The Newsy Neighbour
January Issue #111
Article provided by: Kathryn Hartwell
When was the last time you heard it called billiards? Maybe
if you live in Britain or France they may still call it that, but here in
Canada I have never heard anyone call it anything but, “A game of Pool”. But
pool has a very long and distinguished history and originally was developed by
Kings and Nobleman. It evolved from a lawn game similar to croquet played
sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe and France. They moved it
indoors to a wooden table with green cloth to simulate grass; a simple border
was placed around the edges. The balls were shoved, rather than struck, with
wooden sticks called "maces." Then the cue stick was developed in the
late 1600’s.
There are many ways to play pool
and many different types of games and if you have ever played in a pool league,
you will find everyone seems to have their own interpretation of the rules! The
most common game, 8-Ball, is a call shot game played with 15 object balls. One
player must pocket balls of the group number 1 through 7 (which are the solid
colours), while the other player has numbers 9 through 15 (striped balls). The
first to pocket all the balls of either group and finish by legally pocketing
the 8-ball wins the game!
Nine-Ball is played with nine
object balls numbered one through nine. On each shot, the first ball (the cue
ball) contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table. A match ends when
one of the players has won the required number of games.
One Pocket is a unique game in which only two of the
six pockets are employed for legal scoring. Any ball may be played and need not
be called. What is required is that an object ball falls in the player's
"target" pocket. The object of the game is to score a total of eight
object balls in a player's target pocket before the opponent.
Cut-throat is a great game to play in social
situations. It is a perfect game when an odd number of players are
participating. The object of the game is to pocket your opponents' balls before
the opponents pocket your group of balls.
There are many, many other pool games but for the purpose of
this article we just don’t have enough time to go into them all. One point that
is important to make is that the etiquette of this game is very important to
pool players. Have you ever seen a bar fight over a pool game? The game should
be played for fun and enjoyment and a little etiquette can go a long way
towards insuring that everyone has a good time.
Some bars can be a rowdy place to play pool,
especially when the alcohol has been flowing freely. Try these tips to avoid
problems -
Avoid putting
your quarters down on the table when someone is shooting. This can break a
player's concentration and will not be appreciated.
Keep close track
of your place in line on a busy pool table. This will prevent someone from
jumping in front of you and you won't miss your turn when it comes up.
Keep your
attention on the game. Nothing is more aggravating than having to chase down
your opponent when it's his turn to shoot.
Play by the
rules of the local establishment. Different places may have slightly different
rules to the games, so make it your business to learn these and avoid problems
later.
Pool tables,
cues, and other equipment are expensive. Treat them gently so they won't be
damaged.
Never place
drinks or food on the rails of the table. One slip and the cloth can be ruined.
Avoid sitting or
leaning heavily on the rails when shooting. This may upset the level of the
table or scratch the finish of the wood. If you can't easily reach a shot, use
the bridge.
Be careful with
chalk. Hand chalk should be applied away from the table and cue chalk should
never be placed upside down on the rails where it will make a mess.
Cue sticks
should be racked after use to prevent them from warping and from falling on the
floor.
Avoid loud
talking or making noise when someone is shooting. Good pool playing requires
concentration and concentration requires as little noise as possible.
When your turn
is over, move away from the pool table to give your opponent free access to
inspect the layout and room to shoot.
Don't stand by
the pocket your opponent is aiming at - this is very distracting. As a matter
of fact, it is best to try to stay completely out of your opponent's field of
vision if possible.
It's just good
form to congratulate your opponent on a well-played game whether you win or
lose. It costs nothing to do, and spreads good will and friendship in a world
where more of both is welcome.
And, possibly
the most important point to remember, is that most league or other serious
players have their own personal pool cue. It is only being respectful that a
person is asked first if it is OK for you to handle their pool cue. It is one
thing to admire and it is another thing to touch!
And finally,
pool can be healthy for you; beer and billiards have become a very popular way to
socialize (better than being a couch potato!). You will probably find a pool
league in most bars. Think about it, there
is a surprising amount of walking involved in a round of pool: a typical
2-hour 8-ball game often provides 100 trips around the table’s perimeter, which
is about equal to walking nearly three-quarters of a mile. Playing
multiple games of pool will stack up these distances and burn even more
calories!
Playing
pool can be a lot of fun and anyone can do it – get out there and have some FUN!
Kathryn
Hartwell
References:
thebillardsshop.com, generationpool.com and pool-and-pocket-resource.com
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