Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I'm a beginner at pool. Should I come participate? Will I have fun?
Q. I've heard this is a lesbian club, but I'm straight. Am I allowed to participate?
Q. Are transgendered women welcome to participate?
Q. Is this a business or an independent club?
Q. What does it cost? Do I have to join to participate?
Q. Are there any special rules I should know about?
Q. What's the difference between GBWBC and a pool league?
Q. I'm interested in league play but I'm not sure I can come every week. Could I be an alternate?
Q. How does a pool tournament work?
Q. Where are events held and how do I get there?
Q. My question isn't answered here. Who can I email with my question?
Q: I'm a beginner at pool. Should I come participate? Will I have fun?
Beginners are especiallly encouraged to participate in all events -- club socials, the pool league, and tournaments. There is no better way to improve than to come shoot pool with a group of friendly women (many of whom also play at a beginner level); besides, you'll be having fun as you learn. At club socials there is no formal system for ensuring that you play against other beginners, but we'll try to direct you to a table of women whose skill level roughly matches yours. The pool league works by assigning players of different skill levels a handicap so that competition gets evened out across teams. This provides a built-in way for beginners to improve on a more level playing field and it keeps an advanced player or team from dominating the league. Tournaments are another fun event to try as a beginner; even if you lose in the first round, you're automatically routed into the consolation bracket, guaranteeing that you'll get to play in at least one more match. Top
Q: I've heard this is a lesbian club, but I'm straight. Am I allowed to participate?
All women are welcome to participate in all GBWBC events. Although the Greater Boston Women's Billiard Club caters to the lesbian community, straight women are welcome. We don't bite. Top
Q. Are transgendered women welcome to participate?
Anyone who identifies as a woman is welcome to participate in all GBWBC events. This means that male-to-female (MTF) transgendered (or transsexual) women are welcome at our events. Those who identify as FTM-trans are asked to respect that this is a club for those who identify as women. Top
Q. Is this a business or an independent club?
The Greater Boston Women's Billiard Club is an independent club, not a business. We are volunteer-organized and volunteer-run, and the organizers are not employed at, or affiliated with, a billiard establishment or business. Of course, we do depend on the availability of billiard halls in which to hold our events. The Boston Billiard Club (link opens new window) has agreed to be our "home," so we do have to pay for table time for events held there (and, of course, they also hope we'll purchase food and drink while we're enjoying playing pool). Thus, any fees charged go directly into funding our activities, not to making a profit for GBWBC. Top
Q: What does it cost? Do I have to join to participate?
At Club Socials, your admission fee covers the cost of reserving a block of tables for the duration of the event. The organizers are fronting the cash to reserve these tables, so your fee goes directly into defraying these costs. The organizers are generous souls, but don't want to go broke. We do our best to keep these costs low. To join the pool league, there is a one-time membership fee that covers the weekly table time for the entire league season. For tournaments, there is an entry fee that goes directly into cash prizes. Special event prices vary depending on the type of event and are announced in advance. Top
Q: I'm still confused about cost. Don't I need to bring a stack of quarters to plug into the table for each game?
If you've only played pool in bars with "slot" tables, then you're used to paying for each game by putting quarters into a slider to release the balls. Billiard halls, in contrast, charge by the hour for an unlimited number of games at a particular table. GBWBC events are held at a billiard hall -- no roll of quarters needed. Top
Q: Are there any special rules I should know about?
The most important "rule" is to come seeking camaraderie and fun. At Club Socials, there are no formal rules of play -- given the intentionally casual nature of Club Socials, players at each table decide for themselves what rules to adopt (e.g., whether or not the shooter must call her shots). However, players are encouraged to become familiar with the offical 8-ball rules issued by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA). In particular, many casual players are unfamiliar with the "ball in hand" rule. For example, if a player accidentally sinks the cue ball when attempting to pocket a target ball, the opponent gets the cue ball in hand, and is allowed to position the cue ball ANYWHERE on the table to set up an attempted shot (many players mistakenly believe that the cue ball must be placed behind the head string--this is an older rule still followed in most bar pool, but it is no longer followed in official 8-ball competition play).
For the most part, the rules are familiar ones, and in league play and tournaments the rules in effect are agreed to and posted in advance. We do our best to help players learn about rules that we anticipate will be unfamiliar to the average or beginning player. Every pool organization and every billiards establishment has variations on the standard rules. When you join the league or enter a tournament, we'll go over the rules in advance.
During league play and tournaments, official BCA rules are in effect. If you would like a copy, visit the BCA online (link opens new window) or ask one of the organizers. All league members will receive a copy of the BCA rules. Top
Q. What's the difference between GBWBC and a pool league?
The Greater Boston Women's Billiard Club is an umbrella organization that hosts billiards events including, but not limited to, an 8-ball pool league. There are also monthly socials and occasional tournaments and special events. So, you don't have to join the league to participate in GBWBC events.
The league is composed of teams of players who compete against each other one night per week for a specified set of weeks (the "season"). Individual players are assigned a handicap, based on their skill level, to help keep competition from becoming one-sided. If you are interested in league play, or think you might be, please send an email to the organizers, as teams are forming soon, with an 10-week season beginning in early January 2008: Contact GBWBC. More info on the GBWBC league. Top
Q. I'm interested in league play but I'm not sure I can come every week. Could I be an alternate?
YES, teams need alternates. If you don't know of an existing team, we can match you to a team that is looking for an alternate. When a regular team member has to miss a night of league play, a team alternate prevents the absent player's team from having to forfeit all of the matches in which she would have played. Thus, alternates are critical to keeping competition fair. To prevent teams from using an alternate with a high skill level to substitute for a weaker player, however, there is a limit on the number of weeks that an individual alternate can play. Top
Q. How does a pool tournament work?
In a tournament, players compete in successive rounds of 1-on-1 matches. In each round, the winner of a match progresses to the next round and is paired with a new opponent. Eventually, as players are eliminated, only 2 players are left to compete in the championship match. Tournaments typically have a winners' bracket and a consolation bracket. All players who lose their first round are automatically entered into the consolation bracket. Suppose there are 16 players competing in 8 matches in Round One. The eight winners advance to Winners' Round Two, while the 8 losers go on to Round Two in the Consolation Bracket. After Round Two, four more players in each bracket are eliminated. In Round Three, two more players are eliminated in each bracket, leaving two to play for the Winners' Bracket Championship and two to play in the Consolation Bracket Championship. Check the GBWBC home page for info on any upcoming Tournaments. If you don't see one listed but you'd like to see one organized, just drop us a line. Contact us Top
Q. Where are events held and how do I get there?
The Boston Billiard Club, www.bostonbilliardclub.com (link opens new window), is our home. It's located at 126 Brookline Ave., Boston. To get there: Directions & Parking Info
Q. My question isn't answered here. Who can I email with my question?