Straight Pool
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Straight Pool, also called 14.1 Continuous, was a popular billiards game in the United States and the common sport of championship competition until overtaken by faster playing games like 8-ball and 9-ball.
Unlike in many pool games such as 8-ball and 9-ball, in straight pool the shooter may attempt to pocket any ball on the table. The object is to reach a set number of points determined by agreement before the game. One point is scored for each ball pocketed where no foul is made. A typical game might require a player to score 100 points, meaning at least 100 balls must be pocketed to win. In professional venues, straight pool is usually played to 150 points. Straight pool is a call pocket game, meaning the player must indicate the intended pocket on every shot.
The initial rack
In the initial rack in straight pool, 15 balls are racked in a triangular rack, with the center of the apex ball placed over the foot spot, the one ball placed at the rack's right corner, and the five ball placed at the rack's left corner. Other balls are placed at random and must touch their neighbors. However, it is considered courtesy by some to place a stripe at the rack's apex.
Unlike in most pool games where pocketing a ball and spreading the balls is the aim on the break, the object in straight pool's standard initial break shot is to leave the opponent with a safety. This is because the call shot rule includes the break shot.
At least one ball must touch a rail or be pocketed on the initial break, or a foul will result, with a special penalty of a loss of 2 points.
All other fouls during the game result in a one point deduction. However, a third foul in a row at any time in the game results in a loss of 15 points. The 15 point deduction is in addition to the one point for each foul. Thus, the first two fouls are a loss of one point each, and the third foul is a loss of 16 points; 1 point for the foul, and 15 points for it being the third foul in a row.
Intergame racking
Because straight pool is played to a specific number of points normally far in excess of the 15 points total available in the initial rack, multiple intergame racks are necessary. Intergame racking employs a separate set of rules from those in place at the game's start.
To reach the point where an intergame rack becomes necessary, the balls are played until only the cue ball and one object ball remain on the table's surface. At that time, if neither the cueball or the 15th object ball remaining are in the rack area (or interfering with racking in the rack area) the 14 pocketed balls are racked with no apex ball, and the rack is so placed so that if the apex ball were in the rack, its center would rest directly over the table's foot spot. Play then continues with the cue ball shot from where it rested and the 15th ball from where it rested prior to racking.
The 14.1 continuous appellation derives from this racking practice, i.e., that 14 racked object balls and 1 separated ball are presented to the players at the conclusion of each intergame rack. The shooter will then normally try to pocket the unracked 15th ball, and at the same time have the cue ball carom into the 14 racked balls, spreading them so that subsequent shots are available, and a run may continue.
A number of rules have developed which detail what must be done when one or both of the cue ball and fifteenth object ball are either in the rack area at the time an intergame rack is necessary, or are in such close proximity to the intergame racking area, that the physical rack cannot be used without moving the one or the other. The rules also vary depending on whether the cue ball or 15th ball are resting on the table's head spot. Such rules are detailed on the following chart (note therein that the "kitchen" refers to the area behind a pocket billiard table's head string).
| Cue ball lies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th ball lies | In the Rack | Not in the Rack and
not on the Head Spot | On The Head Spot |
| In The Rack | 15th ball: foot spot
Cue Ball: in kitchen | 15th ball: head spot
Cue Ball: in position | 15th ball: center spot
Cue Ball: in position |
| Pocketed | 15th ball: foot spot
Cue Ball: in kitchen | 15th ball: foot spot
Cue Ball: in position | 15th ball: foot spot
Cue Ball: in position |
| Behind Head String,
But not on Head Spot | 15th ball: in position
Cue Ball: head spot | ||
| Not behind Head String,
and not in the Rack | 15th ball: in position
Cue Ball: in kitchen | ||
| On Head Spot | 15th ball: in position
Cue Ball: center spot |
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