Pocket Apiece - Billiard Term Definition

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Definition of Pocket Apiece

Pocket Apiece is a billiards slang term that is a part of Cue Sport Game Name Terminology.

"Pocket-Apiece" apiece is another name for the game of one-pocket billiards. One accounting of the rules to play "pocket apiece" is told in "The Two Worlds of Style Delaney" by Daniel F. McNeill.

The great thing was to hear the bargaining that went on before a game. The money game they played was called "Pocket Apiece". Each player was allowed to shoot balls into only his own corner pocket. A player tried to do this and at the same time keep the cue ball in a position where if he missed his shot, his opponent would not have a good shot into his corner pocket. Whoever got any eight balls into his corner won the game but men negotiated a handicap before playing.

There is a reference to "Pocket Apiece" in Minnesota Fats' 1965 book titled "The Minnesota "Fats" Book of Billiards" (you can get The Minnesota "Fats" Book of Billiards from amazon.com for under $10).

Included in this book are the rules for the game "Fats" has made famous - "One-Pocket" or "Pocket-Apiece". "Fats" claims it is the most difficult game to be played on a conventional table - for it requires the skill of all other billiard games.

See: one hole, one pocket, pockets for more on the meaning of "Pocket Apiece".

Pocket Apiece - Usage

Have you ever played pocket apiece? What are you talking about, don't you mean one pocket?

Billiards - Pocket Apiece

Title: Pocket Apiece
Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
Published: 5/17/2006
Last Updated: 10/24/2007 9:49:46 AM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Pocket Apiece Comments

BilliyQ from United States on 1/6/2010 5:23:02 PM
Someone is mistaken. I learned about the game of "Pocket Apiece" in the early 1960s. It was not until 1971 that I learned about the game named "One Pocket." So it seems that "Pocket Apiece" existed before One Pocket. In addition, the game of "Pocket Apiece" was derived from a game named "Side Apiece". I will follow up with further info regarding "Side Apiece".

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