.

[/ QUOTE ]

The opposite-pocket rule is great: more fun, and more betting opportunities if you're tactically decent.

[ohgeetee]

if the table is fairly clear, banking the length of the table isn't usually a difficult task. Put the cue ball anywhere beside the ball you want to hit, and aim half the distance between where the ball is and where you want it to contact, hitting with a bit of follow.

The easiest rule to exploit in bar games is the lack of a safety rule, where you don't have to hit a pocket or rail with the cue ball or target ball after contact. this lets you just kiss your ball on any shot you're snookered on and leave them screwed.

A good friendly/easy to explain rules system is:

call ball and pocket only(no combos, banks, etc. need to be called.)
cue ball or target ball has to hit a rail or go in pocket after contact - scratch if it doesn't
normal scratch results in ball in hand behind the head string
scratch on break is a normal scratch
making 8 on the break is 50/50 instant win or instant loss, in most leagues its instant win.
scratching on the 8 is a loss.

[FeliciaLee]

Post deleted by FeliciaLee