Tip Of The Week

Number: 19 Jim Tellier June 2011

TOPIC: Timing

CATEGORY: Intermediate - Advanced

INTRODUCTION:

If youve ever played chess, you know the concept of gaining the initiative: its that point in the game that (hopefully because of a great move that you made, but possibly even by your opponent!) puts you in the drivers seat. From that point forward, if you dont make any blunders, youve got the game in the bag! Well, if you havent noticed, the same idea applies in pool. But --- if you dont consciously make an effort to think about it while you are playing, you can miss opportunities to win! And win with little or no more effort than what you would exert to lose the game!

TECHNIQUE:

You know how to see problem areas that need to be addressed in your game: clusters that need to be broken up, tough shots that are frozen to the rail, the long shot that he left you when he missed, etc. But in order to seize the advantage, and get yourself some additional innings at the table, you must also see what problems your opponent is faced with. Having done that, the first important principle here is this:

Compare your list of problems to that of your opponent. Simple: if he has more stuff to deal with, and youre still at the table, youve got a distinct advantage! Capitalize on it!

Key principle #2 is this: When you reach a point where you see that you cant run out, (and hopefully this can be seen well in advance as you look ahead through your plan), play a safety and/or do something that will create yet another problem for your opponent.

If youre going to leave the table, you want to maximize the chances that youre going to be getting another turn!

Now, what about the case where your opponent has fewer problems to deal with than what youre faced with? Again, if you cant see a complete path to a run-out/win, make something happen that will slow your opponent down. Even hitting one of his balls to cause a cluster, giving him ball-in-hand, can be far better than just missing a shot, or playing a safety, then sitting down.

Bottom line: dont give games away just because youre on the wrong side of the advantage line. You can flip that advantage over to your side of the court, and (at the very least) make your opponent really work for it! It should never be a case of run out or bust out you have control over the table when youre up take the advantage!

ARRRR!!!! J