With more than 30 years of experience in pocket billiards, some of my best memories have come during the time spent at the University of Pittsburgh.  I enjoyed a top ten national ranking from 1984 through 1988 with a 3^rd place finish in 1986 at the ACUI National 8-ball Championships held in Athens, Georgia.  When my college eligibility ran out, it was nice to see that representatives from the University of Pittsburgh would still earn their way to the National Championships each year until 1996.

                My playing experience was not limited to tournament play only; it was sometimes witnessed in the social setting of the University of Pittsburgh Greek system.  To many of the students a player of my skill level represented the best they had ever seen.  It was often hard to resist taking on challengers one handed, with out looking, or even with the kitchen mop. (Controlling the shifting weight due to the swinging mop is quite a challenge.  Try it sometime!)

                One evening at the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity house the brothers were lining up to challenge the table.  After controlling the table for a couple of hours, one of the brothers, Bill Guthrie, had nicknamed me îThe Pool Algorithmî.  At first we all laughed, but inside I could not help but think that my fraternity brother, who was a mathematics major, may have been on to something.

                In getting the true appreciation of the meaning of the pool algorithm nickname we must first know the definition of ìalgorithmî.  Referring to your Websterís you will find that an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure, which leads to a solution of a problem.  What Bill saw in my playing that night was my ability to analyze a table, make a plan, execute that plan, with an end result of winning each game.  I would later on organize my thought process in a flow chart and now it is shared with you the reader.

Insert Pool Algorithm Diagram Here

ìMy Turn at the tableî

                Lets start with the ìMy turn at the tableî step of The Pool Algorithm.  Any type of billiard game is unique in the respect to when your turn comes; you have total control of the game.  Your opponent cannot participate until you allow them.  This being stated, we must be as prepared as possible for when it is our turn at the table.

                The first thing we can do is to shoot around on the table we will be playing on.  Whether you are in a tournament, a league match, or partaking in a game with stakes, there is usually time to practice.  If in a tournament setting and the table assignment isnít posted, just ask the director. They usually know how they are orchestrating the event.  In a short time, you should be able to check the speed and quality of the cloth, level of the table, and the rebound of the rails.  All of this information will allow you to make better decisions when needed.

                Secondly, we need to study our opponent by observing their play.  This can be achieved by watching them practice, or in competition prior to your match.  What you are looking for is to measure their ability as a player. Are they an accomplished player, of average skills, or a novice?  Do they shoot certain shots particularly well or are there shots that they have difficulty with?  What is their emotional state?  Do they allow the events of the game as it unfolds affect their play?  All the answers to these questions will also allow you to make better decisions in your upcoming match.

                How many times have you seen some player get angered and distracted by a particular roll of the balls?  How many times have you heard players use the expression of luck?  Luck is when opportunity meets your preparedness.  Even the toughest of rolls does not take your turn away from you.  Remember that you have control of the game while you are at the table.  Take your time to consider your options as you assess the table.

ìAssess Tableî

                Assessment of the table is an important step we all should make a habit of.  Taking some time initially to see how the game can be won will increase your chances of winning the game.  Factors that figure into your assessment are game constraints, identifying troubled balls, and application of the appropriate strategy.

                Game constraints result from the rules for a particular game.  Eight ball has groups of high and low balls to choose from. How these balls are situated after the break is a significant factor with what group you will shoot for.  Nine ball has you shooting the balls in a sequential order.  The lay of the table will dictate the position sought when running out the balls. In straight pool you need to identify the ball to be used to break the next rack and run the other balls while gaining position for the break shot.  These are some examples of why your assessment should consider game constraints.

                Balls grouped close together are one example of troubled balls.  These clustered balls usually have to be separated by devoting a shot to break them out.  Breaking out balls is critical and care must be taken to ensure that a shot will await you as the balls come to rest.  Assessment to be made here is how should the cluster of balls be broke out and what position do you need to make the attempt?  A second decision that will need to be made is whether we attempt the break out at all? More on that later.

                Balls can be in the open and still be trouble because they are difficult to get to.  The simple rule for required cue ball travel is that less is better.  The less movement by the cue ball the less trouble it will find.  Do other balls or plenty of space occupy the area that the cue ball is traveling?  Will your cue ball, in its path of travel, bump and relocate other balls?  These are examples of where and how your cue ball travels can increase the difficulty of a table.

                When you are assessing the table we should be able to find a pocket for each ball that we will shoot. If there is a ball that does not have an obvious pocket then there is a good chance that a low percentage shot is associated with making this ball.  With every shot taken in a game you should always keep one question in mind,  ìWhat shot should you play which will give you the best chance to win the game?î  The options being--Do you reach for the gold and play an offensive shot--Do you play an offensive shot with a built in safety if the shot misses--or do you play a safety and give up control of the table?

