A short essay describing two billiards games, Eight Ball and Nine Ball.
Pocket Billiards, specifically Pool games, are a fun, relatively simple, accessible (in the modern era in any case) variety of games that have a long history and strong place in popular culture. While there is an almost infinite variety of types of billiards, which is the general term for any “cue sports” (games played with a cue ball and object balls on a billiards table), this essay will confine itself to the examination of two specific pool games: Eight Ball, and Nine Ball. It cannot be overstated how much variation there is among billiards games. These include Snooker, Russian Pyramid, and Kaisa (however it is important to note that while these are billiards games they are not classified as pool games as they use different equipment and rules). Other pool games include Seven Ball, Ten Ball, Bottle Pool, Bumper Pool, Cutthroat and myriad others. The reason for this essay’s focus on Eight Ball and Nine Ball is that, at least in North America, they are the most commonly played pool games by amateurs and professionals alike.
The oldest documented reference to a pool table was in the possession of Louis XI of France, which had only one pocket in the centre of the table. The origin of the name “Pool” might also be from the French, “poule” meaning chicken, which might have referred to the prize for winning the game. While it is not certain it may also be possible that the game gets its name from betting “pools”, groups of players and spectators who contribute the pooled winnings. Certainly, gambling was likely a regular part of pool games from their inception. The technology, equipment, and rules of the game have all changed dramatically since then, and are so varied and so popular that they continue to do so all the time, almost like a language.
Here in list form is the most basic and fundamental pieces of equipment:
Equipment:
-Table, covered in cloth, approximately 4′ x 8′ including six pockets, four rails, a top/bottom or head/foot-notably the difference in vernacular here between the U.S. And U.K is also actually a reverse in orientation of the table as well, a “foot spot” where the lead ball of a rack of balls in placed which is at the centre of the foot line, that is the line between the second diamond from the head of the table on each side, two cushions, and “diamonds” or other markers that delineate guideposts to aid the player)
-Balls (1-7 “solids”, 8, 9-15 “stripes”)
-Cue
-Chalk
-Bridge (Hand or Mechanical)
-Triangle/Rack
There are many mechanics and game patterns in pool, and some of them overlap. A few of the most relevant will be analyzed below. First, a brief summary of the goals of eight ball and nine ball.
The object of eight ball is to be the first player to pocket the eight ball after first pocketing seven of the fifteen other balls on the table, either the “low balls” or “solids” which are balls one through seven, or the “high balls” or “stripes” which are balls nine through fifteen. The goal of nine ball is significantly different, just one of many examples of the diversity of pool games that exist. In nine ball, both players must always attempt to make contact with the lowest ball on the table, though the goal is to be the player to pocket the nine ball. This results in significantly different dynamics when compared to eight ball, for example the use of combination shots where the object ball is used to sink the nine ball.
Eight ball is more of a race whereas there is more strategy and planning required in nine ball. For example eight ball might require a more aggressive strategy from the player (that being to finish pocketing their object balls and to then sink the eight ball). Nine ball on the other hand requires more consideration of area control because both players are attempting to achieve the same goal.
Sometimes it might be almost if not totally impossible for a player to pocket the lowest ball on the table, in which case they are likely to attempt to make contact with it in a way which will leave the cue ball in a position on the table that likewise prevents the other player from having a chance at pocketing, or even making contact with the object ball (this is the focus loci of the game, from the body to the cue in order to influence the cue ball to pocket an object ball). On the other hand the player must always consider the risk vs. reward that a bad shot might leave a skilled opponent room to win the game, which requires a constant balancing on the part of the player as well as a high degree of cognitive immersion in attempting to successfully aim and “shoot.” Shooting pool is the dominant verb often associated with playing the game, and in the literal sense is a low level mechanic itself that can also be broken down into several others (stance, grip, bridge, stroke follow-through, etc).
The later strategy outlined above is known as, “snookering,” even though Snooker is actually not a pool game (it is played on a bigger table and has different goals and types and numbers of balls which are played). Skill is a big factor in pool, which is one of many factors that makes it fun. No matter how experienced a player is there is always room to get better. It is fair to describe pool as mostly a pure skill game, however as mentioned above there are also aspects of strategy that help result in its mass market appeal. Indeed, while the rules and mechanics of the game vary wildly from region to region, pocket billiards, Pool is an international game. Eight ball in nine ball in particular are popular the globe over, again with various changes to how the game is played corresponding with the various places the game is played.
