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9 pool variations

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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GrandInquisitor *
Profile Blog Joined May 2005
New York City13113 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-09-06 15:25:43
September 06 2007 15:23 GMT
#1
I must have seen a million variations on the 9 pool build (9 pool 9 ovie 9 gas, 9 pool 9 drone 10/9 ovie, 9 pool 8 drone 9 gas 8 ovie 8 drone, 9 pool 9 gas 9 ovie, etc. etc. ad nauseum), and I have no idea which is best for each situation.

Which 9 pool build is best for:

ZvT
ZvP
ZvZ
2v2

What fun is it being cool if you can’t wear a sombrero?
[GiTM]-Ace
Profile Joined September 2002
United States4935 Posts
September 06 2007 15:41 GMT
#2
Not sure if they are right but these are the ones I use....

ZvT - 9 pool 9 ovy. I dunno pretty standard 9 pool. I use this into FE then I usually 3 hatch

ZvP - 9 ovy 9 pool ( I don't even know if this is a legit 9 pool) Same as 1st tho I FE @ 11 then usually make 3rd CC at 2nd expo

ZvZ - 9 pool 8 drone 9 gas 8 ovy 9 drone then 3 drones mining gas till 100 for speed or lair

2v2 - I don't 2v2 but I usually do the ZvZ 9 pool build in 2v2 when I do it. Depending on what race my partner is.
I may not be the best player right now but I think I can beat any 'best' players. I'll beat all the best players and become the best player. Watch me. - Jju
Bond(i2)
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
Canada926 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-09-06 15:50:06
September 06 2007 15:47 GMT
#3
ZvT - 9 pool 9 lord extract trick 9 drone 13 hat @ expo - it doesnt hurt ur econ too bad as long as you slow the terran by killing atleast a couple scv or by making him pull some. going speed vs terran is pretty much all-in, and if it fails your econ is wayyy behind.
ZvP - same -or- 9 pool 8 drone 9 gas 8 lord 8 drone, works best vs FE or tech
ZvZ - 9 pool 8 drone 9 gas 8 lord 8 drone, up speed then pull 1 drone and get lair at 100 gas works best on 3 player maps or maps with ascending ramp (reverse LT or requiem). -or- You can 9 pool 9 lord extract trick 9 drone 13 hat @ expo. (works best on 4 player maps such as luna)
2v2 - definately 9 pool 8 drone 9 gas 8 lord 8 drone because you get speed super quick and are able to gain map control for you and your partner, thus allowing your partner to either tech or rush with you. Its most ideal vs any matchup except dual z. dual z will either overrun u with lings or gain a big economic advantage.
roses are red violets are blue, Im schitzophrenic and so am i
Leath
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
Canada1724 Posts
September 06 2007 15:56 GMT
#4
I think getting ling speed is often one important step in different situations.

I often do
9 pool
8 drone
9 gas
8 drone
9 ol
make 12 lings
and research ling speed
transfer drones to minerals, or 1 hatch tech to mutas (usually zvz, zvp, zvt) or lurker (zvp, zvt sometimes depending on the situation)
http://www.kongregate.com/?referrer=Sagess
Infundibulum
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
United States2552 Posts
September 06 2007 19:12 GMT
#5
I like this in ZvP:

9 pool
9 extractor trick
10/9 overlord
10/17 6 lings
14 or 15 hatch at expo
then drone, extractor, drone, 3rd hatch (if P fe'd)

it is especially strong if protoss fe's and you have easy 3rd gas
LoL NA: MothLite == Steam: p0nd
tKd_
Profile Joined February 2005
United States2916 Posts
September 06 2007 19:17 GMT
#6
depends on the map really. 9 pool before ovy zvp can allow you to get past his ramp is certain maps or positions. its a really aggressive build and you have to be a micro/multitask fanatic or it won't pay off.
CharlieMurphy
Profile Blog Joined March 2006
United States22895 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-09-06 20:26:08
September 06 2007 19:52 GMT
#7
Depends on map a lot.

