Buddies and I go to a bar tonight, the only pool table is occupied so we just grab a booth and drink for maybe 30 minutes, paying no attention to the pool game. At some point we notice the table is empty so we walk over, ask the couple people nearest the table if they're playing, they all say no, so we put our quarters in and play a few games. Like 30 minutes later some guy comes up flipping out on us that he won the last game and it's his table, he just went upstairs to smoke, etc etc. Big argument ensues, nearly got in a fight with his buddies, blah blah blah.

Anyway, he asked if there was one stripe and the cue ball on the table when we found it empty, obv none of us had any idea, we weren't paying attention. He says that's how he left the table and that is the universal sign that the table is still taken and the person holding the table is just gone for a few minutes. I have played a ton of pool in bars in my life and have never once heard or seen this before. Just wondering if we were in fact out of place or if he is making crap up. Cheers.

Never heard of this either. Might be a US thing but never seen it in either NY or Boston or anywhere in Europe.

just to add, isn't it normal for the winner to stay at the table or at least let someone know there going for a smoke/toilet break instead of just leaving.

ya for sure

then it was his fault, hope you told him to gtfo

30 mins is a joke, especially as they've left no money on it

For some reason pool at bars is a magnet for douchebags. I've gotten into so many fights at my local free pool bar over the stupidest crap.

I would've replied with,"don't know but it's a universal sign that if you look around and no one is playing the game it's anyones table. now gtfo".

Isn't it common sense that a table empty for 30 minutes is open table? Even if it did belong to you, you forfeited it 20-odd minutes ago by not being there.

I've met a lot of really nice people on pool tables in bars. Not to say there weren't buttholes, the ratio of cool dudes to buttholes were pretty good. Maybe I just run good.

pretty much what we said. obv the 30 minutes is ridiculous no matter what, i just wanted to make sure the stripe/cue ball thing wasnt some unwritten rule id never heard of.

Nope, definitely not a universal symbol for anything.


Truest statement ever.

Yeah I've never heard of such nonsense about stripe ball and cue ball. When I'm about to play a game and no one is currently playing, I do exactly what you did and ask if anyone is playing or has quarters up. I give it 30 seconds for someone to make a claim and if not rack em.

If someone comes in late and says they had the game, I tell them they got winner. If they object then then I unleash some of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fWfxrPQG5U

search youtube-how to win bar fights by Bas Rutten.

lol at that being a symbol, he was just a dumb drunk douche

Never heard of the stripe ball + cue ball thing either. Next time someone tries to lay a claim for the table after such an extended amount of time take it up with the owner. I'm pretty sure they'd rather be making money on the table during that time instead of having some idiot take a smoke break.

Come to think of it, there isn't a universal written or unwritten rule about keeping the table is there? All coin op tables I've played at, coin on table = called next game, winner stays on, winner breaks, winner leaves table after game and it's open table. Unless it's like "hold on bro, I gotta go to the washroom" or "gimme a sec, I'm getting another beer," winner forfeits the table.

Have never been in a fight or seen a fight over who gets the pool table though.

i think the universal sign for "this is my table" is to leave the quarters for the next game on it.

this.

this kinda **** happens all the time at the hill billy bars around southern indiana. ppl leave then come back and say it is there table and a fight always ensues

My bad.