How To Play Three Person Pool

Pool is generally regarded as a game for 2 players or 2 pairs to play on pool tables. When there are 3 players wishing to play, the result is usually a pair playing a standard game against the single player. However, "Cutthroat" pool is a far more interesting game for 3 players. It is played using a set of "traditional" pool balls, numbered 1-15, with each player being assigned a set of 5 balls; the "low" balls, numbered 1-5, the "mid" balls, numbered 6-10 or the "high" balls, numbered 11-15. The object of the game is to be the last player with at least one ball remaining on the table.

Game Play

At the start of a game, the 1-ball is placed at the apex of the triangle, with the 6-ball and 11-ball at the other points of the triangle. Assignment of each set of balls varies by region. Most commonly, the first player has balls 1-5, the second 6-10 and the third 11-15. In another variation, "ownership" of each set of balls is determined by early game play. For example, a player potting the 1-ball and 12-ball would "own" the mid balls, having potted a low ball and a high ball. The remaining 2 players would not have ownership of a set of balls, until potting balls to gain ownership of a set. A player continues his or her turn until failing to pot a ball. In a situation known as "cutting one's own throat," a player may pot one of their own balls, in order to continue a turn, although having weakened their game position.

One idiosyncrasy of "Cutthroat" pool is the consequence of a foul shot, such as going in-off (potting the cue ball). The opponents have one of their already-potted balls respotted back on the table. If a foul occurs following the potting of an opponent's ball, only one ball per opponent is respotted, as the unaffected 3rd player may be placed at a disadvantage. Following a foul stroke, opponents may select any ball to be returned to the table. Some variations allow the subsequent player to have the cue ball "in hand." If the last shot of the game leaves only the cue ball on the table, a player having potted his or her opponent's ball and inadvertently their own in the same shot, one ball of each set is placed at the break mark and the player continues the turn. When the game is played on a coin-operated table, balls cannot be respotted. However, fairness is maintained by the player committing the foul stroke selecting one of their own set of balls to be removed from the table, thus rewarding the opponents.

Winning

The object is to be the last player with at least one ball on the table. When a player has no balls remaining, he or she is said to be "out" and takes no further part in the game. Under rules where balls are retrieved after a foul, if one of the remaining players commits a foul stroke, the "out" player can recover a ball and return to the game.

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