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Estimated Read Time: 4 mins |
Introduction
14.1 Continuous—often simply called “Straight Pool”—stands alone as the definitive challenge of pocket billiards. Unlike games where you clear a fixed rack and stop, 14.1 invites a single run that can stretch across dozens of racks, demanding unwavering focus, precision, and strategic depth.
Equipment & Setup
Play uses a full set of fifteen object balls plus the cue ball on a standard pool table. Rack the balls into a perfect triangle on the foot spot; once your run clears fourteen balls, spot the fifteenth and the cue ball, then continue seamlessly with cue ball in position—ready to break the newly racked cluster without pause.
Core Rules & Flow
You may shoot at any ball on the table, but every shot must be called for both ball and pocket. Each legally pocketed ball earns one point. Miss or foul, and you record your tally so far; your opponent then shoots from the same table layout. Runs accumulate continuously until someone reaches the agreed point total—often 100 or 150 in competition.
Continuous Play & Racking
After sinking fourteen balls, spot the fifteenth on the rack spot (or nearest), re-rack the remaining fourteen, and carry on your run without leaving the table. Maintaining ideal cue-ball position to break the new rack is the essence of high runs. One miscalculated angle or errant speed can end a mile-long inning.
Scoring & Penalties
Every foul costs you one point, deducted from your current total. Two fouls on consecutive turns put you “on two fouls,” and a third straight foul can incur additional penalties or even cost the rack. If you pocket a ball but foul in the same shot, that ball is spotted and doesn’t count. Playing balls frozen to cushions or other balls requires first-contact precision—no relief even when stuck.
Why 14.1 Demands Everything
It’s the only game where a single inning can span countless racks. You must blend surgical shot-making with flawless cue-ball control, savvy safeties, and the mental endurance to keep the table cold for an extended run. Few disciplines test imagination, pattern play, and nerve in such dramatic fashion.
Conclusion
For serious players, 14.1 Continuous is both teacher and ultimate trial. Its relentless demand for consistency and strategic planning refines every element of your game. Rack up, chalk your cue, and start running—because in Straight Pool, the only limit is your concentration and skill.
