A Pool Safety Battle

Here’s a situation that came up in league the other night. I was solids, with ball in hand. My opponent deliberately fouled trying to tie up the 8 ball, at least succeeding in blocking its path to the corner pocket by the 9.

pool billiard table diagram

You’re solids, with cue ball in hand. Go!

 

There’s no high percentage run out (at least not at my skill level), so it’s a safety battle. What’s your next move?

I put the 3 ball on the bottom long rail keeping the 8 ball in the way of the 9. My opponent deliberately fouled again putting my 3 ball by the upper left pocket. I probably should’ve gotten the 2 ball in play by moving it closer to the action and gone from there. In the end, I tried to break out the 8 ball while pocketing my last object ball (rarely a wise decision, by the way), played a couple more safes, missed a long cut on the 8 and lost the game.

3 thoughts on “A Pool Safety Battle

  1. Rico10 years ago /

    I would play a stop safety on the 3 ball, banking it up table and clearing the 3 ball from the cluster.

    1. Tim "The Dragon" Chin10 years ago /

      Yeah, but then my opponent would just keep the 9 and 8 tied up so I still wouldn’t be able to run out. I think the play is to get the 2 ball down by the others to give yourself more options to kick the 9 or 8 into the open.

  2. mark9 years ago /

    Easy shoot the 3 at an angle cue hits 8 knocks it out towards side rail. If u don’t like leave on 2 ball play safe with it. Guess it’s easier to do than explain.

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