First of all, I would like to thank the AzBilliards staff for giving me the opportunity to share some of my one pocket knowledge and experience with all lovers of the game.

This diagram is the situation that I was faced with at the Galveston One Pocket Tourney this September. The game score was 2-2 in a race to 3, and my opponent was the very gifted Alex Pagulayan. This was a late match that was not only mentally but physically draining. After Alex came very close to banking his game ball in (Alex needed one, I needed all four), I was stuck in this situation.

With his game ball hanging, and the other three balls tied up around my side pocket, I had two choices...
1. Follow his game ball in.
2. Try a low percentage dig out on his game ball.

The way I figured it was if I follow it in, I will then need five to his one and he will have a shot at the two balls that would be put on the spot, and my chances of winning would be very slim.

So I decided to roll the dice and boy did it work out for me. I loaded the cue ball with low left english and sent it into the the left cushion as diagrammed. At break speed, the result was more than I could have asked for. The object ball richocheted off the points of the pockets and lucky for me, it shot straight over to my pocket, kicking the cue ball back to almost where it started.

From here, I two railed the 4-ball in with pocket speed which leads us to diagram four.

I could have tried to two rail the three ball, but I was at an angle where I would carom the 13-ball in the side, selling it out on the spot if the two railer didn't go. So from here, I liked this shot. I made the 13-ball in the side and froze him against the 3-ball.

From there he went from an almost sure winner to an underdog. One bank shot and a kick shot later, I had advanced to the next round.

Even though I didn't win the tournament, I will always remember this match and how I won with a "Hail Mary" against one of the game's greats. Proving that in one pocket, the game is never over, especially with lady luck on your side.