BILLIARD NOTES

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 2, 26 March 1920, Page 5

BILLIARD NOTES

Shows two examples of these positions The red is on the spot, and the object white is right on the brink of the pocket, in such a position that not only is no in-off on, but that also the slightest touch would send it in. The cue-ball is either at A or B, from which locations an ordinary ball-to-ball cannon is the easiest of strokes. If, however, the striker plays tbe cannon he is bound to pot the white, and the after position will be a matter of uncertainty. Tbe best tliat he can liope for is a seven-shot, which is never a very certain stroke in the positions given. What is more likely to happen is that after cannoning and losing the white, the cue-ball will remain somewhere in the vicinity of the corner pocket, and the red will be in some safe place, so that the striker will have nothing but a double-baulk to play for. Instead, therefore, of playing the cannon, the game is to pot the white, and remain near the jaws of the pocket for an inoff from the red afterwards, and by this means it will be possible to go on scoring. A very good axiom to remember is that when you must lose the white, lose it to tha best advant-ge. The great thing in billiards is to play a shot in such a manner that you either know, or have some idea, what your next stroke is going to be. A 4 SHOT INSTEAD OF A CANNON THE GAME. A position when, instead of playing the cannon, the game is to pot the white, and follow in after it. The object white is right over the pocket in such a position that no in-off is on. The cue-ball is in hand, and the red is so located that, were the white not in the way, an ordinatry half-ball in-off into the right top is on for the other pocket. Playing the cannon would mean potting ihe white, and the after -position would be most donbtf".l Instead if a 4 shot be made by playing at tho white, the in-off from the red can be played afterwards, and even a moderate player might materially increase his break, by continuing to score from the red. I once saw a good amateur have a position similar to the one just described, after having made a break of ninety-four. He had never made a break of a hundred, and just when he looked most likely to aocomplish his desire, he made the mistake of playing the cannon with the hope of getting a sevenshot. As it happened he only scorecl four, his own ball remaining somewhere near the pocket, the red ran into perfectly safe position, and the break, therefore only reacbed ninety-eight. Had he instead played the four-shot, he would have only had an ordinary half-ball inoff from the red to make in order to top the century, with a very fair prospect of making a good few more, as lie played a very sound in-off game. Another position N when it pays to pot the white in preference to playing the carnon. The balls are in this instance comparatively close to eaeh other, but the white is over-hanging the pocket, and in sucb a position that no in-off is pos-

sible. While playing the four-shot t ' easiest of in-offs into the cc .tre pocL can be played from baulk with the prospe of still further adding to one's score. Afte potting the white, whether intentionallor otherwise, if the red be in a safi position, unless very sure that be car save a double-baulk, the striker should be satisfied to play only to send the red into baulk — if possible near to one of the pockets — and leave his own ball in some safe position. If, however he does not fecl competent even to do this, he should send his own ball into baulk by means of a miss. Many fair players often lose far more than they gain by potting the white with the intention of afterwards leaving a double-baulk, and then failing to do so. Another thing to be remembered is, that after making a four-shot — potting the white, and going in-off from it in the same, or another pocket — unless the red be in a good position for scoring, s miss in baulk — or a double-baulk, if possible — is the game. It must not be forgotten that your opponent is ball in hand, and ready to take advantage of anything you may leave him if you fail to score from the red. Besides, if you play a difficult stroke and get it, you score three only, and have nothing left, and if you miss it— as you are quito likely to do if the shot be a difficult one — you will most likely leave a lot, so that the odds are really always against you Even in the ordinaiy way with your opponent well in hand, if you miss an easy shot, you generally leave him more than you leave yourself when you get the stroke, for, however well you play the stroke, you have only one balJ to play at, whereas when you miss your stroke you generally leave him two. J; you want to see how likely it is that aeasy score will be left for your oppoi ent whenever he is in hand and you mita shot and leave both balls out of baulk try the following experiment : Stand a the baulk end of the table, and put . red and white ball in your hand and throv them up the table together, anyway you like, slowly or fast, though not fast enough to bring either into baulk— against tho top cushion o rside cushions. Let them kiss or otherwise, and youf will find that when they come to rest, far more often than not, some easy stroke or other will be on from the D. Let those who may doubt this try it, and judge for themselves. 1 do not wish for a moment to convey any impression that the white should be potted on every available occasion, such a procedure would only stultify one's game instead of improving it. At the same time never have any scruples about potting the white when you can "clearly gain by doing so. And, above all, remember that when the white is in such a position that it must be lost, it' should be lost te the best advantage.