Cutthroat (pool)

Cutthroat or cut-throat is a three-player or team pocket billiards game, played on a pool table, with a full standard set of pool balls (15 object balls and a cue ball). Each player is commonly assigned a set of five consecutively numbered object balls, but they do not have to be consecutive. The object of the game is to be the last player with at least one ball still on the table.

The name "cutthroat" is not unique to pool, but is used to refer to other games played with three or more players in which all players must fend for themselves, e.g. cutthroat bridge and cutthroat American handball.

Racking, Order Of Shooting, Game Play

When racking the 15 balls for Cutthroat, the One-ball is placed on the spot and the 6-ball and 11-ball are placed on the other two corners of the billiards rack.

In cutthroat, there are three sets of balls. Balls 1–5 are called the "low" balls, the "mid" balls are 6–10, and the "high" balls are 11–15. Each of the three players will eventually "own" one of the sets of five balls. Winning is accomplished by legally pocketing all of the other two opponents' balls. Whether each shot must be "called" is determined before the game.

Each set of five balls is initially unclaimed. The first shooter to legally pocket a ball without fouling gets to claim any set that he wants to be his own. If the break shooter pockets any balls, he can claim any set and continues shooting his turn.

However, if there was a foul on the break, no set can be claimed and the table is still open). The first successive shooter to legally pocket a ball gets to claim any set and continues to play his turn. The next shooter who legally pockets a ball during his turn gets to claims ownership of one of the two remaining sets. NOTE: how the sets become owned may vary. The most common variation is to assign the sets before the start of play ...the first shooter has 1–5, the second shooter has 6–10, and the third shooter has 11–15).

A player's turn continues so long as he knocks in a ball with each shot. A shooter can even knock in his own ball, allowing him to continue a turn in exchange for his now-weakened position. This circumstance is called "cutting one's own throat". If a player sinks his own last ball, he must sit out the rest of the game unless another player scratches (see below).

Winning the game

The object is to be the last player with at least one ball left on the table. When a player has no balls on the table, he is said to be "out" and his shot is skipped in the rotation of taking shots. Under normal rules (where balls are retrieved on a scratch), if one of the remaining players scratches, the "out" man can recover a ball and return to the game.

Variations

More players

Team play can be pairs (or more) of players being assigned to each of the three sets of balls and taking alternating turns or (in Scotch doubles format) alternating shots during their turn.

The game generally is also playable by five players or teams, with each player owning three balls rather than five. Variant ball sets (smaller, more numerous balls, with a custom rack) have also been manufactured for a larger number of players.

The game is possible with any number of players from two to 15. Because some combinations would result in not all of the players having the same number of balls, sometimes one or more must be taken out of the rack.

• Two players: seven balls each
• Three players: five balls each
• Four or five players: three balls each
• Six or seven players: two balls each
• Eight to 15 players: one ball each

Multi-game scoring

Various point systems may be used to play matches or sets, rather than just one game. With its uniqueness as a three player game, counting games won is possible but does not give credit for finishing second. One system is awarding three points for a win, plus an additional one point for each of the winner's remaining balls at the end of each game. The player last eliminated receives two points, the first eliminated player none. There may also be a bonus awarded for playing a perfect game, sinking both opponents' sets of 5 balls while having all 5 of yours remaining (Usually 2 points, making a perfect game worth 10 points total: 3 for the win, 5 for remaining balls, plus 2 bonus). This system adds great importance and strategy regarding whom to eliminate first as the match goes on, often creating alliances of the two trailing players to catch the leader in points. The match may be won by reaching a set amount of points, or reaching a set deadline in time.

Coin-operated table play

When played on coin-operated tables (such that balls cannot be returned to play at will once pocketed, only after paying for another game) a player who scratches selects one of his or her own balls to be pocketed immediately, in lieu of opponents' balls returning to the table. In the event that a scratch occurs on the same shot that an opponent's ball is pocketed, the affected opponent is permitted to select a ball belonging to the offender which is to be removed instead of the player that scratched choosing the ball to be pocketed.

In popular culture

The game is referenced by Rick Danko of The Band in the opening scene of the classic rock film The Last Waltz.

References

External links