type of game they played

Haven't seen it in some time, but I'd guess they played straight pool. Besides some technical rules regarding break and minor foul shots, the game is played by pocketing as many balls as possible during each round or inning. Shots are called and the numbered balls serve only as identifiers, that ball in that pocket. Winner is the one who reaches the agreed upon number of balls pocketed.

This game requires the most skill for playing position, ( where the cue ball ends up after the shot). First you have to make the shot, but then there's the amount of 'influence' used in hitting the cue ball, called English, that will make the cue ball move around in a very controlled fashion, if you're good. Making the shots is easy -- control of the cue ball after the shot that's most important -- which defines the skill of the player.

Eight Ball is very popular in bar rooms for it is a fast game, (which makes money for the bar owner -- $.50- .$75 a game. In this game, players shoot at
1-7 or 9-15 balls, usually calling pockets with the eight ball being the last to pocket, in a called pocket.

Nine ball is played with nine balls but they are shot in ascending order with nine last, (you could shoot the nine ball with a combination shot, eg one ball hitting and pocketing the nine which would be a win. This is a very popular money game. It's fast and requires more skill than eight ball, plus, there's a lot of various side bets that make this a quick money changing game.



When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property - Thomas Jefferson

Eddie and Fats shoot straight pool, while the guys in the bar that beat him up are shooting nine ball.

Straight Pool: players try to run the table with the cue ball ending up in position to break up a new rack of 14 balls (14.1) via the cue ball's deflection, thus allowing the player to keep shooting. In straight pool, the player can sink the balls in any order, but must indicate (call) where each ball will fall just before he shoots. For example, he might say "3-ball in the side pocket", or "11 in the corner." Expert players can sink over 100 balls in a row - champ Willie Moscone ("Willie" in this movie) once sank over 500 straight. In straight pool they usually play to 150 per game. The ability to make the cue ball go where you want is challenging and vital.

In Nine ball, players try to sink all nine balls (1-9) in numerical order, although sinking the nine on the break wins the game. In recent years this game has become more popular.

They were playing "Straight Pool".......AKA "14.1 Continuous". It's the granddaddy and greatest game in pocket billiards in many's opinion.



"The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money"..Margaret Thatcher

Straight pool is considered the ultimate test of pocket billiards. Its played by the best players. Games like 8 & 9 ball are fast and more conducive to lesser players and 9 ball because of it's short length of play is perfect for TV.

What they said....except Straight Pool is usually played to 125. That's what they played in this movie.

You don't want to break, because it's random and leaves the next player with many open shots. That's why Eddie barely taps the corner ball on the break and makes it come back to the rack.

Like they said, you leave the last ball and cue in a position to where you can make the shot and break the next rack. My Dad (RIP) was a big fan of this movie and taught me all the rules and we'd play Straight pool in my house when I was growing up, but we'd play to a smaller number.

Then when color of money came out we all switched to 9 ball just like everyone else.