3-Ball Pool, Quick and Easy

            Over the years, I have played many variations of billiard games. Some games may take some time to finish, while others are over relatively quick. The two most popular games, 8-ball and 9-ball, for example, will cost an average player about ten minutes of his time. Some games, such as rotation and cowboy pool and sometimes even straight pool, will take a bit longer. But what if you do not have much time and you want to get in a quick billiard match with a friend or two? Or maybe you are by yourself and want to practice some shot setups and break speed, and you need something quick and easy.

            A favorite, quicker billiard games involves a simple 3-ball triangle setup and one or more opponents.  One match with two players should take no longer than five minutes. If you are alone, a quick game of solo 3-ball is a good practice for leaves and setting up other shots.

            The rules of the game are very easy.  Place three billiard balls in a triangle formation at the head spot, and spot your cue ball anywhere in the kitchen behind the scratch line, just like you were breaking for a normal game of 8-ball. Each billiard shot, including the break, counts as one stroke. If a scratch occurs, then two extra strokes are added, plus a stroke for the actual shot you just took, totaling three. A shooter's turn does not end until all three balls have been pocketed. The player with the fewest strokes after each player sinks all three of their balls wins.