Pool Money Games: Popular Betting Formats

January 21, 2025 By drew

Wednesday night. March 2016. Rack Attack Billiards in Indianapolis.

Regular player I’d seen around approaches: “Want to play One and Done for $20?”

I’d never heard of “One and Done.” But I’m APA 7, he looked like APA 5. Easy money, right?

Wrong.

“One and Done” means: First player to pocket their first ball wins the rack. Race to 7.

The format heavily favors break-and-run players.

He broke, made ball on break 4 out of 7 games. Won those racks immediately.

Games he didn’t make ball on break: I won 2, he won 1.

Final score: He won 5-2. I lost $140 ($20 per game × 7 games).

The lesson: Understanding format rules matters more than skill level differential.

Here’s every money game format I’ve learned across 200+ betting sessions over 11 years—what they are, how they work, and which ones favor your game.

Quick Takeaways: Pool Money Games

  • Race format: First to X wins (e.g., “race to 7” = first to win 7 games)
  • Spot games: Higher-skilled player gives advantage to opponent (e.g., “3 on the 8” = weaker player wins by pocketing 8-ball)
  • One and Done: First ball pocketed wins rack (favors breaker heavily)
  • Ghost: Play against imaginary perfect opponent for handicap practice
  • Ring game: Rotating opponents, winner stays on table

Race Format: Standard Money Game

Structure: First player to win X games wins the set.

Common race lengths:

  • Race to 3: Quick set (15-30 minutes)
  • Race to 5: Medium set (30-60 minutes)
  • Race to 7: Long set (60-90 minutes)
  • Race to 9: Extended set (90-120 minutes)

Stakes:

Two common structures:

1. Total Pot:

  • “Race to 7 for $100” = Winner takes $100 total
  • Each player puts up $100
  • Winner gets $200 ($100 profit)

2. Per-Game Stakes:

  • “Race to 7, $20 per game” = Each game worth $20
  • Loser pays $140 ($20 × 7 games)
  • More expensive format—total stake is higher

My Preference: Total pot format. Lower stakes, less variance.

Race Format Variations

Winner Breaks:

After each game, winner of previous game breaks next game.

Advantage: Winner who runs hot can dominate by controlling breaks.

My record: Won 7 straight games once (race to 7) using winner breaks. Broke, made ball, ran out 5 of those 7 racks.

Loser Breaks:

After each game, loser of previous game breaks next game.

Advantage: Prevents dominant breaker from running away with match. Gives loser chance to recover.

Alternate Break:

Players alternate breaking regardless of who won previous game.

Advantage: Most fair format. Each player gets equal break opportunities.

This is standard in tournament play and my preferred format for money games.

Spot Games: Handicap Betting

Concept: Higher-skilled player gives advantage to weaker player to balance match.

Common 9-Ball Spots

“2 on the 9”:

Weaker player wins by pocketing 9-ball OR 2-ball.

Example: I’m playing someone who’s significantly weaker. I give them “2 on the 9.”

  • They can win by pocketing 9-ball (normal win)
  • OR by pocketing 2-ball at any point during game (instant win)

“3 on the 8”:

Weaker player wins by pocketing 9-ball, 8-ball, OR 3-ball.

“The 6”:

Weaker player wins by pocketing 9, 8, 7, OR 6.

How Aggressive:

“The 6” is enormous spot. Weaker player has four winning balls vs. my one (9-ball only).

I’ve given “the 6” to beginner players (APA 3-4) when I’m APA 7. Even then, match is competitive.

Common 8-Ball Spots

“The 8”:

Weaker player wins by pocketing 8-ball only (doesn’t need to pocket all their balls first).

Example: They’re stripes. Any time 8-ball is clear, they can shoot it and win instantly.

This is massive advantage. Most racks, 8-ball becomes available at some point.

“Two Balls”:

Weaker player starts each rack with two of their balls already pocketed.

Example: They’re stripes. Remove two stripe balls from table before racking.

  • They only need to pocket 5 balls + 8-ball (vs. my 7 balls + 8-ball)

“Ball-in-Hand Start”:

Weaker player begins each rack with ball-in-hand.

Advantage: They control opening layout. Can often run 3-4 balls immediately.

I give this spot to APA 4-5 players when I’m playing 8-ball for money.

Race-Length Spots

“7-5 Race”:

I must win 7 games. Opponent only needs 5 wins.

Example: Final score 7-6 = I win (I reached 7 first). Final score 5-7 = I lose (they reached 5 before I reached 7).

Common race-length spots:

  • 7-5: Moderate advantage
  • 7-4: Significant advantage
  • 9-5: Large advantage
  • 9-3: Massive advantage (only give to much weaker players)

One and Done: Break-Favoring Format

Rules: First player to pocket ANY ball wins the rack.

Race structure: Typically race to 7 or 9.

Stakes: $10-$50 per game typical.

Why It Favors Breaker:

Good breakers make ball 40-60% of breaks. If you make ball on break, you win immediately.

My break statistics (9-ball, recorded over 200 breaks):

  • Make ball on break: 47% of breaks
  • When I make ball on break: I win rack 100% (obviously, under One and Done rules)

One and Done Expected Win Rate:

If I break every game and make ball 47% of time: I win 47% of racks without opponent shooting.

Remaining 53% of racks: Actual skill determines winner.

If my skill level = 60% win rate in normal play:

  • 47% of racks: I win (made ball on break)
  • 53% of racks: I win 60% = 31.8% additional wins
  • Total win rate: 78.8%

One and Done heavily favors strong breakers.

My One and Done Record

After learning this format the hard way (March 2016 loss), I started seeking One and Done action.

