How to Use a Pool Table Shaker Bottle
A shaker bottle is used in the billiard game "Forty-one." The game is played on a standard billiard table, using all the object balls and the cue ball. A bottle, often made of leather, filled with 15 numbered peas or pills is also required. As many as 15 or as few as two people can compete in a game of Forty-one. Because of the large number of players, Forty-one often is the game of choice for large gatherings or parties.
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Instructions
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Rack the object balls in the standard manner. Use the standard billiard triangle and place the head ball of the rack on the spot at one end of the table.
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Shake the bottle and dispense a pea to each player. The player keeps this number a secret as a matter of strategy in the game.
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Begin play with the starting player breaking the rack. Regardless of whether the player making the break pockets a ball, the shot progresses to the next player. Throughout the game, each player is allowed a single shot in each inning, no matter if they score.
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Scoring is accomplished by pocketing a ball. The score of the pocketed ball is equal to the number on the ball. The object of the game is to score points that, when added to the player's secret number determined by the bottle shake earlier, total exactly 41 points. The player announces his "41" immediately after his successful shot. If a player exceeds 41 points, he must announce he has gone bust, and all balls made by that player are spotted on the table.
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Determine the winner of the game, if no one has reached 41 points when the table is cleared, by comparing the point totals of all the players. The player closest to 41--or players in the event of a tie--is the winner.
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Tips & Warnings
The shaker bottle, without the numbered peas or pills, is also used in bottle pool.
All other standard rules of billiards apply.
Keep the private number secret. This prevents other players from playing defense and preventing good shots at the balls necessary to score 41 points.
References
- Photo Credit billiard balls image by Richard Seeney from Fotolia.com