                Application of a strategy largely depends on how well you prepared for your game.  You should know your opponent and the table, have considered game constraints, and identified troubled and difficult balls.  Before you have taken your initial turn at the table your mind should already be made up. Indecision will certainly lead to failure.   Your final decision of whether you play for the run-out, play a safety, or run part way to a safety will rest with the confidence you have in yourself.

ìChoose Patternî

                Consider the steps ìChoose Patternî and ìProceeding with Patternî.  A great deal of establishing a pattern comes from the strategy you choose to utilize against your opponent.  There are three different types; 1) Offensive strategy, 2) Run part way strategy or 3) Defensive strategy.

Offensive strategy is used where there is no trouble and the balls which need to be made are within youíre playing ability.  The Run part way strategy is utilized when balls are tied up and safety play is utilized to gain ball in hand or even win the game.  Lastly, the defensive strategy is utilized when the balls to be made exceed your ability of a player.

Part of choosing a pattern in 8-ball is determined by the group of balls that we wish to shoot.  The first thing we should look for is whether the eight ball has an open pocket where it can be made or if it will need to be broken out.  Assuming that the eight ball has an open pocket, we then need to identify the ball of our group we will pocket prior to the eight ball.  How we position ourselves for this ball will start to formulate the sequence of how we run out the table.

For 9-ball, the sequence is already determined by the nature of the way the game is played.  What is left to decide on is the position, which you desire for each shot along the way.  Once again you will need to start with the 9-ball while working your way backwards through the table.  The relationship of the balls with one another will dictate certain positions that can be attained within the pattern.

                Choosing a pattern prior to your first shot is important.  This pattern not only includes the order of the balls you intend to shoot but also the position, which is, required each step of the way.  When developing this pattern work backwards from the winning shot.  See the position that is required and plan the preceding shot.  The best players in the world can envision the entire table from the first shot to the last.  Once you have established your pattern you are ready to precede.

ìProceeding with Patternî

                When proceeding with your pattern there are things to keep in mind:  1) Break out trouble balls early.  2) The less your cue ball moves, the less likely of making an error on position.  3) If at any time during your run out the pattern does not match what you initially visualized, then it may be wise to re-evaluate whether your pattern is still the best option.  Lastly, 4) When developing your pattern in your mind you may recognize a certain shot that requires execution that is beyond your skill level or simply has a low percentage of success.  In this situation, choosing not to run out may be your best option.

In general, when you choose a pattern, you are making a plan.  If at any time you find that youíre execution has put you in a position different from your expectation, then this should raise a red flag as a warning.  At this time it may be best to re-evaluate the lay of the table.  We will visit and expand upon this thought in a later article but it is appropriate to mention it now.

If you choose not to run the table then a safety will need to be played.  At what point in the pattern you choose to execute the safety will depend on what is available and the ability of your opponent.  If more than one opportunity exists, then the safety to choose will be the one, which gives you the best opportunity to win the game.  If youíre creative enough, you can even play a safety, which will force your opponent to improve the position of the table for your return.

Decision between ìPocketing a ballî or ìPlaying a safetyî

We need to discuss the decisions made between ìPocketing a ballî and ìPlaying a safetyî.  The decisions made during these situations can be critical and often determine the outcome of the game.  It is important that you learn to recognize these situations, consider your options, make your decision, and execute the shots.

                We will need to first understand why these situations occur.  Secondly, we need to be aware of the factors which affect the decision making process.  And finally, we will discuss how to give you the best chance of winning when faced with particular situations.  Let us now review the reasons in which we find ourselves in this position.

                Your opponent can place you in this position either deliberately or accidentally.  Some positions can be so difficult that your chances of pocketing a ball are limited to making a good hit.  Following your opponents every move during their inning will mentally prepare you when your turn comes.  Paying attention to your opponentís moves and mannerisms will allow you to anticipate their thinking.

You can find yourself needing to make a decision at any time during your inning if your execution does not meet your plan.  We discussed patterns last time.  Every step of the pattern you set has a required position for the balls on the table.  At a given step the table should be as you expected, otherwise, chances are you have reached a point where you will need to make a decision.

There are certain factors that must be considered when you reach a situation requiring a decision.  The first thing to be aware of is the equipment.  How has the table been playing?  Is the cloth fast or slow?  Are there any dead spots on the rails?  Are there any tight spots around the table?

You should know the ability of your opponent.  What is their skill level?  Are there certain shots that they have difficulty with?  If you give up ball in hand, is your opponent good enough to run out the table?  Are you in a position where three consecutive fouls are possible?

