The expression "behind the 8 ball" can apply to many of life's obstacles, from facing a traffic-court judge to accidentally baking your car keys into a pie. Sink problems into the corner pocket with today's Groupon to Dooly’s Ottawa on Gladwin Crescent. Choose from the following options:

• For $14, you get one hour of pool, an appetizer costing up to $9.75, and a 20 oz glass of domestic tap beer (up to a $28.56 value).
• For $8, you get a hand-cut smoked meat sandwich platter, prepared by Joey Smith, formerly of Nate's Deli, and a 20 oz glass of domestic tap beer for lunch (a $17.74 value).

Dooly’s Ottawa engages billiards brethren with 41 pool tables on two levels, each sporting its own bar, as well as a tantalizing selection of frothy beers and crispy appetizers. Patrons gather around pool tables topped with Kermit the Frog skin and twirl their cues as live games light up the wall-mounted TVs. The menu at Dooly’s stirs up stomachs with an array of appetizers including Dooly’s breaded zucchini sticks ($7), one pound of wings ($9.75), and thick cut golden onion rings ($5). Wash down nibbles with a 20 oz glass of Budweiser or Bud Light ($5.25). The smoked meat lunch platter is served up by Dooly's Joey Smith, who hand-cut meat at Nate's Deli for more than 30 years. The platter includes the sandwich served on rye, Dooly's fresh-cut signature fries, kosher dill pickle, and homemade coleslaw. Groupon customers can get their kicks and wield their sticks at Dooly’s Sunday-Thursday, while the lunch option is valid Thursday and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.