Do you play the Player or the Table in Pool? The big debate! Analysing Matchroom Pool Highlights 

The dilemma only exists in the clickbait title. You play the player when you plan to let him shoot. You play the table when you plan to keep him in the chair. Simple.

The table plays me

The answer is both. In certain circumstances one matters more than the other, though. When you play a push, of course you keep who the opposition is in mind.

Offensively, I play the table. Defensively, I play the player.

I do both... 😎

Both. For the exact reasons you just described. Great video Karl thank you!

Thanks a million Karl, I used to play the table but thanks to this video I'll both from now on. Greetings from Colombia pool life!!!

You have clearly learned a lot about video production working for Matchroom. These videos are visually interesting now. The boring parts are removed. This channel is about to blow up!

Before you even said your opinion, I thought pretty much the same thing. If you know the player…play the player. If not play the table.

Table. Don't look at anyone else at other tables or matches. Not even your opponent. Focus on the table, have a plan and execute! Focus, intensity and concentration. 1 ball, 1 rack, 1 set at a time. Whatever happened last ball, game, set or match is over with. Be confident and positive. 🎱

I agree with playing the player but when I feel good I play the table regardless, got to pull the bunny out of the hat sometimes 😂

It takes playing the table to know you need to play the player. But it takes playing the player to know you need to play the table;)

I do exactly what you do. Described my line of thinking perfectly

I play the table. But now I will look at the players more.ty

I think you got to play both the player or the table depending on the situation of the table, you covered it pretty much in the video so agree with all of what you said.

Very well said, Karl. I agree with everything you've mentioned. You have to play the table when the opportunity arises and clear it. At that moment, it doesn't matter who is sitting in the chair, whether it's SVB or your best mate. However, playing the player is crucial, in my opinion. To do that, you need to know him/her and their strengths and weaknesses. On an amateur level, that can be challenging. Nobody I know invests time in analyzing other amateur players; you just remember things along the way. And that can be tricky.

The player, when you can, but 90% of the time I don’t know my opponent well enough for it to matter.

I just play. Not really worried about the other player TBF.

I play the player. And the tables plays us.

At my level, I am always playing against myself.

Easy to say play the table But very difficult in practice If you’re playing “ a name” then it sometimes adds its own pressure and causes mistakes I’ve seen it happen plenty

Unlike golf, where you play the course and the scores will work themselves out, in pool, you play the player because what each of you do affects the other.

Definitely both. I play the table but there are times I have to decide whether to take the shot or play safe and what kind of safety to play. This is when who I am playing comes into play.

Great video Karl. I also really enjoyed the insight from your experience. Im am sad the during your reign of terror, i wasnt watching pool. You would have really brought some real excitement to the game. Sad you retired so early. Average pool player is a damned lucky guy!

I have always played both. If the table is open I play the run. If playing a technical game I play according to the player. The only time that could be difficult is if the player is someone I’m not familiar with. Then I play like I’m playing a top player until I get to know their strengths and weaknesses. I quit playing about 23 years ago and just started playing a little bit. I feel like a beginner all over again and am still trying to find some kind of consistency again. However, some of the problem is I have only had time to play maybe an hour or two every month or even couple of months.

Hey Karl could you possibly make a video on good pattern play drills?

Well. since our local (very nice) pool hall closed during Covid....I only play my wife at home now...I try to play to her weaknesses but since there is usually alcohol involved...I make silly mistakes....but we have fun! Thanks Karlito!!

I'm trying to learn to play the player more than I used to.

I am an amateur and play both. If I have a low percentage shot, I *try to* leave either a bank, kick, or long straight shot pending the opponent. Many times I miss the intended leave though.

This is how I think about it as well. I only play the opponent when I have to. Playing my first Derby City Classic this year. I hear you will be there. Is that true? Would enjoy meeting you. Briefly of course.

