tylerknew asked:


I am looking to purchase either a 4 or 6 deck blackjack dealer shoe. I live in Aurora, Colorado. I want to buy it at a retailer. I don’t want to order the item over the Internet. I am having the worst time trying to find the item. Any recommendations? I’ve looked at Dick’s, Big 5, a couple of smaller game stores (that sell darts, some poker supplies, billiard tables, and the like) but no luck. It doesn’t matter if it is wooden or acrylic. I’ve posted on Craigslist and some other forums. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Natalie

Josy Kinney asked:


The term “Billiard tables” is certainly very popular among most people and they are best known as the Billiard pool tables. But you do however get different types of Billiard tables. Here we will discuss all the different types of Billiard tables and their use.

The traditional shape of a billiards table is a square, but it is not uncommon to see variations to this shape. You will find pool tables that are circular, hexagonal and even zig zag shaped. The other variations is in the color of the cloth used to coat the surface of the table. Traditionally the cloth is green but you will also find them in other colors like red and blue. Regardless of the shape of the table, the rails of the table are raised and cushioned. This stops them from rolling off and helps them to bounce back. The table are available in pocketed and without pocket version. The ones with pockets are used to play pocket billiards and they have six pockets – one on each corner and two that face each other on the sides of the table. The pockets in the corner are called corner pockets while the ones in the middle are called side pockets. The table without pockets is specifically used to play a game called Carom which is usually played with three balls.

The sizes also vary, starting at 3.5 feet by seven feet and going up to 6 ft by 12 ft. They are also available in 4 ft by 8 ft, 4ft by 9 ft and 5 ft by 10 ft. For professional competitions a 4.5 ft by 9 ft table is used. Pool parlors and Billiard Halls usually use a 3.5.ft by 7 ft table so that they can accommodate more tables in a limited amount of space. But the hugest tables are reserved for pool and snooker games which are 10ft by 12 ft in size. The height of the table is just perfect for a for a person with average height to use the pool table comfortably without having to bend too much. The side railings of the table are lined with vulcanized rubber and are a few inches above the surface of the table. The cushioning helps the balls to bounce back, letting players enjoy an amazing angle of stroke play. The cloth which is used to cover the surface is also used on the railings.

The pockets of the pool table are made out of leather or plastic. Once the balls enter the pockets they are collected in a leather or plastic net and then they are led to a collection area through a trough inside the table. But the pool tables used for Carom don’t have pockets. The surface of a billiard table used for Carom is made out clay that has been heated above room temperature. This aids in faster play. According to the international Carom regulations, the boards used in the game necessarily need to have a surface that has been heated.



Lauren

Joe Schmieder asked:


Whether you already have a home game room or you’re thinking of adding one to your home there are some “essential things” you’ll need to make your game room “Ultimate”. It’s true you may not need every single one of these items or you may not have the time, space or money to add every single one. But if you do have the time, space and or money and want an “Ultimate” Home Game Room then check out the top 6 items (in order of importance) that you’ll need for your game room to achieve ultimate “game room friendly” status.

#1 Game Table

Since you’re creating a home game room the number one must-have is the game table. Now which game table or tables you have is of course a personal choice. The two best game tables for home game rooms are billiard tables and shuffleboard tables. They’re the best because of multi-player use, the skill of the game and the fun competition each one brings to your home.

If your game room is big enough it’s always fun to have a combination of two different game tables. The best combo idea would be to have a billiard or shuffleboard table plus either an air hockey, foosball or ping-pong table. They say “Variety Is The Spice Of Life” and that is especially true for a home game room.

#2 Three More Great Games

The second must-haves are more great games. Again this is a home game room and to be “Ultimate” you’ll need at least three more great games. These are games that will compliment your table games and add even more variety. The types of games that fit into this category are: arcade games, indoor basketball games, bowling games, crane games, dart games, pinball machines, football games, golf games, pachinko/pachislo games and slot machines.

There are other games you could add but this is a good list to get you started on the right track to creating a fun family game room. These three additional great games are just enough to keep everyone happy. Any less and you could lose that ultimate status, any more and your home game room could become cluttered. A home game room that’s cluttered with games will lose its uniqueness!

#3 – Jukebox

So now that you have the games and everyone is having a blast you’ll want to add some music. The best way to add music is with a jukebox. Stereo systems are good also but they don’t give you that “Ultimate” game room look and feel that a jukebox does.

Don’t worry there is a large assortment of jukeboxes available. Personally I prefer a jukebox from the 1940s. The old songs from the 1920s-1940s are great for all ages and they’re a nice change from the norm. There are some really catchy tunes from those years!

