Looking for fun? Then break out the bottle! No, not the one in the cooler, but the little red, pot bellied bottle, that contains peas, numbered 1 through 16. You can buy one of these at your local billiard supply house, or sports section of some department stores, for about the price of an hour or two of pool time.

The Pea Bottle can be used to play several interesting games. Among the more common are Pea Pool (also known as Kelly Pool), and Bottle Pool. Without getting too deep into the rules here, (I've included both sets of rule in the rules page of this site) I'll quickly cover the basics of each game.

Bottle pool is actually played using the bottle (and none of the peas) along with the 1 ball, 2 ball, and of course the cue ball. You get 1 point for making the 1 ball, 2 points for the 2 ball, 1 point for making a carom on both balls and 5 points for knocking down the bottle. You must get exactly 31 points or you start over using the number of excess points past 31 as your new total. The other way to win is to knock the bottle upright onto it's base. I'ts a neat game that requires excellant control of the cue ball, similar to playing target pool!

In Kelly pool each person pulls a pea from the bottle and keeps that number secret from the other players. That pea corresponds to his winning ball. The game can be played as stated in the official rules or it can be played as a cheap (or expensive) wager game. In the 25/50 cents version, that is commonly played among friends, making an opponents ball gets you 25 cents from that person that you just 'killed'. The person is not eliminated from the game, and will be able to 'kill' others, but will not be able to win the game. Making your own ball gets you 50 cents from all of the other players in the game, and the subsequent break. In games where all players have been 'killed' (and no one can win) the game is over and the same player breaks again. You can also adjust the number of balls used in the game depending on the number of players. A 9-Ball rack is good for 2 to 4 players, a 10-Ball rack for 2 to maybe 4 or 5, and a full 15-Ball rack for 3 to 6.

By the way, a lot of players take the number 16 pea out of the bottle and set it aside. There's a reason it's included and it can really make the game more interesting. The 16 can be used for the cue ball, that's right, if you draw the sixteen you only have to make the cue ball. Of course, you must still make a good hit on the lowest object ball on the table before you scratch! Be forwarned...if you opponents figure out that you have the cue ball they can also make a good hit and scratch, putting you out of the match. If you 'kill' someone by scratching you get to put the cue ball behind the line and continue your turn! (If the next lowest ball is behind the line, it spots up!) So leave the 16 in the bottle next time and watch the fun!

So if you have more than 2 players and are tired of cut-throat, or team eight ball, then give Kelly pool a try. It's lots of fun and, with the 'luck of the draw' thrown in, makes for interesting games and unexpected endings!

CHALK ETIQUETTE

Chalk - That amazing little cube that alters the way that we're able to play the game! I'm not going to get into the importance of why you should chalk up, or the physics of that abrasive stuff with it's cohesive properties, all I want to talk about right now is chalk etiquette. I don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm anal retentive or eccentric but I do believe in respecting the equipment I play on. I have a friend of mine who has a nice Brunswick table at his home with the standard medium green cloth. He keeps it in tip top condition and chooses to purchase green chalk to keep the table into turning into that blue-green color that he doesn't want. Out of respect, I don't pull out my blue chalk and I am content to use his chalk. For some strange reason I have noticed guys who show up at a pool hall and pull out their red chalk while shooting on some new green Simonis cloth. Ask them why and they'll give you some garbage about how the red chalk grips better than blue, which is better than beige...etc. etc.. THIS IS ALL HOGWASH! The manufacturers add dye to the chalk for just such reasons I mentioned earlier, to match the color of the cloth! Now if your using chalk from a different manufacturer, the physical qualities of the chalk may differ, but color itself makes no noticeable difference. So if you must use chalk from your favorite supplier, then at least buy it in colors that match where you play.
I HATE it when THIS happens ! ! !
Have you ever attempted a nice soft, long shot, that when it was about a foot away from the pocket, it suddenly took a hard left turn. Then upon inspecting the table, you find a small piece of chalk! I can't stand to use chalks that are crumbling away in my hand as I try to chalk up. If the hole in the chalk is over two thirds of the chalks depth, or if the chalk is all cracked up and/or the paper is torn off, then the chalk should be discarded and replaced. Chalk is comparatively cheap, especially when you think how much you can loose to a bad roll! Please place your chalks on the table upright. Any other position leaves deposits of chalk on the rails, which usually find their way onto the table. Don't chalk up over the bed of the table where pieces can fall onto the playing surface. If you drop a piece, pick it up. If it got stepped on or cracked, then throw it away, otherwise these little crumbly guys will leap forth from your hands just to find the right spot on the table to ruin your game.
You should also keep your chalks dry! Maybe this isn't important in Arizona or Nevada, but in damp Louisiana, a old chalk that's been setting in a bar with doors open, while it's raining on a hot muggy day will almost turn into mush! If you would like to experience this phenomena, just pour some of your drink into a chalk and let it set for 30 minutes. ENJOY!
Room proprietors should routinely brush down their tables. This not only gets rid of table trash but helps keep me from getting the 'green or blue palm' syndrome. It does wonders for the appearance of their room as well!

IS IT SNOWING IN HERE AGAIN?

• Keep your cue clean and dry. Try using a burnishing cloth or one of those green 3M scrub pads. Avoid laying your cue on dirty or damp surfaces.
• Keep your hands clean and dry. If you must pick up that 'ice cold drink' for a swig, then keep a cloth around to dry your hands off. (and don't use my cue with those greasy pizza fingers of yours!)
• Try a billiards glove. I know, I think they look strange too, but I do know of an older (65+ years) guy in town that doesn't care how he looks when he kicks all of our rear ends. If it works for you, go for it!
• Use talcum powder, but use it in moderation, and don't put gobs of it on the table as it will eventually absorb moisture (that's why you put it on your hands) and can change the speed and grip of the cloth.

Until later..... may all your strokes be smooooooth.....

Yea, I know... I'll put more work into this page later... but right now I'm out shooting pool.....

Call Me Al - Paul Simon