Single Frame Format

[rambon]

Interesting question here. In a single frame format, who breaks becomes a key element in the game. When playing single frame league matches, I tended to invite my opponent to break as it gave me a brief chance to eye up his ability and to assess the speed of the table. I was the only member of my team who used to do this, as all the others elected to break.

I just wondered what the general consensus was amongst us here as to what you would do in a 1 frame match and why, and whether this will be mirrored in the decisions made by the pros when they win the toss in this tournament. After all, with the ability of every single player on show, a bad break could be your only shot of the tournament.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

[cue1]

It depends how confident you are in your own break-off shot. By asking the opponent to break, you're practically giving him a safety advantage since he can place the white anywhere in the D, put his hand on the table & play a good safety.

I think it's easy to assess the speed of the table while you're warming up, so I would personally elect to break off myself!:snooker:

[spike]

It would very much depend on the quality of the opponent. If i had happend to have played an opponent before, and know from experience that he was an execeptional long potter say, i would have no hesitation in letting him break off. Reason for this is, more often than not i tend not to find the baulk cushion and invariably leave my opponent with odd pottable red.

[rambon]

That's the logic for most people of decent enough standard I think. I'm interested to hear what people think the professionals will do though, as yes, it is a relatively simple safety shot, but if it goes wrong, then that's it.

[cue1]

That's the logic for most people of decent enough standard I think. I'm interested to hear what people think the professionals will do though, as yes, it is a relatively simple safety shot, but if it goes wrong, then that's it.

I believe most pros would elect to break-off themselves, except maybe on a re-spotted black!

[jrc750]

But the professionals should have the confidence in their own break off shot, and possibly leaving a long red doesnt guarrantee the other player potting it, so overall i think you are definetly in control of the game if you yourself break off

[rambon]

But the professionals should have the confidence in their own break off shot, and possibly leaving a long red doesnt guarrantee the other player potting it, so overall i think you are definetly in control of the game if you yourself break off

I don't disagree but Hendry's break off against O'Sullivan in the World Open was weak, and with him being a good long potter, and with there usually being a containing safety shot, I wonder whether that would enter a professional's thinking or whether it would be "Win toss and break" every single time.

I'm increasingly in a minority here, so maybe I should stop digging!!

[spike]

No doubt majority of professionals would choose to break-off in the hope of gaining an advantage. Though in a one-frame shoot-out every shot is a pressure shot, so we are likely to see a few misses that we wouldn't usually see from the top players. That in itself makes for an interesting spectacle..

[saddler79]

Is there a proven statistical link at professional level for breaking off and winning frames? Obviously a gigantic advantage to start in certain sports but from my observations in snooker it seems much more hit and miss.

[cantpotforshíte]

In our league, we only toss for break in cup matches. In all league matches, the home player breaks.
But, given the choice, If I'm at home and I win the toss, I always choose to break. If I'm away from home and I win the toss, I'll always let the other guy break.
The reason being pretty obvious: on a unfamiliar table with unfamiliar balls, you never really know how much the white is going to throw, or how the cushions are going to react, so you could easily jaw the white in the corner or catch the reds on the way back.
Then you've got to watch your opponent knock in his easy 30 as a result of the catsarsetrophy of a break.