Some of the appeal of these games, surely, is derived from their symmetry. There is a beautiful symmetry to many aspects of pool, perhaps the most notable of which is that, at least conceivably, any player can win the game on any one of their turns. There is symmetrical player balance in the rules, as well as in the information available to each player during the game. Usually, at all times both players have the same views of the same field, so there is also symmetry in the game giving the players what is also perfect information. In addition, as these games are often played in a social context like a bar or pool hall, there is symmetrical public information as well. In combination with the games predefined goals this further emphasizes the games symmetry and balance.
Besides symmetry, other aspects of the game that make it enjoyable include tension, pacing, puzzle-solving, replayability, and the right level of complexity so that it is easy to learn yet also impossible to ever fully master. It is impossible to explain the basic rules and concepts of nine ball fairly concisely in a paragraph or two, but that will never come close to fully exposing the depth and subtlety of the game that can only be acquired through years of experience, and learning by losing.
The tension in pool is further derived at least in part from the games symmetry as well, at any moment one foul, or one crucial shot can change the game completely. Some tension might also be due to the puzzle solving aspect of the game. On every turn, the player has to solve a geometrical puzzle factoring in trigonometry and physics to manoeuvre balls into pockets. Ultimately, however success is highly dependent on the pure physical skill of aiming and shooting, regardless of how much strategy and calculating one employs. The game is further enjoyable as it offers virtually limitless possibilities not only to how the game is played, but often what exactly the game consists of as well. It is good that pool has all these game patterns going for it, because it is of course entirely lacking in narrative structure to keep the player hooked. Especially in combination with betting, the game can however still contribute to considerable emotional immersion as well.
The game does not feature a very high level of abstraction, as the main and perhaps only high level mechanic is the winning condition. This and its reliance on pure skill are likely what make it such a popular game to bet on as well. It is at its essence a game about competition, about winning. There are several other low-level mechanics like cue ball positioning, “saftey” shots, chalking the cue tip or “button” above the ferule correctly, calling shots, and avoiding fouls.
Fouls in particular play an important part in game balancing here, and include such actions as failing to strike the object ball with the cue ball or pocketing the cue ball by accident, known as a “scratch”, knocking any ball off the table by accident, accidentally touching any ball on the table, and others.
The penalty for these types of fouls is most commonly that the opponent gets “ball in hand” on their next turn, meaning they may place the cue ball anywhere on the table they desire. Some fouls come with more drastic penalties, for example in eight ball, pocketing the eight ball before pocketing all of a player’s object balls results in that player losing the game. As an example again of how differently the game is played from place to place, in some variations of eight-ball, sinking the eight off the break (the first shot of the game) means an instant loss, while in other versions it means an instant win.
Both how eight and nine ball are racked and how the decision as to which player plays first are governed by specific rules, though again their specificity, or even use at all varies widely. In both games, the player to break is often decided not randomly but by a demonstration of skill. Both players shoot a cue ball from the foot line, attempting synchronously to have the ball stop as close to the foot rail (or cushion) as possible. The player to do so may decide who takes the break shot, and there are criteria for successfully completing a break shot as well. In eight-ball, a typical rule is that if not at least four balls make contact with the rails and cushions the opposing player may either then take the break themselves or ask for their opponent to break the rack again. The rack, has certain rules that must be followed depending on the game being played. In eight-ball, the eight ball must be placed in the centre of the rack with the bottom two points of the “triangle” being opposing low/high or stripe/solid balls. Curiously, this is a rare aspect of pool where the location of the object balls after the break shot is basically random.
While this essay has not touched on the subject, pool can of course be a multiplayer game as well. The game’s social relevance can not be overstated. From a friendly game at a local pub to the final shot of an international tournament with a heavy prize purse the game is about interacting with other people. Perhaps this is one reason for its regular appearance in popular culture, for example in movies like The Hustler (1961) which features a character, Minnesota Fats, inspired by a real life figure famous for being one of the most prestigious pool sharks ever. Pool has even become a form of artistic self-expression with the practice of “trick shots”, displays of extreme skill designed to impress rather than to win.
Overall, the symmetry and balance, perceivable margins, pre-defined goals, direct, accurate, and often public information given to the players, strategy, puzzle-solving, most centrally dexterity based action, and perhaps the games low level of abstraction all combine with a multitude of low-level mechanics to create a seemingly simple but endlessly complex game that has been played the world over for hundreds of years. There are currently multiple national and international associations for pool including the Canadian Pool Association (a subsidiary of the American Pool Association, the World Pool-Billiards Associations, and others). While it is impossible to know the true number, certainly millions of players have played or do play the, “gentleman’s game,” the world over.
Timothy Case 