Basic Rules of Ultimate Pocket Billiards

OBJECTIVE – Accumulate the most points in one inning by pocketing up to one rack of balls (15 balls) in any order, without missing or scratching based upon a pre-established scoring system. Essence of the game is that points are awarded based on difficulty of shots.

SCORING SYSTEM – Points awarded as follows:

• Direct shot
• Combination/billiard
• Short side bank/kick
• Long side bank/kick
• Two or more cushions bank/kick
• MONEY ($) which is the black ball

• 1 point
• 2 points
• 3 points
• 4 points
• 5 points
• 2x the points

1. Point total is zero at the start of each inning
2. Rack as in the game of 8-ball. In other words, the head ball in the rack shall be placed on the spot and the $ ball (black ball) shall be in the center of the row containing three balls.
3. Cue ball shall be placed anywhere in the kitchen for the break shot similar to other Pocket Billiards games such as 9-ball or Snooker.
4. There are no requirements for rail contact on break shot. Break as hard or as soft as you wish.
5. All balls pocketed on the break shot are worth 2 points each. Pocketed $ ball on the break is worth 4 points.
6. Not pocketing a ball on the break does not end the inning. Simply shoot the next shot from the location that the cue ball comes to rest.
7. Pocketing cue ball (scratch) on the break does end the inning with a score of 0 points.
8. Shoot and pocket balls in any order. Award points based on above criteria.
9. Must identify pocket of ball to be made and the type of shot that it will be (combination, short side bank, etc…) All other balls pocketed on the same valid shot will be awarded 2 points each, $ ball will be awarded 4 points (similar to initial break). Pocket and type of shot for these subsequent balls does not have to be designated.
10. Points awarded for one shot are not added. Only highest criteria awarded. (i.e. playing a combination to a short side bank is awarded 3 points, not 5.)
11. Upon missing called shot, scratching or pocketing all fifteen balls, inning is over. Total score for the inning is the sum of the points for each shot made based on the above scoring system.

ULTIMATE POCKET BILLIARDS – STROKE PLAY

Ultimate Pocket Billiards can be played on a Pool table or a Snooker table.  Obviously on a Snooker table you would need to eliminate one of the red balls and all colored balls besides the black ball, which in Ultimate Pocket Billiards in the MONEY ($) ball.

Note: an inning in Ultimate Pocket Billiards is known as a table. This is analogous to a hole in golf.

The object of Stroke Play is to maximize your score in every inning/table with the focus being on maximizing the score for a round, which consists of 9 innings/tables. This would correspond to a round of 9 holes in golf.

The score for each table is based upon the “Scoring System” and “General Rules of Play” for Ultimate Pocket Billiards, described above.

Just like stroke play in golf, even though you may choose to play with someone and compare scores at the end, the main focus is on your own score for each table so as to maximize your score for the round.

Total score for a round is calculated by adding the scores from each of the nine tables, table 1 + table 2 + table 3 etc….  Much like a round in golf is calculated by adding the scores from each of the holes.

A tournament may consist of three rounds or twenty-seven tables. This is analogous to a tournament in golf which consists of four rounds or seventy-two holes.

Unlike golf, you can theoretically play an entire round of Ultimate Pocket Billiards on the same Pool table or Snooker table.

ULTIMATE POCKET BILLIARDS – MATCH PLAY

Note: a game in Ultimate Pocket Billiards is known as a table. This is analogous to a hole in golf.

The object of Match Play is to defeat your opponent in every inning/table. The actual value of the winning score in each inning is not relevant. Match Play tables are contested based upon the “Basic Rules of Ultimate Pocket Billiards” with the player winning 5 of 9 tables being the winner for the round.

The score for each table is based upon the “Scoring System” and “General Rules of Play” for Ultimate Pocket Billiards, described above.

The opposing player will always have an opportunity to beat the posted score.  Thus, a table is not won/lost until a player fails to surpass a posted score.

