This game was derived from life pool but lacked the pooling of bets and players had unlimited lives.
A player is paid a life (stake) from the opponent whose ball was potted.
The player is then allowed to pot the black ball which meant all opponents must pay a life.
Balls are respotted after being potted and the best strategy is to alternate potting colour and black to maximize money.
Around 1875, black pool was merged with pyramid pool to form the new game of snooker, today one of the most popular cue sports in the world.