But if you’re not an oldies fan then there are other jukeboxes, like the ones that play 45rpm records. If those are still too old for you then a CD jukebox will do the trick. Some hold a hundred CDs giving you the ability to add a large assortment of music that would be perfect for any occasion. Also the jukeboxes look vintage 1940-ish. Finally if you love technology there are digital jukeboxes. They don’t look so much like a traditional jukebox but you can download music right to them using various methods like from a home computer.

# 4 Game Room TV

The fourth item you’ll need is a Game Room TV. It’s great to have a jukebox and music but when the big game is on New Year’s Day you’ll want your Game Room TV. Whether it’s a 13inch TV attached to your ceiling or wall or a large plasma TV doesn’t matter. It’s having the TV that bumps your game room up to the “Ultimate” level.

Now one of the best TVs to have in a home game room if you have the room is the projector TV with a movie screen. Having one of those is like having your own mini theatre in your home and they’re great for watching sports. It’s probably not a good idea to use one of these TVs for everyday use as the projector bulbs have a limited lifetime. You can however buy a replacement bulb but they can get expensive on some models. The bulbs usually last around 3000 hours and that is plenty for home game room use.

#5 – Refrigerator

The fifth must-have is the refrigerator. The reason being that if you’re creating an ultimate game room then you’re most likely planning on having parties with family and friends. A refrigerator that holds a couple cases of your favorite drink is perfect. You don’t need something large and fancy.

The reason these are good is that you won’t have everyone trouncing into your kitchen all day and night to get a drink. Also it helps keep the party in your game room not to mention your kitchen floors clean. On top of that they’re great for storing extra food for everyday use if your main refrigerator if full.

#6 Game Room Bathroom

The last must-have item on our list is a Game Room Bathroom. Like the refrigerator above it keeps the foot traffic to a minimum throughout the house if you have a bathroom in your game room. Plus adding that additional bathroom to your home is great if you have parties because someone always needs to “go” when your one bathroom is occupied.

Besides the added benefit during parties, adding another bathroom to a home usually increases a homes value. That is always a good thing and it’s just another reason why a bathroom in the game room is the number six must-have item.

There are many more items that can be added to your home game room. For example neon signs, clocks, pictures, posters, pub lights and so on. But this is a list of must-haves to push your game room up to the ultimate level.

Of course not everyone has the room or the money to add a bathroom to the game room. Or has the space to add so many different games. That’s ok because game rooms aren’t about having the biggest and best things. They’re about having fun with family and friends. Also creating the “Ultimate Game Room” isn’t done overnight. It takes time and that is part of the fun in bringing your game room to life. Set a budget if you need to and take as much time as you like in adding your favorite game room items. In the meantime have fun using your game room with family and friends as much as possible. And never forget that “Families That Play Together, Stay Together”.



Ethel

Joe Schmieder asked:


Buying a game table for your family game room can be a daunting task. But after reading this article you’ll be up to that task!

Let’s talk about the tables and features and which table or combination of tables would be perfect for some good old fashioned, family fun!

Air Hockey Game

An Air Hockey Game gives you what every sports fan wants, high-speed and intense competition. It’s arguably the fastest table game played even more so than table tennis. But is it the right choice for your family?

There was a “basic” air hockey tabletop game in my home growing up. It did get some use and it was fun for short periods of time. Needless to say during get-togethers the table was put away to play pool and not seen again for weeks at a time. Though if we had a standalone air hockey table then I’m sure it would have been used more often.

Each manufacturer offers something a little different in their tables. One example would be the width, is it 2-player or 4-player. Also the tabletop colors and designs vary. Usually they’re blue or white and the table may or may not be painted to look like a real ice rink. Another fun feature is electronic scoring. Some cheer and boo while others only tell the score and have overtime play features.

In my opinion air hockey game tables are a plus to any game room. But they are not good enough to be the “only” game if you’ll be having a lot of large get-togethers.

Billiard Table

Billiard Tables in recent years have improved. The designs and colors can be custom made to suit your desires and to match your home game room.

I grew up having a pool table in our home game room. It was a basic 7-foot bar room sized green felt table. Nothing too fancy but it didn’t matter because it was used often especially on the weekends.

Some billiard features are really neat. For example some manufactures will let you decide the color felt you’d like. If that’s not enough you can also get a table that has a University Logo, MLB Team Logo or NFL Team Logo in the middle and you can get matching billiard balls.

When it comes to designs you can find solid wood tables, laminate tables and other contemporary table designs. There are indoor and outdoor styles available also. If you want something really different you can buy a black light pool table, a Harley Davidson themed table or even a NASCAR themed table among others.

But they’re not just about looks they’re also about family fun. With a pool table you can play a wide variety of games. Also children learn how to make cuts and bank shots. And there’s a thought process involved with every shot that only Shuffleboard comes close too. It’s a strategy game that’s fun for the whole family.