Bloodbath for example I would do this:

ZvT 9pool, 8drone, 9gas, 8drone, 9lord - gather 200 gas and back to minerals (burrow/speed).

ZvP 9pool, 8drone, 9gas, 8drone, 9lord - gather 100 gas (speed only).

ZvZ 9pool, 8drone, 9lord - Hatch before gas.


PS- With the first 2 builds the overlord pops either right after the pool or a second or 2 later (depends on mineral positions and you ofc ).
..and then I would, ya know, check em'. (Aka SpoR)
Bond(i2)
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
Canada926 Posts
September 07 2007 12:45 GMT
#8
On September 07 2007 04:52 CharlieMurphy wrote:
PS- With the first 2 builds the overlord pops either right after the pool or a second or 2 later (depends on mineral positions and you ofc ).

thats why u 8 lord before the drone
roses are red violets are blue, Im schitzophrenic and so am i
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary26003 Posts
September 07 2007 13:03 GMT
#9
In general:
vZ - 9 speed [9 pool 9 extractor 8 overlord]
vP - 9 speed
vT - 9 normal [9 pool 9 extractor 9 overlord; cancel extractor]

Those are all builds intended to either do damage or gain map control. 9 ovie 9 pool is more of an expansion build and is viable in all three matchups. You need speed against Zerg because they're going to have more Zerglings and you need some advantage to be able to punish them. You need speed against Protoss because slow Zerglings die quickly to Probe/Zealot (this is debatable, I think 9 normal is viable against Protoss as well). You don't want speed against Terran because you'll delay your expansion too much and will die to the eventual MnM pressure in early midgame.
Moderator
Myrmidon
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
United States9452 Posts
September 07 2007 13:36 GMT
#10
Apparently 9 pool speed ZvT is the rage for progamers upset at their slow-mining starting location on T maps.

If you count 9 ov 9 pool as a 9 pool, then I'd use that ZvP. Pretty much everyone's been saying the same thing about vT being gasless is better and vZ getting gas is better, which I think is right. Uh, 2v2 I should think 9 pool 9 gas 8 lord speed is generally the best on a map and with races where some 9 pool build is a viable option. 9 pool speed is great for early map control, forcing both opponents to build defense against a possible 2v1 scenario for example.
axel
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
France385 Posts
Last Edited: 2007-09-07 14:11:57
September 07 2007 14:11 GMT
#11
After having tested thousand times pool 9 variations , ti hink the best timing + eco is : pool 9 drones , gas trick (10/9) , THEN over : if u do it perfectly u will have over just when pool finished + 3 larvae and 10 drones
QuanticHawk
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
United States32152 Posts
September 07 2007 14:25 GMT
#12
On September 07 2007 22:03 Chill wrote:
In general:
vZ - 9 speed [9 pool 9 extractor 8 overlord]
vP - 9 speed
vT - 9 normal [9 pool 9 extractor 9 overlord; cancel extractor]

Those are all builds intended to either do damage or gain map control. 9 ovie 9 pool is more of an expansion build and is viable in all three matchups. You need speed against Zerg because they're going to have more Zerglings and you need some advantage to be able to punish them. You need speed against Protoss because slow Zerglings die quickly to Probe/Zealot (this is debatable, I think 9 normal is viable against Protoss as well). You don't want speed against Terran because you'll delay your expansion too much and will die to the eventual MnM pressure in early midgame.


I always thought that there's no benefit to 9pooling in zvp if you don't speed? It's not like you gota worry bout mnm knocking down your door.
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Mortality
Profile Blog Joined December 2005
United States4790 Posts
September 07 2007 17:11 GMT
#13
ZvZ... there are many variations all slightly different.

