How to Play Pool With Three People

Alright, here we go, diving into the chaos of Cutthroat Pool – it’s like a battlefield with numbered balls and a cue ball in the mix. 

Each player stakes their claim on a group of balls, and then it’s game on.

Here’s the lowdown before we get into the nitty-gritty:

1. Target Practice: We’re aiming for our opponents’ balls on the table. Precision is the name of the game.
2. Keep Shooting Till You Miss: Sink one, and you’re on a roll. Keep shooting until you miss, scratch, or pull off some wild, illegal move – and we’ll chat about what “illegal” means soon.
3. Elimination Round: Players get the boot when all their balls find the pockets. It’s like a billiards exile – once your balls are gone, so are you.
4. Last Ball Standing Wins: The endgame – the one with any balls left on the table after the others are eliminated takes the crown. It’s a survival game, and the last ball standing is the undisputed champ.

But wait, there’s a twist – if you got the boot earlier, you can sneak back in if an opponent messes up. It’s like a second chance in the billiards arena.

Now, let’s dive into the rulebook of Cutthroat – the do’s, don’ts, and the downright wild moments on the pool battlefield.

Determining Groups

In this game, it’s all about claiming your turf and taking out the competition. Each player gets their own set of billiard balls, and the goal is simple: keep your group intact and wipe out the others.

Now, in a 3-player showdown, it’s like dividing the realm – groups are numbered 1–5, 6–10, and 11–15. 

And now, the fun part – how do we decide who’s in which crew? Well, you got options:

1. Traditional Call: It’s the OG move, where you claim a group after sinking at least one ball from the other sets. Hit that 3-ball and 12-ball? Congrats, you’re in the 6-10 group.
2. Casual Claim: For the easygoing crowd, claim a group as soon as you pocket a ball. Picture this – first player sinks one on the break, and that’s their gang. Next up, whoever sinks a ball gets to pick their crew. The third player? Well, they’re stuck with whatever’s left – probably the not-so-great group.
3. Pre-Game Allotment: Or, you can sort it all out before the game starts. Pick your numbers, and that’s your turf. But watch out, ’cause on that first shot, you might just sink your own balls.

How to Rack in Cutthroat

Alright, when it comes to racking up in Cutthroat, keep it simple – we’re not reinventing the wheel here. Grab a standard triangle rack and throw the 1-ball up top, sitting right on the foot spot like it owns the joint.

Now, for the corners of the triangle, drop in the 6 and 11 balls. The rest of the gang? Well, just toss ’em in there randomly. It’s like organizing a pool party for these balls – let them mingle and get ready for the chaotic Cutthroat showdown. 

It’s not rocket science; it’s just setting the stage for a billiards battlefield.

The Break 

Alright, in the wild world of Cutthroat, we’re talking about the “open break” – none of that half-hearted, timid stuff. You gotta put some muscle into it and send at least four balls flying from the rack, smacking into the cushions like they’re in a hurry to escape. We’re avoiding the snooze-fest of a safe and cluttered break – this is a billiards battlefield, not a tea party.

Now, if the first player flubs it up and fails to pull off that epic ‘open break,’ the next guy in line gets to call for a do-over. It’s like saying, “Come on, give me a shot at this chaos.” So, bring some power to that break, or be ready for a challenger to step up and show you how it’s done. It’s billiards, not a game for the faint of heart!

Are You Calling Shots?

Before you kick off your Cutthroat chaos, you gotta decide whether you’re gonna play it cool with the ‘called shots.’ This move is like playing billiards with a touch of chess – each player’s gotta declare which ball goes where before taking a shot. It’s a brainy move, especially if you’re in the ring with some pool sharks.

Now, hold up – you’re not predicting crazy bank shots or tricky combos, just where the ball’s gonna end up. But here’s the kicker: if you’re on board with the ‘called shots’ and accidentally pocket an opponent’s ball in the wrong hole, that’s a foul, my friend. The ball goes back on the table, and you lose your turn. It’s like a billiards code of conduct – call your shots or face the consequences. Welcome to the Cutthroat mind games.

Keep it Legal

Let’s lay down the law on what’s a legit shot. Rule number one – you gotta smack an opponent’s ball first; none of that “gentle tap” nonsense with your own ball. We’re talking contact, people!

Now, after that solid contact, you’ve got two options: either pocket an opponent’s ball or make any ball, numbered or cue, hit a cushion. It’s like ensuring nobody’s playing it safe with gentle taps. We want action, not a snooze-fest.

But hold on, if you somehow pocket an opponent’s ball on a sneaky illegal shot, that ball goes back on the table, and you’re out for the turn. That’s a foul, my friend – no shortcuts in Cutthroat.

Now, jumping an opponent’s ball off the table is another no-no. But here’s the twist – if you accidentally launch your own ball into the billiards abyss, no biggie, just pop it back on the table. However, if that cue ball takes a flying leap, well my friend, that’s a scratch, and you’re in foul territory.

The penalty for fouls – for each of your opponent’s pocketed balls, one gets a second chance on the table. It’s like a resurrection for the eliminated. But if your opponents are just sitting there twiddling their cue sticks with no balls down, well, you skate through the penalty, and the next player takes the shot.

What Happens If You Scratch?

So, you mess up, scratch that cue ball or launch it into the great beyond – that’s what we call a scratch in Cutthroat. Now, the next shooter gets the cue ‘ball-in-hand,’ but not a free pass. Nope, they gotta place that cue ball behind the head-string – that’s the invisible line between the two diamonds on the breaking end. You can’t just plop it anywhere; there are rules, my friend.

But here’s the twist – if all your opponent’s balls are chilling behind that head-string, you can grab the one closest, pop it at the opposite end, and keep the game rolling.

Conclusion

And there you have it, that’s how to play cutthroat in a nutshell. It might sound easy, but throw in some pros, and it’s a whole different ball game. 

So, play smart, have some laughs, and stay tuned for some variations to spice things up.