History

One pocket is one of the most stringent tests of excellence in all of pool, as it requires great shot making skills, bank shot excellence, planning, and patience.
American pool player and entertainer Rudolph Minnesota Fats Wanderone allegedly said the game of one pocket was like chess (later admitting that he had actually never played a game of chess).[this quote needs a citation] On the other hand, Wanderone s public rival Willie Mosconi, called one pocket a gimmick game for gamblers.

The game is said[by whom?] to be similar to chess, with a beginning, middle, and end game like chess. A player must be careful not to leave the opponent with a good shot, or the opponent may be able to capitalize on a successful shot for successive shots and never let the original player shoot again. A player may even intentionally pocket the opponent s ball,[clarification needed] conceding a point in the process, in order to prevent the opponent from being able to pocket that ball and use it to get shape (ideal cue ball position) on a subsequent next shot.

The first one pocket tournament was held in 1961, promoted by the Jansco brothers. The winner of the event was Johnny Vives.The game is very popular with gamblers, and frequently attracts high stakes.[citation needed] However, it is a skill game involving little luck when played correctly. One pocket plays a major role in the yearly Derby City Classic which is played in Louisville, Kentucky each January.

One of the most famous players of the game is Grady the Professor Mathews, who has written articles and published a number of instructional videos on the game. The two main reference works on one pocket are Winning One Pocket and One Pocket Shots, Moves and Strategies, both written by player and gambler Eddie Robins. The books, now out of print, often sell on the used market for over US$200 each. Another well known one pocket player is Efren Reyes. His victories in the game include the US Open One pocket Championship (2000) and the Derby City One pocket event (1999, 2004 2007 and 2014).

One pocket was the main game featured in the 2007 film Turn the River, the story of a female pool hustler who plays high stakes pool. The film ends with a nine ball match, with the main character saying that nine ball seems like a chumpy game for us.