In my opinion pool tables are a game for the whole family. They can also be the only game in your game room. Because of the skills involved and the variety of games that can be played, a pool table is a great choice for good old family fun get-togethers.

Foosball Game Table

Foosball Game Tables are great for kids of all ages. Not quite as fast as air hockey or as strategic as billiards, foosball is still a great game. It does however have a speed value that billiards doesn’t have. It basically has a bit of everything in it.

I never had a foosball table but a friend of mine did. We’d play for hours and the good part was that it was big enough for 4 players at a time. You can be the goalie/defense or the front scoring line or both if playing by yourself. You really need quick reflexes to be tops in this game.

What does a foosball table offer you? The quality of the wood or player colors can be changed but you basically just have your four legs and the table. Some tables are oval instead of rectangular and this makes it safer for young children. Also look for tables that have raised corners on the playing surface so the ball won’t get stuck like in the older versions.

Are they great family fun? In my opinion it depends on the age of the players. For older kids and adults they can be a lot of fun but definitely not for younger children. It’s too hard to switch handles and younger children need something to stand on to play. It’s easier to swing at a puck or hit pool balls. If you’re children are older then a game room sized foosball table would be a great addition. If you have a pool table already then foosball would be a great second game.

Shuffleboard Game Table

Now here’s a game table that has been overlooked for years. So let me be one to say that shuffleboard is a game for everyone.

When it comes to the designs and colors of shuffleboard games there are only a few differences. One difference is table length ranging from 9 to 22 feet. There are also features like bumper rails, which make the game easier to play for children. Plus depending on the table you may have a triangle scoring zone or a basic 3 or 4 line, scoring zone. This game does have some nice family friendly features.

The playing of the game offers up strategy. You can use your pucks to block shots, score points or to knock opponents pucks off the table. Also you can play one on one or with teams.

In my opinion this is the only other stand alone game for a home game room besides a billiard table. It’s similar to pool in that strategy is used to win. Also it’s easy to play for all ages, although adults seem to enjoy this game more than kids. Kids tend to get bored from the slow action. Definitely find a place to try this game out with your family before purchasing.

Table Tennis / Ping Pong Tables

A Ping Pong Tables is great fun. Adults love to play, kids love to hit the balls around and everyone has a laugh. But is it the best table game for your family? No.

I don’t **** the game of ping-pong. We had a tabletop version in our home growing up. We played it more in our teenage years but as children we’d just end up chasing the ping-pong balls. If you’re a professional player then you’ll disagree with me but for the average family player it’s a game for older children and adults.

The features are all pretty much the same including the size of each game. You do however have a choice of tabletop colors, (green, black or tournament blue). And you can buy fold up tables to give your room more space when not using the table. Also paddles can be different colors and balls come in many colors and fun designs but that’s about it.

In my opinion ping-pong is a challenging and fun game. It can be a very fast game for more advanced players and it definitely takes a lot of good hand-eye coordination. Is it a good stand alone game for your game room? Obviously I think not but it is a great third game. Wait until the children are older before adding one of these unless it’s your game of choice.

In closing a combination of a billiard table or shuffleboard table, air hockey or foosball and ping-pong would work well. You’d have a nice selection of games to please everyone. Also the skills needed to play each game are different, from making bank shots and using strategy to using quick thinking and reflexes you’ll get a bit of each with a combination of games.

If you’re still undecided have a look at “combination game tables”. Just remember that no matter which you choose you’ll have hours of fun and game tables only add and never take away from your home game room!

Visit http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com/game-tables.html to find more useful information on selecting a family fun game table.

Or visit the http://www.game-room-decorating-ideas.com home page to get started on creating the ultimate home game room.



Neil

David H. Urmann asked:


A billiard room is simply defined as a room for group of people who play billiards. There are many billiards parlors nowadays and more and more people including the young and old go to these parlors for night out.

Billiard parlors are exclusively made from the idea of guy’s and ladies time together since it is merely changing these days with the start of billiards parlors or pool parlors. Billiard parlors range from essential to expensive parlors. Upscale billiards parlors normally have a lot of tables that can hold more than 500 guests in few cases and has a bar as well.

A number of billiard parlors can provide accommodation for private parties, shopping, and even parking, with an array of package deals. During the 1990’s the idea of a billiard parlors was just a room with a billiard tables and sticks and balls to play. Most of it had no ambience but is very useful, just made exclusively for playing billiards. At the moment, the billiards parlors have revolutionized as compared to what the previous billiards room was. A contemporary billiard parlor offers ambience drinks, serves food and offers other kinds of entertainment. Wi-fi music and plasma screen televisions are provided to entertain guests. Normally, a billiard parlor has 40 tables or more along with other games like snooker and other indoor games. Ideally, it’s meant for a group of friends who come to play and doesn’t want to be included to other groups or doesn’t want to share their table with anybody else.