Sequence for a typical match play table is as follows:

a.  Player A shoots and posts an initial score.
b.  Player B attempts to best posted score:

• If Player B fails to surpass posted score, Player A wins the table.
• If Player B surpasses posted score, Player A has an opportunity to best score posted by Player B.

c.  Player A attempts to best posted score:

• If Player A fails to surpass posted score, Player B wins the table.
• If Player A surpasses posted score, Player B has an opportunity to best score posted by Player A.

d.  This sequence is repeated until the posted score is not surpassed.

Typical Match Play table may look something like this:

• Player A shoots and posts a score of 15 points.
• Player B shoots and gets a score of 21 points.
• Player A shoots and gets a score of 26 points.
• Player B shoots and gets a score of 22 points.
• Since Player B did not surpass posted score, Player A wins the table.

In a tournament, Ultimate Pocket Billiards Match Play contests are best of nine tables to be consistent with Stroke Play.  However best of 3 or best of 5 tables can also be designated for a friendly contest at your local Pool Hall or Snooker Club.

GUIDANCE FOR HANDICAPPING

In order for a game to be popular with the average player there must be a handicapping system so that all players can experience the thrill of competition.

The game of Ultimate Pocket Billiards is easily handicapped by allowing any number of misses/scratches per inning.

Ability to play Ultimate Pocket Billiards compares favorably with the ability to run balls in Straight Pool and amass consecutive Snooker Points in Snooker. By knowing one’s high run in Straight Pool and Snooker (both represented as SP) an Ultimate Pocket Billiards (UPB) handicap can be determined. Guidance showing the relationship follows:

Of course, for handicapped matches additional rules apply. These additional rules are:

1. After a miss, cue ball is played from where it comes to rest.
2. Any ball(s) made in a different pocket than was designated spots up.
3. After a scratch, player gets “ball in hand”.
4. Any ball(s) made during scratch shot spots up.

ULTIMATE POCKET BILLIARDS VARIATION OF EXISTING POOL GAMES

ULTIMATE 8-BALL

Ultimate 8-BALL is a heads-up match between two players. The game will mimic regular 8-BALL with one side having solids and the other having stripes and being able to shoot the #8 ball only when you have cleared all of your balls. The difference is that points will be awarded based on difficulty of each shot and the winner will be the person with the higher point total. Game is over when the #8 ball is pocketed.

This is a game that is well suited for a coin operated bar-box table and/or for the recreational player that usually does not run-out an open table after a break.

An interesting scenario in this game is that the type of shot on the #8 ball will depend on the score and will likely be different whether you are winning or losing. Therefore, if you get to the #8 ball first but you are 5 points behind on your score, you will have to shoot a short side bank (or higher point shot) to obtain the 6 points needed to win the game.

ULTIMATE STRAIGHT POOL

Ultimate Straight Pool is a heads-up match between two players. The game will mimic regular straight pool in that a player keeps shooting until he/she misses leaving the last object ball on the table to enable a run continuation. The difference is that points will be awarded based on difficulty of each shot and the winner will be the person that first reaches a pre-established total (i.e. 150 points).

Since the value of the $ ball is double, it’s location on the rack is always in the center of the row with three balls. If the $ ball is the last ball on the table and therefore not in the subsequent rack, locations of the other balls in the rack not relevant.

This game is well suited for a pool hall environment with avid players that enjoy a challenging long contest. It will likely replace straight pool and one-pocket as the game of choice for this type of player.

ULTIMATE CUT-THROAT

Ultimate Cut-Throat is a game among three players. The game will mimic regular cut-throat in that each player is assigned five consecutively numbered object balls (1-5, 6-10 and 11-15) with the object being to eliminate your opponent s balls from the table. The difference is that points will be awarded based on difficulty of each shot and the winner will be the person with the higher point total. Game is over when only the ball(s) of one player remains on the table.

The value for the $ ball (#8 ball) has to be determined prior to the start of the game. It can be used as a handicap against a strong player, or it can be treated as any other object ball so that there is no penalty for having balls 6 to 10.

This game, like regular cut-throat, is an interesting game that three people can play at the same time.

An interesting scenario in this game is that the type of shot that a player attempts is dependent on the score of his/her opponents. There is no use taking direct shots if the total points will not exceed those of your opponents. This will make for a longer and more interesting match.