Lastly, you should have an appreciation for the importance of the moment.  Is this the game in which the match is decided?  Is this a pivotal game in the match where the momentum can swing?  Do you have a large lead? Or are you trailing in the match?  We should always be playing to win.  Remember that when you are at the table the game is in your control.  The particular shot that we will execute may not be the same in every circumstance.  Lets consider some examples.

For instance, any time you can execute a shot, which allows you to pocket a ball but leave your opponent safe, if you miss will be to your advantage.  These are called two-way shots and come into play when the match is tight, or your opponent is better skilled than you.

If your opponent does not or has not exhibited the skill to win the game from the current position, then you can be aggressive.  The shot your willing to take in this situation can have a higher degree of difficulty but one that is within your ability.

If a clean shot is not possible you will need to kick to make a good hit.  Your ability to kick and hit the ball in a manner, which you will leave your opponent difficult, is desired.  Depending on your opponentís ability giving them ball in hand could be disastrous.  Some times the best shot is to give up ball in hand and use the shot to leave your opponent a difficult out.

Succeeding when faced with making the correct decisions usually happens when you keep your head in the game.  When faced with these decisions consider all your options.  Considering the game situation along with the ability of both your opponent and yourself.  The best option will be the shot that will give you the best chance to win.

ìPocketing a ballî thru ìExecute Shotî

                Last time we discussed the decision between ìPocketing a ballî and ìPlaying a safetyî.  Now we will focus on the steps from ìPocketing a ballî to ìExecute shotî.  Even though the shots differ from one to another this process remains the same.

                The first step of this process is ìWhat shot will we play next?î  In our previous articles we mentioned and covered the step of ìChoose Patternî.  Since we already at this point of the algorithm know what our pattern is, then we must already know what shot we will play next.  This shot, which we will play, has an expected position associated with it.

                In addition to knowing the shot we will play next, we also know from what point on the table where we would like our cue ball to come to rest.  In essence, we know both the starting and finishing point of the cue ball.  Studying the lay of the table will allow you to recognize the possible paths, which the cue ball can travel to reach your expected position.

                When trying to choose the best path for my cue ball to travel I like to visualize a pie wedge shaped area.  How do we find this pie wedge?  Pick a spot on the table where we would like the cue ball to come to rest.  This spot represents the center of our cue ball before executing our next shot.  From that point imagine a straight line to the position of our cue ball at the time of collision with our next shot.  If we rotate this line about the cue ball position at the time of collision, then you will begin to see the pie wedge area.

                If we choose a position close to the object ball we intend to shoot next, then the area will be small and will require perfect speed on our shot.  If we can choose an area further away, then our area will grow.  Remember also that as our area for cue ball position grows our distance between the cue ball and our next shot also increases.  Being able to visualize the pie wedge area for your next shot in addition to knowing your limitations will help you to identify the cue ball path to set up your next shot.

Once you have decided what path your cue ball should take then the required cue ball English and stroke will become obvious.  For those of you which may not be aware of the terminology, which I have chosen, let me further define.  Think of English as where the cue tip strikes the cue ball on a given shot.  Think of stroke as the force in which the cue tip impacts the cue ball on a given shot.  The combination of English and stroke on the shot controls respectively the direction and speed of the cue ball.  The more we practice, the more often our execution will result in the cue ball traveling the desired path to the desired position.

Fundamentally speaking, there are some things, which we should be aware of prior to shooting.  We need to be set in our stance and have a firm bridge.  Establish our point of aim by visualizing the cue ball at the point of collision.  Cross check your aim by repeated stroking of your cue stick prior to execution.  Donít rush; be deliberate, while finding a rhythm.  If the shot pushes the envelope of your ability, then take a deep breath, and remember that you only have to make it once.

ìPlaying a Safetyî thru ìExecute shotî

                Last time we discussed ìPocketing a ballî to ìExecute Shotî.  Now we will cover the steps from ìPlaying a Safetyî to ìExecute shotî.  It will be best if we define what a safety is before we talk about the different types and when we should consider using them.

                The purpose of utilizing a safety is to increase your chances of winning the game. Playing a safety puts your opponent at a disadvantage with the expectation that your execution will result in returning to the table in a better position than when you left.  With this thought in mind there are basically four different types of safeties.

The first type, which is the most common, is where you only control the position of the cue ball when executing the shot.  After identifying the position in which you wish to leave (or as we refer to ìHideî) the cue ball you must identify the path which the cue ball will take to get to this point.  Usually when a cue ball is hid it will come to rest behind another object ball which will force your opponent to either kick or masse around the object ball to make a good hit.  The closer you can position the cue ball to the object ball the more difficult you will leave your opponent.  If you are able to freeze the cue ball on the object ball, this will force your opponent to kick at least two rails to make a good hit.

