Originally Posted by fred bentivegna
The most telling description regarding Ronnie Allen's One Pocket game came from top player, Bill Incardona, the voice of the Accu-Stat Pool Videos. When Bill was asked to rate Ronnie's game against Allen Hopkins of NJ, Billy gave this account:
"I played Hopkins for $1000 a game in his basement in Jersey. He spotted me 10 to 8. Even though we were in his house, and he is a great player, his game is very conservative and predictable. I was totally comfortable and relaxed, and able to play my game, which allowed me to beat him.
I later played Ronnie in Las Vegas, in my pool room, on my tables, for the same bet, and with the same spot, 10 to 8.
The difference was when I played Ronnie, the whole time I felt like I was in a very hot oven. I never had a clue as to what Ronnie was going to do next. He was crashing balls and running out, and the cue ball was constantly flying around all over the table. I got to thinking the only safe place to leave the cue ball was in a bank vault."
Dennis, allow me to start by clarifying that the above post you are referring to was posted by Freddy Bentivegna not Wincardona. I played Hopkins in his pool room not in his basement, and when I played Hopkins I was comfortable because I was playing about a ball better at that time than I was when I played R.A. when him and I played.
The description that Freddie was quoted as saying is not accurate, to say the least.
The reason I was confused when I played Ronnie was because I was young and new to the game of one pocket.
Finally let me get to the point of this post, when ever imo you're in a tough game you should never not shoot a shot that will aid you in winning the game just to establish unpredictability in your game. Oops, unless you have the time to do that, and yes that's considered stalling.
By the way if you read my post #16 all my "I guess" "if" "should" and "unless" reasons were spot on with the exception of when I said that I guess I would agree with Stroud. Let me rephrase that one. I do agree with Stroud.
Billy I.