# What was this pool like game? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** billiards-pool\ **Created:** [November 9, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617 "2022-11-09T00:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/1 "2022-11-09T00:18:17Z")
Flipping through the back channels, I came across a game of pool or billiards, except that there was only three balls, yellow, orange, and white. The most notable thing about the game was that the pool table didn’t have pockets. I watched it for a bit, but it seemed so pointless that I moved on, but I still wonder what the hell they were playing. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/2 "2022-11-09T00:20:29Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > three balls, yellow, orange, and white The second ball is actually red. > **[Three-cushion billiards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-cushion_billiards)** > > Three-cushion billiards, also called three-cushion carom, is a form of carom billiards. The object of the game is to carom the cue ball off both object balls while contacting the rail cushions at least three times before contacting the second object ball. A point is scored for each successful carom. In most shots the cue ball hits the object balls one time each, although hitting them any number of times is allowed as long as both are hit. The cue ball may contact the cushions before or after hitt... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/3 "2022-11-09T00:29:19Z")
There are several games played on a billiard table, just as there are many different games of pool played on a pool table. 3-cushion is the billiard game of pros, much as 14.1 is the pool game of pros. If you think running 20 or 30 balls in 14.1 is hard, try 3-cushion some time. It’ll make you cry. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/4 "2022-11-09T00:33:38Z")
_ **Harold:** _ _Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here,_ _I say, trouble right here in River City._ _Why sure I’m a billiard player,_ _Certainly mighty proud I say_ _I’m always mighty proud to say it._ _I consider that the hours I spend_ _With a cue in my hand are golden._ _Help you cultivate horse sense_ _And a cool head and a keen eye._ _Did ya ever take and try to give_ _An iron-clad leave to yourself_ _From a three-rail billiard shot?_ _But just as I say,_ _It takes judgment, brains, and maturity to score_ _In a baulk line game,_ _I say that any boob can take_ _And shove a ball in a pocket._ _And they call that sloth._ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/5 "2022-11-09T05:13:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you think running 20 or 30 balls in 14.1 is hard, try 3-cushion I once ran seven balls in Stripes and Solids and hooked myself on the eight ball: cue ball was just on the edge of the pocket at the top of the table, nestled behind the cushion; eight-ball was just on the edge of the pocket on the foot of the table, nestled against the cushion; and the cushions blocked the direct shot. The bank shot of course would have required that there be no middle pocket on the opposite rail. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/6 "2022-11-09T11:36:25Z")
The middle pocket being on the line of the natural angle is not too uncommon in pool and snooker; the remedy is usually to aim at a point on the cushion just above the middle pocket, while imparting sidespin (aka English) on the cue ball such that it breaks off the cushion at a wider angle. Not an easy shot to aim and execute successfully, of course. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/7 "2022-11-09T17:17:29Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > the pool table didn’t have pockets And larger than a standard size pool table. A thing of beauty to watch, a horror to play if you haven’t mastered English. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-pool-like-game/974617/8 "2022-11-10T12:51:58Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you think running 20 or 30 balls in 14.1 is hard, try 3-cushion some time. It’ll make you cry. As documented by Disney way back in 1959. [https://www.billiardsmovies.com/donald-mathmagic-land/](https://www.billiardsmovies.com/donald-mathmagic-land/)