The next type of safety is where you will need to control the position of the cue ball and the object ball in which you are playing the shot off of.  This by its description is certainly a more difficult shot to execute and usually is utilized when few balls are left on the table or no hiding places are available.  For this shot the primary goal is to position the cue ball and the object ball where you want them with the secondary goal to increase separation between the two balls.

The third type of safety is an intentional foul.  There are times where moving the object ball or balls on the table will put you in worst position then letting your opponent shoot with the table as is.  This should be a last resort for you do not wish to give yourself a foul (Which normally means ìCue Ball in Handî for your opponent) unless it will provide you the best chance of winning the game.

The last type of safety requires a bit of imagination.  This safety positions the cue ball where you force your opponent to shoot at the ball or group of balls, which you wish for them to relocate.  This position should leave your opponent with difficulty.  It could even leave your opponent with a chance to pocket a ball?  The end result of your plan is that the difficulty left for your opponent will ultimately return you back to the table.  The beauty of this type of safety is that if it is set-up and executed properly, then your opponent will improve the lay of the table for your return.

In general, the decision to play a safety before pocketing a ball should provide you with the best chance of winning the game.  Any time that you choose to put your opponent at the table you will risk giving them a chance to win the game.  Knowing your opponentís strengths and weaknesses will play a significant role in the type of safety you will play.

                Before we can execute any safety we will need to know what position we will want for the cue ball and object ball we will play off of.  Fundamentally speaking, the act of shooting a safety is no different then shooting a ball with the intent to pocket it.  For the steps ìWhat position do we want?î ìWhat English and stroke do we use?î and ìExecute shotî refer to the section on ìPocketing a ballî. 

ìWas our shot successful?î ìProceed with patternî and ìCongratulationsî

                There are two things, we strive for when executing a given shot: 1) Pocket the ball and 2) Obtain the desired position when our cue ball comes to rest.  When we talk about our shot being successful we need to appreciate that there are degrees of success.  In our worst case scenario the shot could be missed and we miss our desired position.  In the best scenario we would pocket the ball and gain the desired position for our next shot in accordance with our chosen pattern.

                Let us first consider the result where our shot was not successful because it was missed.  By missing the shot we have lost control of the table and we will have to ìWait for our next turnî.  No matter how good of a player we become we will not make all of our shots.  Over time we can recognize those, which give us difficulty and plan our cue ball position with this in mind.

We can look for positions, which allows us to continue on our pattern while leaving our opponent safe depending on the outcome of the shot.  These are commonly referred to as two-way shots.  They can increase your confidence in shooting those difficult shots and by leaving your opponent safe you will increase the chances to return to the table if you fail to pocket the ball.

                In the situation where our opponent has left us safe and the likely hood of making a ball has been diminished we still need to apply this philosophy.  However we choose to execute the next shot, masse, kick, or jump over the ball which is obstructing us, we will need to choose the shot which will leave our opponent the most difficulty.  Every shot we attempt is an opportunity to improve our chances to win the game and this should be constantly on our mind.

                Now let us look at if we pocketed the ball.  If it is the ball, which wins the game then ìCongratulationsî are in order.  And unless you have scratched in the execution of this shot the position reached afterward is meaningless.

                If the ball we pocketed was a part of our attempt to run out the game, then we need to ask ourselves ìIs the table as we expected?î  I referenced in previous articles of the ìChoosing a Patternî step.  The pattern, which you choose is your point of reference and this step, allows you to consider if your existing pattern is still the best for you to pursue.  Simply stated, if the table is as we expected then you could proceed with your pattern and the execution of the next shot.

                If the table is not as you expected then it is good that you move back to the ìAssess Tableî step.  Any difference in the position of your cue ball or the object balls with respect to your intended pattern should raise a red flag in your mind to recheck the pattern.  How many times have you seen shooters just run a number of balls off the table only to stop their run with a ball that has been in trouble from the moment they started their inning.  This is an example of a shooter without a pattern in mind.

                There can also be times when circling the table during your inning gives you a different perspective even when the balls in the expected position.  Even though the balls are physically located where you expected it would be good to assess the table.  You do not want to have more than one pattern in mind.  Assess the table, decide on the best pattern, and then proceed with your pattern.

ìThe Pool Algorithmî shows though shots and positions may change, or even the game could be different, there is a repetition of our thought process in how we approach our execution.  Presenting ìThe Pool Algorithmî in a flow diagram just illustrates this thought process of how we should approach a given table of a given game.  If your table is the problem, which needs to be solved, then this step-by-step procedure is what can lead you to the solution.

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