Originally, before snooker was invented, Billiards is already a popular game. A set of rules are implemented before you play the game. Billiards is composed of strategy, preparation and excellence. In this game, players as a rule must have a lot of forethoughts before they play. It is somewhat compared to golf. You cannot learn and master them instantly since there are basic rules and regulations and some code of conduct to be followed while playing it. It is a serious game that needs professional attitude with a lot of concentration, thoughts, strategy and then exercise of mind. It is a game of composure and it doesn’t need all that physical activity but only definite postures that you might develop during the game.

Billiard games uses cue. A cue is a long stick that is used to hit the balls that are kept on the billiard board. Cues are held with both of your hands. The players usually hold one end of the cue and then place the tip of the cue between the fingers of the other hand. Both hands work together to fold the cue firmly before it aims a certain ball. On the other hand, the balls that will be used for the game is arranged on a triangular shape and is located just above the billiards table. The cue is used to hit the balls in order to disperse it and then the game continues after that.

The entire game of billiards actually depends on how the balls are hit by the player for the first time. Right after the first shot, the player must be able to strategize his moves and plan how to hit each ball for him to win the game. In short, victory is the result of a planned effort in the billiards game. In Billiards, a trick shot is something that you do to manipulate the balls, but mostly it is unlikely to happen. Trick shots are practiced expensively and looked at with remarkable interest. Most players practice these trick shots and create new trick shots that can be used during the game. Professional players normally include this billiard trick shot as part of their regular game. In artistic billiards the players usually obtain seventy challenges that they need to complete. However, Billiard competitions that allow trick shots regularly allow the players to complete these trick shots. Indeed, Billiard is one kind of game that you can never take as it comes.



Rosemary

April Kerr asked:


Billiard or pool is probably the most popular indoor game that is often played in the clubs and offices. As a matter of fact this game has gained huge popularity all over the world and this is the reason why you will find tournaments and competitions of billiard taking place everywhere. A billiard table and cue are the two indispensable tools for a game of billiard. Now the quality of these two instruments has huge impact on the player’s performance. So these two things have to the best of the lot.

Buying a Billiard Table

It is not at all an easy job to buy a billiard table. There are quite a few factors that you need to take care of in order to make sure that you are picking up the best piece. The important facts about a billiard table are its size, shape and price. Moreover you need to purchase a table that will fit the place where you keep it. If you are going to purchase the table for using it at home then make sure that you have a sufficiently spacious room to accommodate the table. It also matters a lot whether you are going to place the table at a corner of the room or in the centre.

The door size of the room needs to be wide enough to let the table get into it. There are various places from where you can buy a billiard table. Often you get to see advertisements in the newspapers where they want to sell used or new tables. If you have enough money to spend fro your hobby of Billiard then the best option is to go for a new one. If at all there is budget constraint then a used one in a good condition is not bad at all.

How to Buy a Billiard Cue and Balls?

The billiard cues and the balls are as essential as the table is. As a matter of fact if the cues and the balls are of cheaper quality then the chances of the games getting spoiled is very high. All the billiard players have the same opinion that the balls and the cues should be perfect for a good game. Now you need to take care of some features while buying the cues for your personal collection.

First of all hold the cues in hand and try out some shots with it just to make sure that you are getting the right feel about them. If you are a seasoned player of billiard then you will understand the quality from the first touch. Then you need to know if the sticks are perfectly straight or not. If at all they are defective in any ways then the shots will never be perfect.

So if you want to play billiards and be the best player you can, always choose your billiard table and cues carefully.



Gertrude

Amal asked:


I need some answers
Please visit the link above
The number written after the clue is the number of letters the answer contains.

Across
1. Card game for two players 7
5. Fabric used for covering billiard tables 5
8. Australian breed of horse 5
9. Justifiable, sustainable 7
10. Advance, progress 7
11. Change in emphasis, focus 5
12. African preserve 6
14. Prefix indicating against 6
18. Sloping edge in masonry, carpentry 5
20. Ostracized, exiled 7
22. Cylindrical screen used to sieve ore, coal 7
23. Capital town of Menorca 5
24. Continues, remains 5
25. Tungsten ore 7

Down
1. Projecting lock of hair 7
2. Yellow-flowered Eurasian primula 5
3. Hasty, perfunctory 7
4. Have a chat 6
5. Unexpected advantage 5
6. Inherent, congenital 7
7. Incident, occurrence 5
13. Resembling snow 7
15. Best, Greatest 7
16. Word opposite in meaning to another 7
17. Empty, unfilled 6
18. Asian evergreen climbing plant whose stimulant 5
19. Walks lamely 5
21. Indian pickle preserved in spiced oil 5

Thanks!

Dolores