Actually, for ZvP, 9ol->pool is surprisingly underrated. It's better at dealing with rushes than a 12 pool, but gives better economy than a straight 9. You can find an example rep in the 2006 WCG Korea qualifiers... I think it was Chojja vs Stork on Paranoid, but I'd have to check my rep archive to be sure. I had already started experimenting with it before I saw that rep and after it, I redoubled my efforts to experiment with it. The key is that the toss can't rush or cheese so effectively, but if they go macro, then you can pressure or even all-in pound them with your earlier lings. The biggest weakness I think is against Protoss tech since your earlier lings sacrifice econ and once he gets tech up, he'll start being able to control the flow of the game.

For ZvP, you DO want speed if you 9 pool. Simply put, you need to have the ability to dance around those zealots and speed is the easiest way of doing that. Without speed, the damage you can do is very minimal. There are circumstances where I'd advise against it, but in all of those circumstances I think I would rather 9ol->pool anyway (giving me better econ and making me able to afford speed at no huge loss).

In ZvT it's a little more tricky. You really need to crank up the pressure right away and do some cheesey game play. Actually though, I'd say speed can be beneficial here too, especially if you go 1 base for a bit. If you expand, then often you don't bother with speed since it will just slow you down.
Even though this Proleague bullshit has been completely bogus, I really, really, really do not see how Khan can lose this. I swear I will kill myself if they do. - nesix before KHAN lost to eNature
Mortality
Profile Blog Joined December 2005
United States4790 Posts
September 07 2007 17:13 GMT
#14
Erm... 2v2... depends on what your partner is doing and what races your opponents go. Often I prefer 9ol->pool again here so that I can double rush with my ally yet at the same time, I'm not so economically crippled by the strategy. You don't want to put yourself in a situation where you kill 1 guy but at such a great cost that you and your partner get steam rollered by the other.
Even though this Proleague bullshit has been completely bogus, I really, really, really do not see how Khan can lose this. I swear I will kill myself if they do. - nesix before KHAN lost to eNature
BalloonFight
Profile Blog Joined May 2006
United States2007 Posts
September 07 2007 23:29 GMT
#15
For 2v2, the best 9 pool build imo is 9 ol, 9 pool. You get 1 extra drone and you're our just in time to stop the opponents lings.
Deleted User 30223
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
3104 Posts
May 14 2008 01:29 GMT
#16
for zvz, how viable is saving up 250 minerals and doing gas and pool at the same time? lings won't come out that much later than regular 9pool, and you get speedlings much quicker than if you did standard 9 pool.
Superiorwolf
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
United States5509 Posts
May 14 2008 04:11 GMT
#17
On May 14 2008 10:29 goldenkrnboi wrote:
for zvz, how viable is saving up 250 minerals and doing gas and pool at the same time? lings won't come out that much later than regular 9pool, and you get speedlings much quicker than if you did standard 9 pool.

Uhh...? Why wouldn't you just get pool with 200 and get gas immediately after with the next 50 minerals that comes in. You get speedling the same time as making both simultaneously and earlier lings -_- Why would you save up money instead of using it right away? Basically getting both at the same time when you have 250 is the same as getting pool at 200 then gas next 50 except you'll have a later pool -_-
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Juicyfruit
Profile Joined May 2008
Canada5484 Posts
May 14 2008 04:30 GMT
#18
You get to mine with that extra drone for a few more seconds?
YoUr_KiLLeR
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
United States3420 Posts
May 14 2008 05:16 GMT
#19
On May 14 2008 10:29 goldenkrnboi wrote:
for zvz, how viable is saving up 250 minerals and doing gas and pool at the same time? lings won't come out that much later than regular 9pool, and you get speedlings much quicker than if you did standard 9 pool.

hm..i dont think having 9 drones mine 250 minerals is significantly faster than building your pool and waiting for 8 drones to mine another 50.
what the fuck do you have to say for yourself now you protoss jackass can you retaliate in any way
LxRogue
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
United States1415 Posts
May 14 2008 05:31 GMT
#20
Its kinda silly to delay your 9 pool when the goal is to get lings out asap.

A build progamers are doing kinda often now in ZvZ is 13 pool 12 gas which makes more sense because you have a strong economy to get a 2nd hatch and tech at the same time.
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