RedBall

RedBall (or "Red Ball", "Red-Ball") is a game developed from the popular game pool. A single RedBall game can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the number of players. RedBall can be played with a minimum of 2 players, but no true maximum. The only requirements for this game are a pool table and two of the balls used in the pool game, typically the cue ball and a colored ball (in most cases, the red ball). Cue sticks are not necessary to play.
Please note that this game has no relation to the popular game pool. The only parts of the pool game used are the pool table and two of the balls. Therefore, this game is not a well-known or well-documented game. The game was primarily created for parties and is common amongst teenagers.
How to Play
To start a game, players line up in a particular order and follow the order for the entirety of the game. The first player in line starts off the match. Each person takes a turn, and the turns cycle through the line of players. On your turn, the goal is to make the white cue ball collide with the red ball. If you can successfully do that, you are "safe" until it is your turn again. However, there are several important rules that may impact your turn:
* You may never touch the red ball with your hands. You must use the cue ball to hit the red ball.
* You must stand on the opposite half from where the red ball is. You can only be on the short sides of the pool table. You should remain completely parallel with either of the short sides of the pool table, whichever is opposite the red ball. This means that if the red ball rolls towards you and across the halfway line, you must move to the other side of the table to take your turn.
* You may take as many tries to hit the red ball and end your turn (moving to the next player in line). The cue ball may drop in a pocket, but this does not affect the game. Pick it up and continue with your turn.
* You have three chances, or "strikes", until you are out. See the "Earning Strikes" section for how to earn strikes.
Starting the Game
The first player in line should start the game. The cue ball is placed in the center of one half of the pool table, and the red ball is placed in the center of the other half. The starting player has three chances to hit the stationery red ball before receiving a strike. Once the first player hits the red ball, their turn is completed and the next player after them continues the game as normal. This protocol is also used after a strike is issued. Because of the nature of a strike, the motion of the red ball is interrupted so it will need to be reset.
Whoever receives a strike does not get to play during that cycle of players. Usually this is not an issue because the strike will be received from not hitting the red ball in time. However, if the player before you knocks the red ball in a pocket, your turn is skipped since you received the strike.
If the starting player is able to hit the red ball in a pocket without touching any of the pool table's sides (it does not bounce), then their number of "tries" resets and they reset the positions of the red and white balls, attempting to get the red ball in motion and end their turn.
Earning Strikes
In a game of RedBall, each player receives three strikes until they are out of the game. To get a strike:
* The player before you in line hits the red ball in a pocket and subsequently ends their turn; or
* The red ball stops moving before you can hit it with your cue ball; or
* Either the red ball or the white ball leaves the table on your turn, regardless of the circumstances; or
* At the beginning of the game or the next turn after a previous strike was issued, the starting player does not hit the stationery red ball within three times; or
* You interrupt or prevent another player from taking their turn.
Winning the Game
Only a single player may win the game. To win the game, you must survive through your turns without receiving three strikes. This means that every other player in the game, besides yourself, will need to have received three strikes. This ends the game and crowns you as the victor. When the game only has two players left, the players will alternate turns regardless of previous strikes. This means that if a player receives a strike during the final two, they are not skipped like they would be if the game had more than two players remaining.

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See Also

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