How To Play Pool Shark

Do you like to play pool? Do you like to play games? Do you like to drink? What if I told you there was a fun, simple way to incorporate all three? All you need is a pool table, some drinks and some friends. The establishment of your choice will most likely provide the first two, the friends part is up to you. Pool shark is a game designed to incorporate your drinking into your pool playing while maintaining a competitive spirit. The game can be played one on one or in teams. The pressure is on as shots deem drinks for one team or another, and called but missed shots are bad news for your chances of winning (and your liver.) Read the directions below on how to incorporate the triad of fun next time you’re out with friends.

The Rules

The basic premise of the game is this: the better you are at pool, the drunker your opponents are going to become. When you call a shot and make it your opponent (if you are playing in teams, the entire team has to drink as well) must drink twice. However, here is where you might get a little less agile: If you call a shot and then miss it, you must drink three times. This may seem a little unfair, but as rules go if you’re bold enough to call your shot and then you miss it you need a little bit of a confidence booster. Obviously hand-eye coordination is key when it comes to a game as pointed as pool, and the more you drink the less likely you are to maintain a steady hand while concentrating on awarding your opponent with another few drinks.

If you’re like most of the population at the bar and only an amateur pool player and you’re not calling your shots, the rules are a little different. After each ball you sink, you can give one drink to your opponent and their team. When you don’t call shots but still miss them your punishment is lessened — you must only drink twice instead of three times. The rationale here is that if you’re an amateur at pool or just a beginner, you’re going to get by with sheer luck. Luck can only get you so far (and your opponent so drunk) and your lucky shots only merit the necessity of one drink to your opponent.

Simple enough, isn’t it? We figured that when drinks are involved, the simpler the directions, the better. If you’re up for a game of pool shark stop by one of three pool tables at Willie’s located in Columbia, MO.

Written by the staff at Willie’s Pub and Pool. Willie’s has great drink specials and is one of the most atmospheric bars Columbia MO has to offer.