Some more about billiards

I want to spend some time talking about three-cushion billiards. I've been practicing every chance I get and have seen steady improvement in my game. Soon I'll post some photos. Until then, there is a scene from The Hustler that is very worthy of discussion. It's when Eddie and his new manager, Bert Gordon, travel to Louisville to find James Findlay, a gentleman gambler who gets his kicks playing hustlers. In a hotel lobby filled with people in town for the horse races, Findlay recognizes Bert and comes over to chat. Once introduced to Eddie, Findlay commends Eddie's reputation as a "pocket billiards" player. Although Findlay admits to generally losing that game, he invites the two to come to his home that night for a "game of billiards." Watching the movie, one can sense an intentionally ambiguous differentiation between pool (slang for pocket billiards) and billiards. But it's more apparent when reading this crucial sentence from the book: "Eddie did not like the word 'billiards' when it was used to mean pool." Once in Findlay's basement, Eddie pulls the dust cover off the table and immediately notices there are no pockets. Here is what follows:

--Eddie: I thought we came here to play pool.

--Findlay: I don't play pool, Mr. Felson. I play billiards. My house, my game. You don't have to play if you don't want to.

--Bert: Well we won't!

--Eddie: Come on Bert, let me play him.

--Bert: You ever play billiards before?

--Eddie: Sure.

--Bert: You hustling me?

(Findlay convinces Bert to let them play for $100 a game. Then one of the most brilliant editing moments of the movie occurs when Findlay empties a cloth bag onto the table and three billiard balls come rolling out, which fades into Eddie making the follwing six-cushion billiard shot)

--Findlay: Beautiful shot, Felson. Beautiful. You've played billiards before, Mr. Felson. (leaves to get a drink).

--Eddie: (to Bert) How do we stand?

--Bert: About even.

--Eddie: When do I raise the bet?

--Bert: (pensive) I don't know.

--Eddie: Bert, if that's his best game I can beat him.

--Bert: Level with me Eddie, you ever play billiards before?

--Eddie: Well what's the difference? A pool cue, balls on the table, all you gotta do is get the feel of it.