THE REAL BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 4

THE REAL BILLIARDS.

SOME OF ITS HUMOUR. [By Old Hand.] Even ill Wellington the game of billiards requires tlio subtlety of a Russian diplomat and tlio assurance of a racecourse tipster. A successful player is one who manages to let liiß opponents pay for nino out of every ten games ho plays, and lie can only do this by following tlio rules and advice hero given. It is necessary in the first place to bo a good hand at romance. Two friends who havo not mot for sorao time invariably begin a gamo as follows: —A remarks as ho dusts last night's billiard chalk off his coat: "I'm out of form, old chap, haven't played a gamo for months,'' and B, who lias played every night lor weeks, and has improved 81) or-40 in 100, replies: "I don't play much, old follow, and I'm worse than I was a year ago." Then each tries his absolute best to win and to prove how different he is to what ho said lie was. Tho writer onco heard an old clubman remark:. "In playing billiards you say things detrimental to yourself and tlion try your best to prove yourself a liar." In commencing to play au opponent whom you can easily beat on level terms, it is advisable to ask for a good start. This flatters him, and you generally got off by not having to concedo him points. When you have won the gamo tell him that he lias hard, exceedingly hard linos, and that you have had all tho flukes. This soothes him and keeps liim from asking for a 6tart in the next gamo. It is as well whon you have let liim in for a fow games to proposo playing half-board. Xlien you can let him win onco or twice, and ho will soon resume playing as before, tl)c losor to pay for tlio table. Another useful hint is: Always.keep your eyes on the marker. It is common and low, when marking tho gamo yourself, to make mistakes at your own advantage, and 110 successful .player does it. But if you have a niarkor, and he makes a mistake (which sometimes markers do) kee]> your i oye on him. If the mistake is to your advantage your natural dignity tells_ you it is beneath you to notice such things, but if 'it is in favour of your opponent call his attention to it, and speak strongly about it. It will pay you, for next time the marker is doubtful about tho score ho will put it in your favour to avoid unpleasantness. I know a player who wins scores of games by keeping the markers under hand. Should you have to play without a marker, you should (now and then) ask your opponent to put on your score as well as his own, for occasionally, after you havo made a few and put them on, ho may put them on again for you, and a few little extras decide lots of games. If, in spite of all your efforts, your opponent only wants two for game and looks like scoring them from _ a good position, you might wait until he is just taking his stroke, and tlion suddenly say: "Have a refresher?" This will upset him and* cause him to miss his stroke: if lie gets vexed tho refresher'will make it all right. When playing what is comically termed a gentlemanly ' game, and £OU only require two for game, it sometimes happens that your opponent's ball is left in a pocket-mouth. In such a case, it is the correct thing to pretend to measure angles for an impossible cannon, but make sure that the white goeß in, and then sweetly apologiso for "shopping" liim. Tnis is. called "the apology stroke." Another well-known stroke is . the "Providence stroke." This occurs when a position is left that,beats youj you then shut your .eyes, Jiit-hard, and let the balls run. If either appears to bo going into a pocket, you should not smile' and admit that it was a fluke, but you should hurry to tho pocket before tho ball drops. Some of the spectators might think that you plajed for it, and when the applause has subsided and the spectatorn.to have recovered from their 'astonishment jou can resume the game with still moro confidence.