Both but it depends the moment of the game : if you are the first on the table with an open table, you play the table. But if you have to play the strategic option, you obviously play the player, especially with pushout.

I play both, depending on the situation.

It appears as though your preshot routine includes a glance down at the joint of your cue or am I incorrect?

Well I think we all play the player at times, every time you enter a safety battle you basically play the player because the way you visualise your safety shot has a lot to do with who your opponent is, is he a good kicker, is he a good jumper etc etc.

A bit of both I must say. If I know the player and his strenghts then I will play him. But if it's a stranger, I will stick to my game and play the table on my terms. Cheers from Denmark.

I guess it's all about your level, sure at Karl's level knowing the weakness of other professionals matters but for us mere mortals then play the table. I've won frames and had to ask who I was playing to shake his hand after the game, I concentrated only on clearing the table. Another reason is fearing your opponent, playing a match against a premiere league cup match I drew probably the best player in his division, he broke and potted all but one ball leaving his only ball near the black covering the centre pocket. I cleared all but one of mine, gently cannoning his remaining ball into the black, all he could do was gently push his ball away from the black leaving me a blind shot into the corner needing right-hand screw to leave me perfectly on the black. I knew the player and his reputation but knew I could beat him over a single frame if I played the table and didn't let his reputation get to me. At the same time I would have players drop their heads on realising they had to play me, they had lost before they even put a hand on the table. I'm nothing special in the pool world, just loved the game and used to put about 20 hours of practice in most weeks, I got to a reasonable level for the league I played in and loved, and still love the game.

I personally think you should mix it up as there are times when both are beneficial For the lower level players like myself I honestly think the biggest problem is what I call UNDERDOG PRESSURE when your playing a player who you know is significantly better then you and you can't help but think when you get to the table your saying you can't miss or you lose the frame which hinders your ability to clear focus on the game

The great Efren Reyes has always said "Play the player" 👍🏽👍🏽

Fun fact: everybody plays the player, even those who claim they play the table.

I always play the table in 9 ball since I've seen too many flukes but 8 ball I play the player.

First time watching this channel and i very nearly switched off after less than 2 minutes, the words ' SVB is arguably the greatest pool player ever " No,Efren Reyes is the greatest, no contest

I think it's both. When you at the table with balls in position you are playing the table. When you play safety shot then you are playing the player because you have to position it where you think they have the worst chance at making the ball.

I play against myself

I always play the player. At the table i try the speed of the table and how the banks react.

i play both styles depending oponent

I now play the player, the table never changes. Thanks Karl Boyes.

I play the table, knowing what my chances are to return if I miss. Player is an underlaying connecting issue but 2nd to the table.

I think this is largely a pro vs. amateur approach. As an amateur, I play too many other players too infrequently to really understand their specific strengths and weaknesses. Players are often leaving the league as new players join. Plus I don't have access to hours of video on my opponents and wouldn't have time to analyze it even if I did. Instead, I sometimes categorize my opponents as significantly better than me, worse than me, or comparable to me. For worse opponents, I typically play more conservative, assuming it will be difficult for them to pull of a lengthy series of shots. For better opponents, I play more aggressive, assuming my safety play won't be as effective and I'm probably gonna need a bit of luck to beat them anyways. For opponents comparable to my skill level, I just try to pretend I'm playing the table.

I play the table, but you must be aware of your opponents capabilities.

I play the table most of the time but I’m not playing professionals. Some 600+ Fargo’s at best.

On the Efren safe, you’d rather play that shot against anyone. Not just Efren.

Yes! : ) Be Safe

I play the player on push outs and safeties

If you are playing league, and you a higher level vs lower level, you should 100% play the player till the balls are where you want them.

How did u get on in the 4 matches v Efren

I play myself.

one pocket might be a fruitful example since there's so much back and forth

Mostly play myself 😂

You don't do one or the other but both

Boyes 4 and O over Reyes?

Actually Karl, nowadays you play nobody mate ;)