Figuring out your pattern in a game of Eight Ball presents a few more challenges than in Nine Ball, in which you know which ball you must shoot to hit. On the other hand, in Eight Ball you’ll have options for shots that you won’t have in Nine Ball, giving you a bit more latitude in your pattern selection. As a result, a great deal more strategy is involved in Eight Ball. You might have a choice of six or seven balls of your group (stripes or solids) to shoot at, but there’s always the one right shot that will lead to the most productive run-out, breakout, or eventual safety attempt.
Pattern play in Eight Ball is also a matter of timing—of knowing when to run out.
This is where thinking backward plays heavily. You’ll more readily know when you have a pattern to work with, or if you will need to play safe, break out a cluster, or create trouble balls for your opponent before continuing your run.
Begin your Eight Ball rack by figuring out where you want to play the 8-ball. Is it in a good spot or tied up? In the center of the table or on a rail? Then pick your key ball that will get you to this ball. If there are trouble balls, try to get to those as soon as possible, but exercise caution in this area. You’re not trying to hit the clustered balls too hard. If you head into them with too much force, you’ll likely end up creating a cluster somewhere else on the table. Instead, your plan will be to open them up to have a shot at each of the balls in the cluster.
Smart Eight Ball players will also attempt to have a safety ball positioned near a pocket or hung in the pocket. Even with a great breakout plan, sometimes the
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Figure 7.3 In this rack there are two key shots to get you on the right side of each ball.
unexpected can happen. Balls can freeze up against each other, or the cue ball might get stuck between them. With a safety ball, once you send the cue ball into the cluster, you’ll have something to shoot at if you didn’t end up with a good shot after breaking up the cluster.
Let’s take a look at a couple of Eight Ball racks that demonstrate these skills. In figure 7.4, you have solids. The 4-ball is tied up with the 13 and 14 balls in your opponent’s group of balls, but you’re still in a fine position for the run-out. Don’t shoot the 3-ball or the 5-ball first, even though they’re attractive
shots at first glance. Instead you’ll want to shoot the 6-ball in the side pocket.
With this shot you have a natural angle on the 6-ball to go into the cluster. Don’t head into the cluster with too much force because this could create other clus-ters and compound your problem. The real advantage of this table layout is that you have two safety balls: the 3-ball and 5-ball. Should you get stuck somewhere in the cluster, you’ll still have a shot at one of these balls. The remainder of your run-out will then depend on the resulting position of your 4-ball. Give this rack a try and see what works for you.
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3
4
5 6
8
13 11 14
Figure 7.4 Running an Eight Ball break with the use of safety balls.
Eight-Ball wizard Dave Matlock is known for playing clever patterns that keep him at the table.
photo by Jerry Forsyth
In figure 7.5 you have an Eight Ball table layout in which your opponent, despite a powerful break shot, has pocketed nothing, leaving you with an open table. This means you have the luxury of choosing whether to play the solids or stripes. The cue ball has been left in a most advantageous position in the center of the table.
Which group do you choose?
To decide, you must establish a pattern before you shoot your first shot. Are there any problem areas on the table? First, notice that the 15-ball is tied up for the upper-right corner pocket because of the impeding 6-ball. Worse, the 9-ball can’t be made in either corner, with the 6-ball blocking the right side and the 8-ball blocking the left. Because you can’t see the 9-ball in any pocket, your most prudent move is to take the solids.
If you plan to run this rack, take the 6-ball early so you can pocket the 3-ball in the same pocket later. If you don’t plan to run out, leave the 6-ball as a blocker for the 15 and 9 balls, creating problem areas for your opponent.
Let’s assume you do plan to run out. The pattern is relatively simple: Pocket the 2-ball, then the 6-ball, and swing down table between the 6-ball and the rail to shoot the 1-ball in the corner. Then play the 4-ball in the other corner, and swing up to shoot the 7-ball straight in the side. This will give you a straight-in 5-ball in the corner, followed by the 3-ball in the other corner. When you play the 3-ball, use follow on the cue ball to roll up for a shot on the 8-ball in the left corner.
What happens if you absolutely cannot run out? Figure 7.6 illustrates a rack that can’t be run. Though it’s unlikely you’ll face a rack quite this tough, you will see racks with two or three clusters involving your group of balls. This is when it’s prudent to plan a safety pattern. The best safety for our rack in figure 7.6 is to send the cue ball into the 5-ball (allowing either the 5-ball or the cue ball to contact the cushion for a legal hit). With a gentle hit, this shot will still loosen the 15-ball from this cluster while leaving no good shot at either group of balls. Your opponent will be forced to counter with a safety of his or her own.
2 Figure 7.5 Which group would you choose in this Eight Ball rack?
Keep in mind that when you’re forced to plan a safety or series of safeties, it helps to slowly break up clusters with each subsequent shot. In this way, you’ve given your safety play a plan, continuing to maneuver the object balls into a favorable position for the eventuality of an offensive opportunity.
If your opponent is knowledgeable about the game, you can assume he or she will be doing the same things, with the same intentions. In this case, you’ll most likely engage in a safety battle in which the more patient player has the edge. Don’t take a risky shot out of boredom or a misconception that you’re not accomplish-ing anythaccomplish-ing proactive in the game. Continue to plan your eventual pattern and strategy. Far too many games are lost because a player tires of what seems like an interminable waiting game.