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Pool table game including process for interactively delivering specific instructions to each player for all shots during game play

Pool table game including process for interactively delivering specific instructions to each player for all shots during game play description/claims

The present invention relates to billiard games. More particularly, the present invention relates to billiard games wherein players are assigned a discrete set of balls and then receive a set of shot instructions that control the manner and order in which the players shoot those balls.

Billiard games have been around for centuries. Various types of prior art billiard games include 8-ball, 9-ball, cut-throat, etc. Such prior art billiard games allow a player to determine the manner in which a ball is shot, i.e., straight shot, cut shot, bank shot, multiple rail shot, etc. In addition, with a few notable exceptions (9-ball), a player can shoot his or her assigned balls in any sequence.

Such prior art games involve a great deal of skill in shooting the balls, determining the order in which to shoot the balls, and where to position the cue ball for the next shot. A skillful player can dominate such a game against a less skillful player. Such domination can lead to a player “running the table”, i.e., shooting all of his or her assigned balls without the other player even getting a turn.

Indeed, most games between players of different skill levels usually result in the more skillful player getting more shooting opportunities. Being up against a more skillful player can make a game uninteresting or even boring. Especially where the game excitement comes from actually shooting a ball and most of the time is spent watching someone else shoot their balls.

Accordingly, there is a need for a new billiard game wherein players of different skill levels can compete on a more level playing field. There is also a need for a new billiard game wherein multiple players receive an equal number of opportunities to shoot their assigned balls. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

The present invention is directed to a method of playing a billiards game among a plurality of players. The method begins with assigning a billiard ball set to each of the players and establishing a shooting order for the players. Next, player-specific shot instructions are delivered to each of the players. Each player then shoots the assigned billiard ball set according to the player-specific shot instructions in the established shooting order.

Each billiard ball set comprises a plurality of uniquely identified balls, with each ball having a specified point value associated with the unique identification. The player-specific shot instructions comprise a plurality of shot instructions corresponding to each of the plurality of uniquely identified balls. The shot instructions may include one-rail, two-rail, three-rail, wild, question, no shot and bonus shot instructions.

Each of the players shoots each of the assigned billiard balls from a starting area to a target area according to the player-specific shot instructions. After each player has performed all of the player-specific shot instructions, the players must determine which of the assigned billiard balls is closest to the target area. The game is scored based upon the specified point value of the ball that was closest to the target area, with the points going to the player to which the closest ball was assigned.

The billiards game may comprise multiple rounds with each round comprising repeating the delivering of instructions, shooting the balls, determining the player closest to the target area and scoring based upon which ball was closest. In each of the multiple rounds, the players may shoot at a different target area.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an array of billiard balls according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a one-rail shot instruction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a two-rail shot instruction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a three-rail shot instruction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a no shot shot instruction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a question shot instruction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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