What's your favorite pool game?

Question

I just hate the Boston game (regular) My game have always been 9-Ball game!

Answer 1

I prefer nineball by far. It is quick and simple. I gamble a lot and usually stick to eightball or nineball. I prefer nineball for I think its more challenging and less likely that the average opponent will run out the rack. Especially after I give the opponent an excellent "safe." Im just now getting into One-Pocket. Seems pretty good and challenging.

Answer 2

I've played all of it over the last 20 -25 years and I'm not sure what my favorite is they all have their time and place.

8ball is fun and is a good way to kill time, 9ball & 6ball teachs position which helps in 8ball also.

3ball is fun when you have 10 or more people playing, good way to make some decent money without risking much also.

Lately I've gotten into true billards where you run off as many balls as possible, my personal best so far is 118. The break can make or break me in this game, if I can at least get one in on the break I can run the rest.

For people that don't know what I'm talking about in true billards you rack'em then run them til you miss then the other person takes over, if you run all the balls off the table you rack 'em again and keep going til you miss.

This is also the game that most of the greatest pool players played. They might bet 10,000 dollars on who can sink 5000 balls first.

You don't see it anymore but they had a string strung between two columns with buttons on it to keep up with how many balls they had in.

Answer 3

One of the most unique games I've played is bowling.  You make a rack of 10 balls, then break.  From there, you try to make all ten balls.  If you make all 10 without missing once, it's a strike.  If you miss, you get one more try.  If you fail to pocket all ten, then it's like an open frame.  Play this for 10 frames and add up your score.  When you get a better score on the pool table than you do with real bowling, then you know that you know how to play pool.

Answer 4

I think what Sean is referring to is straight pool.  This is my favorite game, as my screen name indicates.  Straight pool is also commonly called "14.1 continuous" or "call shot".  The reason why this is my favorite game is because it is, in my opinion, the best test of overall pocket billiards skill.  There is very little luck involved with straight pool.  The game teaches how to plan ahead, how to break up clusters, how to spot combination shots, speed control, short and long position play, defense, etc.  Most pro players and teachers that I've researched agree that a good straight pool player can pick up any other pocket billiards game.  Straight pool sounds deceptively easy to those who are unfamiliar with it.  Just call any ball in any pocket.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Once you begin to play, you'll understand just how challenging the game really is.  It's hard to explain the feeling you get from running a rack and getting perfect position on your break ball and keeping your run alive.  Straight pool really lets a player get in stroke, in that a player can stay at the table for a long time.  Conversely, the other player can get out of stroke by sitting is their chair for a long time.  It's such a pure game.  I try not to look down on other games, as they all stress different skills.  Yet, straight pool is the true test of a player.  It's seems like the other games are a test of a breaker, or a shot maker, or a long position player, etc.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 5

Straight pool.

It's the hardest game, and unlike other games where you can just be good at one game or the other, if you are a good straight pool player, you will most likely be a good 8-ball or 9-ball player, because those games are easier.

In straight pool, you get 2 specific skills, playing billard shots and breaking up clusters, that make you better at all the other games (esp. 9 ball).

Answer 6

marko polo!

Answer 7

I like playing 3 ball for cash with about 5-10 players.

Answer 8

Geeze, there's only a million games to choose from. I'm new to 9-ball, and it's improving my 8-ball game. It's currently my favorite, too.

Don't forget Cut Throat when you get three people: nobody should be left out.

A little book called "International Tournament Pool"  lists no less than 19 different games, was supplied with my Olhausen table, and is probably widely available.

Lots to choose from. Have fun...

Answer 9

Definitely 9-ball.  It take alot of skill and placement shots.  Being able to setup for the next shot, or analyzing the angles for a quick 9-ball sinker.