Killer Billiards

Killer or killer pool is a straight pool billiards variant played in house games or local bars and pubs. Killer billiards is considered a favorite money game in these settings, because it allows an unlimited number of players to compete. With the unlimited number of players (and therefore gamblers), these players can wager small amounts of money and take home a sizable sum. Most of the time, killer is a winner-take-all proposition.

Lives in Killer

In killer pool, the game is scored by giving each shooter a certain number of "lives". Each player gets one shot per inning. If the player pots a ball, the player's turn is still over.

If the player fails to pocket a ball, then that shooter loses a life. In most locations, if that player scratches while trying to pocket a ball, then the shooter loses two lives.

Local Killer Rules

Like many billiards games, Killer is a game with many different house rules. Many of these rules involve the collecting of extra lives by performing certain actions. Here is a short list of possible rules variations in killer pool.

In some areas, if a player pots two balls on one shot, the shooter receives an extra life.

In some house rules, a shooter who pockets the eight-ball receives an extra life.

In many settings, failure to pocket a ball on the break does not cost a life. There are other idiosyncratic rules, often to do with the concept of gaining or losing extra lives.

Game Variant - Impulse Killer

Impulse Killer is a little known variant of killer billiards. In this game, the players attempt to keep the cue ball from stop moving. If on a shooter's turn, that player allows the cue ball to stop, the player loses a life.

In impulse killer, the cue ball is named the "hound". Occasionally, you will see impulse killer referred to as The Hound.

Starting Impulse Killer

To begin a game of impulse killer, the object balls are placed in the pallet. Shooting order will be determined at random or by lagging.

One of the non-shooters begins by dropping pallet of balls onto the table, calling out "release the hounds". The object balls roll around the table while the shooter tries to pot a ball.

Impulse Killer Scoring

In impulse killer, players start with 3 lives apiece. If a shooter pockets an object ball in impulse killer, the shooter receives an extra life. If a shooter fails to pocket a ball, this does not necessarily mean a lost life in impulse killer. Only if the player fails to hit an object ball is a life lost.

Also, if a player knocks the cue ball off the table or pockets the cue ball, this costs that shooter a life.

Object balls knocked off the table do not cost a life. These balls, or any object balls potted, are placed back on the table into play. Generally, the player placing the ball back on the table calls out "release the hounds", letting the others know that a new ball has been placed on the table.