| OHCC LIVING | OCTOBER 2022 | 45
Rotation Pool: To begin a rotation pool game, the balls are racked
with the one ball at the apex of the triangle. Balls two and three are to
be placed in the back corners of the triangle. The 15 ball is placed in
the center of the racked group of balls. The rest are placed randomly.
In the billiard game of rotation pool, the players shoot the lowest
numbered ball first. Each ball's point value is equal to the number
printed on the ball. Since the sum of all balls, one through 15, is
120 points, the game automatically ends when one player reaches
61 points. Combination shots are allowed, so long as the lowest
numbered ball remaining on the table is contacted first. There is no
need to call shots. Any ball legally sunk counts.
Fouls:
• Failure to hit the lowest-numbered object ball first (or at all).
• Pocketing the cue ball or knocking it off the table.
• Failure to drive any ball to a cushion, or to legally pocket an
object ball.
• Knocking an object ball off the table (it is spotted; balls legally
pocketed on the shot are not).
If a foul is committed, the incoming opponent may either take the
next shot or require opponent to do so, with all balls as they lie in
either case. There is no point penalty for fouls (…more details in the
rule book in the Billiard Room).
Rotation is great practice for other games, due to the requirement
to always strike the lowest numbered ball first. That puts a premium
on cue ball control, and it often leads to attempting unconventional
or difficult shots such as combinations, kick shots, bank shots, and
swerves.
The rules are logical and fair. After a few games, you get the hang
of it and the game becomes great fun. Just give it a try!
Billiards
