There are many ways to play a safety in any pool game, but there are a few that are particularly pertinent to each game. In a call-shot game, safety play is used almost as much as it is in other games because, quite simply, you don't always have a shot. While playing a safety may sound like dirty pool, it's not. It's strategy.

Safety and a Pocketed Ball

Let's say you call a safety but you pocket a ball. The ball is spotted on the foot spot and your opponent takes the table. How is this useful? Suppose it's your turn and the cue ball is all the way at the head of the table near the object balls. If you think ahead to your next shot (which you should always be doing if you studied the chapter on position play), and you see there's no good way to position the cue ball to pocket another shot, call a safety. On this particular safety, you can pocket a ball and position the cue ball so that it is frozen to the top rail or some other impossible angle for your opponent. If you've played it right and you surveyed the table with your analytical mind, you will leave your opponent in a tight situation and you'll get control of the table back when your opponent misses.

Intentional Fouls

After everything you just read about fouls, you're probably running for the hills now that you know you can do it intentionally. But every so often an intentional foul may be worth one less point — especially if your points are in good shape or you're in an early inning. Remember, everything you are learning to do to create havoc for your opponent's next turn at the table, he or she will be doing to you — so this is all about defensive play.

Here's an example of an intentional foul: Let's say the opening break has occurred and you find yourself having to strike at a clump of object balls at the head of the table. You can strike the cue ball softly between the two front object balls. If you use a little English, you will freeze the cue ball against the front two object balls — making it very hard for your opponent to pocket a ball (or even move the balls far enough apart) on his or her next turn. And if you hit the two front balls hard enough you might be able to knock one of the back balls into the cushion and make the shot legal. So, you see, there are ways you can keep yourself competitive with just some know-how and a plan.