Title: 
One Pocket Billiards

Word Count:
420

Summary:
Billiards, like poker and darts, continues to enjoy huge popularity because of the many variations on the basic game.  One Pocket billiards is just one of the many options available to billiards players.  One Pocket is sometimes referred to as the "soccer" of billiards. 

In One Pocket billiards, the possible pockets for players to shoot at are cut from six (in standard Eight Ball play) to two.  This provides the added strategy of requiring the shooter to specialize in spec...


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Article Body:
Billiards, like poker and darts, continues to enjoy huge popularity because of the many variations on the basic game.  One Pocket billiards is just one of the many options available to billiards players.  One Pocket is sometimes referred to as the "soccer" of billiards. 

In One Pocket billiards, the possible pockets for players to shoot at are cut from six (in standard Eight Ball play) to two.  This provides the added strategy of requiring the shooter to specialize in specific types of shots.  In One Pocket billiards, you must call the pocket for your intended shot.  It is not necessary, however, to call the ball that will go into the specified pocket.

The similarity of One Pocket billiards to soccer is that the specified pocket on every shot is the opponent's target goal.  In other words, each player is essentially defending his or her target pocket.  This requires each player to put a defensive strategy into play, in addition to the usual offensive strategies of billiards.  If a player does not make a ball into the opponent's target pocket, but shoots a ball into any of the remaining pockets, the shot is then declared an "illegally pocketed" ball. 

Before starting the game, the two shooters will choose which a pocket on either end of the table to use as a target pocket.  The balls are set randomly in the racking triangle.  The breaking shooter is required to make at least one ball into the targeted pocket, or cause at least one contacted ball hit a cushion, in order for his or her turn to continue.  When the target pocket has been scored on eight or more times, the game is over. 

If a shooter happens to pocket a ball in his or her own pocket, it gives the opponent a winning point total, and the shooter loses the game.  The object is to successfully pocket eight balls in the target, or opponent's goal pocket.  This means that the shooter will have pocketed more than half of the total game balls into the opponent's pocket.  If the shooter has six pocketed balls and his or her opponent has seven, and the shooter accidentally pockets a ball in his or her own goal, the opponent wins the game. 

Billiards, in it's many variations, is a fun game of skill.  One Pocket billiards features an element of strategy that makes it a truly enjoyable and addictive sport.  Try One Pocket billiards, and it will soon become one of your favorite ways to play.