Billiards game method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of playing billiards is disclosed with a scoring system. In the disclosed system, a cue ball and fifteen billiard balls are used, numbered one through fifteen. Player one is assigned seven of the billiard balls, and player two is assigned seven billiard balls. The remaining billiard ball is the game ball that is not assigned to either player. The disclosed system includes a point scoring system where points are added to a players score for sinking their own balls and points are subtracted from a score when a ball is successfully “assassinated” by the opposing player. Play continues until the game ball is sunk, and then the points determine the winner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of billiards gameplay, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of balls on a billiards table having a plurality of pockets by placing the plurality of balls into a hollow interior of a billiards rack, wherein the plurality of balls are numbered sequentially from 1 to 15;   removing the billiards rack to leave the plurality of balls in a tightly fit configuration, wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are assigned to a first player, including numbered balls 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13; and   wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are assigned to a second player, including numbered balls 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14, and wherein ball 15 remains unassigned; and   shooting a cue ball into the plurality of balls to initiate gameplay.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during gameplay, failure to strike a shooting player's lowest assigned ball remaining on the billiards table when shooting the cue ball is an end of the shooting player's turn. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the shooting player's assigned balls that are pocketed are lost, with no points awarded. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an opposing player's assigned balls that are pocketed are placed back on the billiards table, with no points awarded. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during gameplay, striking a shooting player's lowest assigned ball remaining on the billiards table when shooting the cue ball is not an automatic end of the shooting player's turn. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein failure to pocket any assigned balls is an end of the shooting player's turn. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shooting player's assigned balls that are pocketed are won, with points awarded to the shooting player based on a numerical value on the pocketed ball. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein an opposing player's assigned balls that are pocketed are lost, with points awarded to the shooting player based on twice the numerical value on the pocketed ball, and with points subtracted from the opposing player based on a numerical value on the pocketed ball. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigned balls may be pocketed in any pocket of the plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the billiards rack has a perimeter shape, the perimeter shape having a forward section resembling a dart or arrowhead, and the perimeter shape having a rearward section resembling a ball. 
     
     
         11 . A method of billiards gameplay, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of balls on a billiards table having a plurality of pockets by placing the plurality of balls into a hollow interior of a billiards rack, wherein the plurality of balls are numbered sequentially from 1 to 15;   removing the billiards rack to leave the plurality of balls in a tightly fit configuration, wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are numbered and assigned to a first player, and wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are numbered and assigned to a second player, and wherein a game ball remains unassigned; and   shooting a cue ball into the plurality of balls to initiate gameplay, wherein a shooting player may declare a stake shot only after none of the shooting player's assigned balls remain on the billiards table, and wherein the shooting player shoots the cue ball into the game ball first, after which the game ball may strike an opponent's assigned balls.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein failure to strike the game ball when shooting the cue ball is an end of the player's turn 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an opposing player's assigned balls that are pocketed are placed back on the billiards table, with no points awarded. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an opposing player's assigned balls that are pocketed are assassinated, with points awarded to the shooting player based on twice the numerical value on the pocketed ball, and with points subtracted from the opposing player based on the numerical value on the pocketed ball. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the billiards rack has a perimeter shape, the perimeter shape having a forward section receiving  8  balls of the plurality of balls, and the perimeter shape having a rearward section receiving 7 balls of the plurality of balls. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each player is afforded only two stake shots during gameplay. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a player's turn ends if no balls are pocketed when shooting, a scratch occurs, a player fails to hit the numerically lowest value ball on the billiards table with the cue ball before hitting any other ball, or the shooting player fails to make contact with the cue ball or any other ball on the billiards table. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein pocketing the game ball before completely pocketing all assigned balls results in an award of negative points to the shooting player. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein pocketing the game ball in an incorrect pocket of the plurality of pockets after completely pocketing all assigned balls results in no award of points and an end of the game. 
     
     
         20 . A method of billiards gameplay, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of balls on a billiards table having a plurality of pockets by placing the plurality of balls into a hollow interior of a billiards rack, wherein the plurality of balls are numbered sequentially from 1 to 15;   removing the billiards rack to leave the plurality of balls in a tightly fit configuration, wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are assigned to a first player, including numbered balls 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13; and   wherein a portion of the plurality of balls are assigned to a second player, including numbered balls 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14, and wherein a game ball, numbered ball 15, remains unassigned; and   shooting a cue ball into the plurality of balls to initiate gameplay, wherein a shooting player may declare a stake shot only after none of the shooting player's assigned balls remain on the billiards table, and wherein the shooting player shoots the cue ball into the game ball first, after which the game ball may strike an opponent's assigned balls.