Record 2016-2024: 34 matches, 27 wins, 7 losses (79% win rate)

Total profit: $1,840

My strategy:

  1. Only play One and Done when I’m breaking
  2. Charge premium stakes ($30-$50 per game) because format favors me
  3. Practice break extensively

Ghost: Solo Practice Game

Structure: Play against imaginary “perfect” opponent (the ghost).

Ghost Rules:

The ghost never misses. Every time ghost is shooting, ghost runs out.

How It Works:

Example Game (9-ball):

  1. You break. Make ball on break? Your shot continues. Miss on break? Ghost wins rack.
  2. You run 3 balls, miss 4-ball. Ghost wins rack (ghost never misses, would run remaining balls).
  3. You break again. Miss on break. Ghost wins rack.
  4. You break. Make ball. Run out all 9 balls. You win rack.

Scoring:

Typically race to 7 or 9 against ghost.

My Ghost Statistics:

I play ghost regularly for practice (not money, just personal tracking).

Race to 7 record vs. ghost (last 50 matches): 23 wins, 27 losses (46% win rate)

What This Means:

Against perfect opponent who never misses, I win 46% of races to 7. This means:

  • My break-and-run frequency is high enough to win nearly half the time
  • I need to improve mid-rack consistency (too many missed balls giving ghost victory)

Ghost for Handicapping

Some players use ghost as handicap format for money games.

Example:

Strong player (me) plays against ghost. Weak player watches.

  • If I beat ghost: I win bet
  • If ghost beats me: Opponent wins bet

Stakes: $20-$100 per race typical.

Why Opponent Accepts This:

They don’t have to play at all. Just watch me play against ghost. They win money if I fail to beat imaginary perfect opponent.

My Experience:

I’ve played ghost-for-money 8 times. Won 4, lost 4 (50% record). Not profitable enough for me—ghost is tough opponent.

Ring Game: Rotating Winners

Structure: Multiple players (4-8 typical). Winner stays on table. Loser pays and rotates off.

Stakes: $10-$20 per game typical.

How It Works:

Example with 5 players (Derek, Carlos, Steve, Mike, Tony):

  1. Derek vs. Carlos: Derek wins. Carlos pays Derek $20, rotates off table.
  2. Derek vs. Steve: Steve wins. Derek pays Steve $20, rotates off table.
  3. Steve vs. Mike: Steve wins. Mike pays Steve $20, rotates off table.
  4. Steve vs. Tony: Tony wins. Steve pays Tony $20, rotates off table.
  5. Tony vs. Carlos (back in rotation): Tony wins. Carlos pays Tony $20…

Advantage:

Winner keeps playing. Can get hot, win 8-10 games in row, collect from multiple opponents.

My Best Ring Game Session:

February 2019, Brickhouse Billiards. Ring game with 6 players, $20 per game.

Won 9 games straight. Collected $180 ($20 × 9 opponents).

Variance:

Ring games have high variance. If you go cold, you’re out after 1 game, paid $20, wait for rotation.

Calcutta: Tournament Auction Format

Structure: Tournament where players are auctioned before event starts.

How It Works:

  1. All players registered in tournament (e.g., 32 players)
  2. Auction held before tournament begins
  3. Players bid on each tournament player
  4. Highest bidder “owns” that player
  5. If your player wins tournament, you win percentage of total auction pot

Example:

32-player tournament. Total auction pot: $3,200 (average $100 bid per player).

Payout structure:

  • 1st place player: Owner gets 50% of pot ($1,600)
  • 2nd place player: Owner gets 25% of pot ($800)
  • 3rd-4th place players: Owners split 25% of pot ($400 each)

Can You Bid On Yourself?

Yes. Common strategy.

My Calcutta Experience:

I’ve played in 4 Calcutta tournaments.

Results:

  • 2018: Won tournament, bid $140 on myself, collected $920 (50% of $1,840 pot)
  • 2019: Finished 5th, lost $120 bid
  • 2021: Finished 2nd, bid $160 on myself, collected $540 (25% of $2,160 pot)
  • 2023: Finished 9th, lost $180 bid

Strategy:

Bid on yourself if you’re confident. Winning tournament nets you prize pool + Calcutta payout.

Scotch Doubles: Partner Format

Structure: Two-player teams. Players alternate shots.

Rules:

Example (Derek and Carlos vs. Steve and Mike):

  1. Derek breaks
  2. Steve shoots (regardless of whether Derek made ball)
  3. Carlos shoots
  4. Mike shoots
  5. Derek shoots
  6. Pattern continues: Derek → Steve → Carlos → Mike → Derek…

No Consultation:

Partners cannot discuss strategy. Each player shoots independently.

Why This Is Difficult:

Your partner might leave you terrible position. You must execute anyway.

Stakes: $20-$100 per game typical.

My Scotch Doubles Record:

Played 23 Scotch Doubles matches 2015-2024.

Record: 14 wins, 9 losses (61% win rate)

Key: Partner selection matters. I choose partners who play consistent, safe shots (not hero-shot players who leave bad position when they miss).

External Resources

For official money game betting rules and handicap formats, consult local pool hall management policies and [American Poolplayers Association (APA)](https://www.poolplayers.com) guidelines for sanctioned league betting standards and handicap systems.

FAQ: Pool Money Games Questions

About the Author

Derek Jones is an APA 7 league player and team captain from Indianapolis with 11 years of competitive experience and participation in 200+ money game sessions. After losing $140 in March 2016 playing unfamiliar “One and Done” format, he studied betting game structures achieving 79% win rate in One and Done matches and $1,840 profit by understanding which formats favor specific skill sets and breaking abilities.

Follow Derek’s league strategy insights and practical money game advice at Pool Hall Pros.