What’s your favorite billiards game?
There are many different types of billiard games. The two most popular games in billiards are Eight Ball and Nine Ball. These are followed by Cut Throat and One Pocket. Snooker is up there pretty high as well depending on which country you live in.
There is another game played here in the US known as Straight Pool or Fourteen and One. This used to be the most popular game. This game takes a long time to play and involves clearing many racks to end one game. This could cause a game to last a very long time. (Especially if the players in the game miss often.)
I think Eight Ball became the most popular game because of the bar room tables. There are 15 balls and all of them are used in the game. A game consists of one rack and can be completed in a reasonable time frame. (I have seen some long games with players who can’t make a ball.)
Serious pool players like to play One Pocket for money. This is definitely a game of strategy. The game uses all fifteen balls and each player has one of the bottom corner pockets. The game ends when a player legally pockets 8 balls in his or her pocket. You will usually see more defensive shots than offensive shots in One Pocket.
Straight Pool (14 and 1) is still a popular game with serious pool players. This billiards game will make a player out of you. Players shoot any ball in any pocket. (Call pocket, no slop) The last ball is left on the table and the cue ball stays in position. When a new rack begins, that last ball needs to be pocketed and the rack needs to be broken with the cue ball on the same shot.
