I didn't see a good option

[John Black]

I ran a rack (almost) but got myself stuck like this on the 8-ball shot:

http://CueTable.com/P/?@
4AFGc4BMGE4CChN2DBjS2EVfB2FEJH3GUtB3HYpH4PIEx4kIEx4kbXp3kWUP@

I saw two optoins 1) Give my opponent intentional ball in hand. Probably
not a good idea with this guy and a wide open table. Or 2) Try a kick like
diagramed. It doesn't look hard but the 5 was really close to the 8. Brush
the 5 (which is what I ended up doing!) and the game is lost. Disappointing
end to an almost break and run. In hindsight, instead of going for the kick
as normal, I should have tried to come a little short because if I missed
the 8 short that would at least make him earn the victory by having to run
out vs. handing him a victory by fouling while making the 8. Would any of
you have given intentional ball in hand or is this kick too easy for you to
think twice about?

John Black

[Carter Adams]

Tough leave! I would have considered kicking off of the short rail,
just because of the 5 - don't know if it'd been any better...

~Carter

[Mark0]

Tough layout. I probably would have tried the same thing but the alarm
bells were ringing on the foul loss. Hindsight says, try to screw up his
layout so he has trouble with his run out. But I suspect if he was a good
player he's out anyway. Better to go down trying, right? :D

--Mark0

Author of Secrets to a Perfect Pool Table Recovering Job
http://www.mccauleyweb.com/secrets.htm

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[Billy Bob]

I see a lot of people lose in situations like this. They think they HAVE to
kick at the 8. (You don't have to do anything!)

You can give your opponent ball in hand, however if you are going to do
that...

There is a 3rd option! That is to "muck" up the works first!

Since you're going to give your opponent ball in hand anyway, might as well
study the layout of your opponent's balls. Then shoot ONE OF HIS BALLS into
a position where it creates a cluster or messes things up for him!

Your opponent gets ball in hand, but it is no longer a wide open table.

In this case I don't see anything real easy so far as creating clusters for
your opponent. What I would do though is shoot the opponent's 3 ball very
softly to the side pocket rail so that it would jamb in-between the rail and
8-ball (Preventing the 8 from going into the side pocket) and perhaps
creating a cluster with the 8 and 5 ball. Then of course your opponent would
get ball in hand.

Not a real good solution, but at least your opponent will have to do a bit
of work to win.

Then if all those balls were jammed up, your opponent might be cute, shoot
in one ball calling a safety first. Then your turn and shooting at the 8
will break up the cluster. Of course don't shoot at the 8! Instead pocket
one of your opponent's balls and give him ball in hand (eventually he will
run out of balls to hit with a safety [because you are pocketing them for
him] and he will have to deal with the cluster.

"John Black" wrote in message

[John Black]

In article <7km0beF...@mid.individual.net>, billybo...@yahoo.com
says...

> In this case I don't see anything real easy so far as creating clusters for
> your opponent. What I would do though is shoot the opponent's 3 ball very
> softly to the side pocket rail so that it would jamb in-between the rail and
> 8-ball (Preventing the 8 from going into the side pocket) and perhaps
> creating a cluster with the 8 and 5 ball. Then of course your opponent would
> get ball in hand.
>
> Not a real good solution, but at least your opponent will have to do a bit
> of work to win.
>
> Then if all those balls were jammed up, your opponent might be cute, shoot
> in one ball calling a safety first. Then your turn and shooting at the 8
> will break up the cluster. Of course don't shoot at the 8! Instead pocket
> one of your opponent's balls and give him ball in hand (eventually he will
> run out of balls to hit with a safety [because you are pocketing them for
> him] and he will have to deal with the cluster.

This is well thought out. Thanks.

John Black

[Michael Richardson]

I can't help but beieve you made a good play and have thought about what you
may have done a bit different.
I'll always try to make the shot and go down fighting and do the math later,
such as you did.
I do like the suggestion of creating a mess and giving ball in hand to get a
second chance, but my first instinct is to go for it.
Mike R.

"John Black" <jbl...@texas.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.254ecaea9...@news.eternal-september.org...