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Thank you for taking the time to check out our invention. |
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Click into the guestbook to give us feedback on this game |
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Back to Main Page |
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Welcome to Squirrels Eggs Billiards |
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Click here for the MS Word doc of the basic Squirrels Eggs rules |
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Squirrels Eggs |
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Brief History: |
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We, Scott Messer and Ken Andresen have played pool for decades and now, often play music as the ?Darby O?Gill Irish Stage Band? at venues that allow us to play games such as Pool and Darts with our fans.� Because of time constraints before and after performances, we have invented games designed to allow multiple players to compete, in the same game with each other, in games generally formatted for head-to-head competition. |
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Squirrels Eggs Pool is our invention, based on 9-Ball, to allow people to play together in a similar way that a card game, like Texas Hold ?em, is played. |
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This game, as all of our games, is also designed to allow people of various skill levels compete on a more even plane. |
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Over a period of time, we brought together people of various skill levels to play the same game at the same time.� With time constraints ranging from a couple of hours to just 30 minutes, we found that awarding one point for a win did not suffice as a "Match" winning determiner.� We also found that an experienced ?straight shot? pool players could often ruin the pool playing enjoyment for less experienced players, and still dominate the limited time available, as with head-to-head pool playing. |
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Squirrels Eggs Design History: |
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Working with 9-Ball rules as a base, we needed to level the plane to make non pool (or less experienced) players feel comfortable enough to play with experienced players without feeling intimidated and without taking away the challenge for the experienced player.� |
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The first adjustment we made, was to attach five (5) points to the highest numbered ball (when pocketed), and one (1) point to each ball remaining ON the table.� We also required that the rack be set up counter-clockwise in order of lowest (head ball) to highest in the middle.� This makes every break equal to all players. |
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The first rule we installed was a loss-of-turn penalty for directly hitting the lowest numbered ball into the pocket.� We then have the cue ball stay where it lies for the next player.� Banking the cue or object ball is okay. |
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These adjustments take out the straight shot (and cue ball next shot setup) out of the game so that a table run down to the last (highest) ball is very difficult, and the advantage goes to trying to sink the highest ball on every shot.� This also means that if a player were to bank every ball down to the final 9-bal (or highest numbered ball), they would have a score of negative 8 points and then upon banking the winning shot, would only have a remaining score of negative 3 points. |
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Next, we added banking the shot (cue ball or object ball) if only the highest numbered ball is remaining on the table.� And a five (5) point penalty awarded, to all other players, if the game ball is shot directly into a pocket. The same award is given if the cue ball is scratched (pocketed, hit off of the table or the lowest ball missed) when the game ball is pocketed any time during the game. |
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Finally, we initiated a one (1) point penalty for sinking any ball (other than the highest ball) during a players turn, but allowing the player to continue shooting their turn. |
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This rule discourages a player from using combination shots to eliminate the rack (table run) down to the last (highest) ball and keeping the field from playing, and again gives the advantage to trying to sink the winning (highest) ball on each shot. It also takes out the advantage of a player trying to just hit the object (lowest) ball as hard as possible to take advantage of the standard "Slop" rule. |
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Summary of the Squirrels Eggs Experience: |
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With the new rules in place, we have learned some amazing things from the playing of our new game. |
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Every player (regardless of experience level) has expressed a marked improvement of their pool playing skills for all other types of billiards. |
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Many (if not all) players with great "straight shot" skills, found that their banking skills improved, while many realized that they had none to begin with at all. |
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There are many shots that, because they are rarely used, we still have much to learn about and become more skillful at.� These are not just the bank shots but the carom shot and how the cue ball reacts with the banks and other balls after a carom.� These are shots that are often missed even at the highest levels of professional pool. |
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Virtually every shot made during this game are equal to (or better than) some of the most amazing shots a person may see in a professional match.� And these shots are rarely seen, even in the televised matches. |
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The luck involved in this game switches to the shot itself (and not so much the slop aspect) for the experienced player, and is balanced out with the slop aspect for the less experienced and novice (or even first time) player. |
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Try this out!� You will be amazed at how many more shot opportunities you will see when playing this (or any other) billiards game, especially when an opponent snookers you.� Just when they think that they have you down, you will just walk up and think "I know this shot" and you will proceed to blow them away with shots that they would never have imagined. |
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Think of variations for score and time limits depending on how many players are involved. �We use 30 to 60 minutes or a 38 point lead (3 times the max score for a game minus one point) as match limits.� Or, if there are only two players, we award a point to the non-shooting player as well as taking away a point for sinking a ball. |
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When playing this game as a tournament, we have found that many places that only have a table or two can now host tournaments where they had never really considered billiard tournaments before because of the inordinate waiting time.� As well, other places that do host regular tournaments, also find that the aspect of NO WAITING a very appealing part of our games tournament style. |
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Ken and Scott |
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This site and all materials contained herein, unless otherwise specified, copyright (c) 1996 - 2006 CARMA Entertainment. All rights reserved |
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