Bob Jewett's Cut-Throat Article
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+TECH TALK+ BY Bob Jewett MORE THE MERRIER III Cutthroat is a starting point, but there are plenty more options. N MY last article, I mentioned scotch ball, he could continue at the table with doubles, a game for two pairs of play• Summary of Rules for a chance to clear all the balls and win Iers with the players on a team alter• the game. We also played cutthroat as nating innings. At the Mosconi Cup in a scored game, with the winner getting London last December, this idea was one point for each of his balls left up at taken to the limit with the 10 players CUTTHROAT the end. The winner of the game breaks from both teams taking turns shooting in the next. in the first match of the competition. I 3 PLAYERS, 15 BALLS: I think it's clear that cutthroat loses its think it worked quite well to introduce Each player has a group charm if any player is likely to run 10 the players to the audience. It was in• of five balls (1-5. 6-10, balls, or even clear off one group from teresting to see the interaction between 11-15). Your goal is to sink the break. If a runout is not viable, the two main strategies become the two- the players — all of them champions your opponents' balls while — when deciding what position to play against-one game and bumping your for the following player. Of the otheT keeping yours on the table. group to safer areas of the table. When matches, about half were in the doubles not shooting, you can try to persuade format, and the pairings added to the GROUP DECISION: The the shooter that the third player's balls atmosphere of the event. first player to make a ball are well disposed for annihilation. Here are some more fun games for chooses her group, then There are at least two multi-player more than two. the next player to pocket a games that use three-cushion billiards as their basis. "Box Billiards" is de• Three is generally an awkward num• ball chooses. ber for a game of pool. It is not really scribed in Robert Byrne's "Wonder• enough for a ring game, and most games ful World of Billiards." More common WIDE OPEN: There's no are based on two players or two teams. where I played was "fifth billiard," The game of Cutthroat is an excellent call-shot and any object which can be played by any number of game for three friends of roughly equal ball may be struck first. players. The rules are the same as for ability if there is little chance that any• three-cushion with the players shooting one will run the table. There are several FOULS HURT: When a play• in order, each scoring as many points as versions of the rules; I'll cover the way er fouls, each opponent possible in his inning. Score is kept on a common string or counter, and whoev• we used to play it many years ago at the spots a ball (thus, a previ• Cal Rec Center. er scores point number 5 wins one unit ously eliminated player can The balls are divided into groups, like from each of the other players. Points 8-balI, with 1-5 belonging to one player, return). 10, 15, 20 and so on are similarly remu• 6-10 to another and 11-15 to the last. nerative. The problem with this scoring is that no one will want to score the The goal is to keep your balls on the LAST ONE STANDING?: first point of a set of 5, so a multiplier table and sink the other two groups of The winner is the last is added: any point scored in a run of 5 balls. Rack the balls with one of each player to have a ball or or more is paid double. This encourages group on the corners. Choose the or• balls on the table. everyone to play aggressively. If you der of play by any agreeable method. make a run of six with scoring points The game begins with an open (smash) on each end, it's doubled to 4 points. break. There is no call shot and any ball balls is spotted, so it's possible for a pre• The traditional bead scoring strings are may be struck first. If you make a ball, viously eliminated player to return to very convenient for this game, as each you continue at the table. the game. If all of a group is already on fifth bead is normally a different color, When a player makes his first ball, the table, nothing spots for that group. and a quick glance at the beads tells you he chooses which group of balls be Any ball pocketed on an illegal shot or how far away your next payday is. his. The last player to make a ball has jumped off the table is spotted as long no choice, of course. You continue to as it doesn't belong to the fouler. Normally in ring billiard games, an shoot in the starting order, but if all of The last player to have a ball or balls incoming player will take as his cue ball a player's group is gone, he doesn't get a still on the table is the winner. We whichever ball was not the shooter's cue turn. When a player fouls, the penalty played by the additional rule that if a ball on the previous shot. This is known is that one of each of his opponents' player happened to pocket his own last as the "still ball" option, using still in 26 BILLIARDS DIGEST | February 2011 the sense of motionless. An alterna• by agreement within each team as the advantages over the traditional style. tive is the "optional cue ball" option in need for a shooter comes up. At first I First, you use the standard rules of nine which the incoming player may choose thought this would lead to confusion ball. You can and should play safe as ap• which cue ball he wants to use for that and arguments, but there was never any propriate, and a good safe is rewarded inning. A big advantage of optional ball problem. For strategy, I suppose you with ball in hand for your team. Also, is that there is almost no way to play de• could put up the weakest player for a the teams are constantly rearranged, so fense and the game moves along faster. shot that is either easy or impossible, you are not stuck in a bad position for Last October 1 had the pleasure of vis• but in practice the person nearest the long. It is easy to take a short break by iting what may be the nicest pool room shot who hasn't shot yet probably takes just not flipping at the start of a game in the U.S. — Fargo Billiards in Fargo, the shot. and getting back in when a later game N.D., which is a past winner of the BD's Scoring is a little different. Let's say is starting. annual Best New Rooms contest. Host you are playing for jelly beans. Each As with any ring game, whether a new and owner Mike Page introduced me player on the losing team pays one jel• player can get in is up to the majority to a new format for ring 9-ball he calls ly bean to each player on the winning in the game, but the usual advantage "Fargo Flip." The game can be played by team. If Heads wins with four players of a strong player is well diluted by the three or more players, but 1 think it is on the team and Tails has two players, Scotch format. There is little reason to best for four to eight. The rules of play each of the Tails puts four jelly beans on exclude a champion if the stakes are not are the same as for tournament 9-ball, the table, and each Head picks up two excessive. Let Johnny, Shane or Efren including safeties, ball in hand for fouls, jelly beans. If there is only one player play — coaching is allowed and you and three fouls for loss of game. Each on a team, he has a lot to win or lose might learn something. rack begins with each player flipping a while the players on the opposing team If you have any other ring game for• coin to determine teams. The Tails play are only risking a single jelly bean. Be• mats I haven't covered, please send the Heads with the Tails breaking. fore you flip, you should make sure that them to me at [email protected] The rotation of play is the same as you have at least as many jelly beans in and they may appear in a future col• scotch doubles, so the players on a your pocket as there are other players umn. I've already received a couple of team take one shot each in turn until in the game. suggestions prompted by the first col• a miss or foul. The order is determined This form of ring 9-ball has several umn in this series. February 2011 BILLIARDS DIGEST 27 .