The Rule on the Black

[red_ice]

Was playing pool with a new bunch of lads last night and we started getting whopped.

They were on the black which was positioned on the edge of the pocket, we had 4 balls on the table.

I hit the white at a slight angle against the cushion (10:00 to 2:00), hitting the inside of my ball, pushing it up in front of the black, the white bounced and hit another ball right up against the black. the white rolled out to center table. The shot was played exactly how i wanted it.

I forced a basic rule of the game, one which in every circle of players i've played against has never been contested. 3 strokes on the black = lost game. The other team said i was making up rules and it got so heated that one of the other players was about 2 inches from my face calling me a liar, saying that i was making stuff up to suit my game.

the point im making is, do you play that rule? I honestly feel that i played the perfect shot in that scenario. The only way they could pot the black was through my balls, i had 2 other balls to play on the table which if they played left them with 3 foul strokes and a lost game.

[mickdw]

There does seem to be different rules played in different parts of the country. Its fine when playing with your own gang but when mixed with different people it can get stupid.

[celticfc]

I've never heard of this "rule" & I'd be of the same opinion as the people that the OP was playing against.

However, there may well be some official variation of pool with that rule.

The problem with pool (8 ball anyway) is that it has so many different variations, people get mixed up with the rules of each. Because of this many people make up their own type of house rules (some very strange) and others then presume that it's the proper way of playing etc., and it just goes on from there.

I've seen it happen so many times that it just gets ridiculous.

[celticfc]

Just noticed something...

In the poll it says 3 fouls on the black and in your post it says 3 strokes, which is it?

[red_ice]

Originally Posted by celticfc

I've never heard of this "rule" & I'd be of the same opinion as the people that the OP was playing against.

So you think that they can just play my teams balls 3 times forcing us to get two shots, and leaving us to have to play the black?

How would you end that situation? These rules make the game flow, not linger. Theres nothing more annoying than a game thats going nowhere.

What would you do in that situation?

[Michael Collins]

I have heard of the "rule", most people play that way in my experience. I myself don't play it as I try to stick as close as possible to the official 8-ball rules, and as far as I know there's no such rule in the official game.

Could you not have used your two shots to try and remove your ball from the vicinity of the pocket (cushin first if necessary)?

If you really think about it, it isn't a great "rule". The other player had nearly won, and you turned it into a situation whereby he couldn't win - which isn't really fair.

[red_ice]

apologies - fouls on the black

[ArmaniJeanss]

Is there not a set of printed 'house rules' where you play?

To answer your question I've never heard of nor played that rule, and in the situation you've described I would declare a 'stalemate/rerack' as it appears that neither side can win the game.

By the way you shouldn't assume that the rules you play are the 'correct rules', as there are about *846 variations of pool rules in this country.
My favourite was a country pub where you had to pot the black into the opposite pocket to where you'd potted your last spot/stripe, and they genuinely seemed to think that this was the correct rule.


* rough guess !

[Michael Collins]

Originally Posted by ArmaniJeanss

...My favourite was a country pub where you had to pot the black into the opposite pocket to where you'd potted your last spot/stripe, and they genuinely seemed to think that this was the correct rule...

Ha, what a crazy rule. Very much designed to help the weaker player.

[Bryn]

I've heard of that rule on the black about the 3 fouls, and anybody I have played in the last few years knew it aswell!

[Rowley Birkin QC]

I've heard of it aswell but never seen it enforced or had anyone try to use it in a game I've played.

[arnhem44]

heres a link to the Irish pool associations website showing the rules

http://www.irishpoolassociation.ie/Rules.htm

[red_ice]

Originally Posted by ArmaniJeanss

To answer your question I've never heard of nor played that rule, and in the situation you've described I would declare a 'stalemate/rerack' as it appears that neither side can win the game.

By the way you shouldn't assume that the rules you play are the 'correct rules', as there are about *846 variations of pool rules in this country.
My favourite was a country pub where you had to pot the black into the opposite pocket to where you'd potted your last spot/stripe, and they genuinely seemed to think that this was the correct rule.


* rough guess !

Im not assuming that my rules are correct. The rules i play with make sense and make for a fairer more tactical game thats all. A stalemate/rerack is imo a waste of time when if said rule is enforced it means both teams have to play a good game to win.

[ArmaniJeanss]

Originally Posted by red_ice

A stalemate/rerack is imo a waste of time when if said rule is enforced it means both teams have to play a good game to win.

In the situation you've described its impossible for your opponent to win (if as I understand it you've got the black surrounded such that he can't hit it ?).

So how can your opponent now 'play a good game to win'?

Out of interest I don't see anything in the link posted by Arnhem to suggest that this rule is in the IrishPoolAssociation rules (I've searched the link for 'three' and '3' and haven't spotted it?)

[arnhem44]

The first thing about the Irish Pool Associations website is its the official rules if you were playing in a tournament,these rules come from the World Pool Assosciation,if you look on the link and look up the impossible shot then it will tell you what should be done in the senario of the original posters opponents dilema.Its widely known that theres many variations in the rules wherever you go.As we all know rules vary up and down the country when it comes to club or pub play and lets face it most of us have come upon these problems at some stage.Right been right there should be a poster up on the wall stating the rules to save any agro afterwards.As I said there is rule variations and here is something I found on Wiki just to add to the confusion


Three-foul rule

In Irish standard pool and English billiards, it is a loss of game if a player commits a third foul while shooting at the black.