Substitute the battle field for a pool table; a bayonet with a low deflection shaft; the Hakka with a faultless pre-match warm up and what do you have? The answer is sport.

Sporting romanticists of all persuasions will find something to love in Allan P. Sands’, The Art of War versus The Art of Pool, which takes a creative spin on the writings of Chinese general, Sun Tzu in order to apply them the sacred game of Pocket Billiards. The Art of War was written in the 6th Century BC as strategic advice on military situations and best practise and has gone on to earn truly legendary status with the philosophies contained within now being applied to business practises far and wide. In fact, the mental picture of two ‘suits’ haggling over a multi-billion deal seems far more colourful with the knowledge that whilst one suit’s back is turned, the other is miming a Sun Tzu line such as, “Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder and crush him”. The image becomes even brighter if you consider how this can be accomplished; odd socks perhaps? But with Pool being considered more of a business than a game in recent times, particularly amongst the sport’s top earners, this book would seem to have come about at an ideal time.

Sands delivers the book as a step-by-step comparison to Sun Tzu’s original writings, never drifting too far away what his prospective audience want which, ultimately, is to win more pool matches. Students and purists of the sport will nod appreciably as words such as ‘wisdom’ and ‘conquer’ are given a rare turn under the spotlight and upon reading genuine pearls such as, ‘you make the entire effort of competition a waste of time and energy’, in reference to becoming reckless and distressed at the table but unfortunately, I believe that is where the nodding will begin to dry out for some.

I believe this to be because of two major factors. The first, and least subjective, is repetition. For all the book’s eye-opening and at times, inspiring content in the first third, what the reader is left with thereafter feels like a recap on what we’ve already learned. Too often in the latter stages of the book are lines used such as, ‘Organize your responses to fit your opponent. When he is strong, deny opportunities to advance, where he is weak, take advantage. Where you can advance, do so. Where you cannot, play defensive tactics suitable to the layout’. This mantra appears in several connotations throughout and, frankly, leaves me wondering if the author hit a wall.

The second downside to this book is far more subjective. In game play terms, I do not get the impression that Sands knows how to win. In parts, he actively encourages losing racks/points/balls, “The early part of the match must construct an image in your opponent’s mind that you are less than you really are. This may include one or more losses”. For a man that has had, ‘the first rack is as important as the last’, drilled into him, I just can’t subscribe to this. “In competition, when the win is inevitable, you may want to slow down and extend the innings. It may be needed to retain a handicap”, is just another extract that leaves me baffled. Even more baffling is the fact that just 14 lines up, of only 7 of which were not Sun Tzu’s, Sands claims, “And some defeats should never have occurred. Other times, your attempts to recover begin too late in the match to be effective”.

Those concerns aside, I believe this could be a Bible for a proportion of pool players. It acknowledges that practise pays, that being of a sound and thoughtful mind is essential when assessing options and snippets such as, ‘Always allow your opponent to retain his dignity in defeat. Do not, during or after the competition, humiliate him either by attitude or words”, can only improve you as both player and person. My advice would be to read this book and whether it be from Sun Tzu or Allan P. Sands from whom you’ll be enlightened matters not.

Review exclusively for Cuesportnews.com by Ben Moore

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