A game played on a pool table, with two balls and no sticks (on any day but karaoke night)
Overview
- The goal of the game is to be the last person standing.
- One ball is designated the cue ball and the other is the object ball.
- Gameplay consists of keeping the object ball moving or pocketing the object ball.
- The object ball can only be struck by the cue ball;
- The cue ball shouldn’t leave the table and is thrown directly from a player’s hand;
- A player may throw the cue ball as many times as necessary in an attempt to strike the object ball as long as the object ball has not come to a full stop;
- The object ball can only be directly pocketed in the four furthest holes;
- The object ball may be pocketed into the two closer holes only after touching or bouncing off of a non-adjacent wall;
- Throwing player’s hips must be fully behind either “short end” of the table.
- Players are eliminated when they receive three “chomps”.
Basics
Before play begins, turn order is determined by every player claiming a consecutive number, beginning with 1, until everyone has a number. Play begins by having the first player serve to the second player. For a serve, the object ball is set at one end of the table and the server throws the cue ball at the object ball from the opposite end. Once the object ball has been struck, the second person must grab the cue ball and strike the object ball before it stops moving. The next player is up as soon as the cue ball makes contact with the object ball. Each player goes in order continuously until a chomp occurs. Generally, when any player receives a chomp, play continues by having the next player in rotation serve to the following player. When a player is eliminated, their number is skipped in the rotation. When there are only two players left, the player who receives the most recent chomp gets to serve.
Chomps
- If the object ball is pocketed by a player, the next player receives a chomp.
- The active player receives a chomp if:
- The object ball stops rolling before the player can strike it,
- The object ball is pocketed before the player can strike it,
- Either ball flies off the table,
- The player throws from the long side of the table,
- The player throws without having a foot planted on the ground,
- The player misses during a serve three times,
- The player pockets the cue ball
- Unless they struck the object ball which is also pocketed. In that case, no chomps are awarded and the round resets (the next player serves).
- If any player illegally interferes with the object ball, they receive a chomp,
- If a player pockets the object ball illegally; the round resets (the next player serves).
Courtesy Notes
- Repeat player order as often as necessary.
- During play, it is common courtesy to alert a player who has forgotten their turn before they receive a chomp. While it is the player's responsibility to pay attention, the game is more fun when there are no cheap chomps.
- Don’t get bogged down by, in, or for, the rules. Gameplay should be based on keeping the ball rolling, not creating a Chomp Supreme Court.
- When a player is eliminated, they should make it clear, particularly to the next person.
- It is every player's responsibility to stay out of the way of the next player.
- While no chomps are typically awarded for interference through being in the way of the game, a player may have a chomp forgiven if the general consensus is that they were the victim of unfair interference
- The interfering player is then subject to unlimited ridicule.
- If a player mistakenly grabs the cue ball out of order then it is considered unfair interference and no chomps are awarded. The player who originally was supposed to have their turn before the interference occurred is the next server.
- The interfering player is then subject to unlimited ridicule.
- Remember, that in a two-person game, the person who received the most recent chomp gets to go first. This is to prevent a pro-server from demolishing their opponent without allowing any response.
Examples
Player A serves but misses the object ball 3 times.
- Chomp: player A
- Next Server: Player B
Player A serves to player B, directly pocketing the cue ball on the serve.
- Chomp: Player B
- Next Server: Player C
Player A serves to Player B. Player B then directly pockets the object ball with the cue.
- Chomp: Player C
- Next Server: Player A
Player A serves to Player B. The object ball travels around the table while B is unable to strike the object ball with the cue ball. The object ball is pocketed or comes to a full stop.
- Chomp: Player B
- Next Server: Player C
Player A serves to Player B. Player B commits a foul (e.g. ball off table, throwing from the side)
- Chomp: Player B
- Next Server: Player C
- Chomp: Player B
- Next Server: Player B