Here at Carolina Pool Tables Plus, we are passionate about the game of pool, and we are also fans of many other games that can be played on pool tables. In this article, we will provide brief descriptions of three lesser-known pool table games to introduce you to new variations you may want to try.
- Stunt Pool. The first of the pool table games that we will cover is stunt pool, a variation on traditional pool in which straight shots are forbidden. Instead, the players can only make swerve shots (in which the cue is held close to vertical to create a lot of spin on the ball), jump shots (in which the cue ball has to bounce over an obstructing one), or bank shots (which bounce the ball off the cushion). You can also add your own stunt shots to spice things up even further.
- Opposite-Handed Pool. As pool table games go, this one is meant more for laughs than for serious competition, but the comedy and fun it provides make it worth trying at least once. The rules are simple: every player has to hold their cue in the opposite way that they normally would, switching their dominant and non-dominant hands. This naturally makes the game more challenging, but it also prevents anyone from taking themselves too seriously.
- Cutthroat Pool. In this variation of pool, each player is assigned an equal number of balls (for example, in a game of three players, the first would get balls 1-5, the second 6-10, etc.), and the object is to pocket the other players’ balls while keeping yours on the table. Once the balls are assigned, rack the game by placing the racking triangle at the foot spot, with the 1 ball at the top corner, the 6 and 11 balls in the bottom two corners, and all the other balls placed randomly. If the shooter pockets any balls on the break, including their own, they can keep shooting, but if not, the next player takes their turn. A player’s turn ends when they miss a shot, scratch, jump a ball, or foul. The last person to have a ball on the table wins.