List Of 8 Ball Rules How To Play

The pool is a popular game that is played by millions of people all over the world, including in the United States. However, there are many different variants of the game, each with its own set of rules and restrictions that must be followed. The eight-ball and nine-ball pool games, which developed in the United States, are by far the most widely played variations of the game in the world.

In both cases, the game is played on a standard-sized pool table with the required six pockets, and both games have won several championships throughout the world. Eight-ball, on the other hand, is the more prevalent game, and it is the one you are most likely to see being played at your local pool hall, as well as the game that most people think of when they hear the word pool.

Eight-ball pool can be played as a single or doubles game, and it is played with cues and 16 balls (one cue ball, 15 object balls, and one cue ball), as well as 15 object balls and one cue ball (the ball the players strike to try and hit the other balls). Pool, as compared to its near relative’s snooker and billiards, maybe a rather fast-paced game. However, this does not make it any less skilled, with players requiring a high degree of ability, attention, and tactical thinking in order to perform at a high level in the game.

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8-Ball Rules

THE MAIN OBJECT OF THE GAME

Eight Ball is a call shot game in which a cue ball is used in conjunction with fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15, to make calls. One player must pocket balls from the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid colours), while the other player must pocket balls from the group numbered 9 through 15 (solid colors) (stripes). THE WINNER IS THE PLAYER WHO FIRST POCKETS HIS GROUP AND THEN LEGALLY POCKETS THE EIGHT-BALL.

PHONE CALL SHOT.

It is not necessary to designate obvious balls and pockets when playing Call Shot. If an opponent is doubtful of the shot, he has the right to inquire as to which ball and pocket will be used. In order to avoid confusion, bank shots and combination shots should be called with care, with special attention paid to calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. Whenever calling the shot, it is NEVER required to include specifics such as the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, or other similar elements. Any balls pocketed as a result of a foul stay pocketed, regardless of whether the balls belong to the shooter or to the opposition.

The first break does not constitute a “called shot.” After successfully pocketing an object ball on a break shot in 8-Ball, a player may continue to shoot his next shot as long as he has not legally pocketed another object ball during the break shot.

The third step is to

RACK THE BALLS.

Stacking the balls is done in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack, and a solid ball in the other corner of the triangle.

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AN ALTERNATIVE INTERRUPTION

The winner of the lag will have the choice to break the tie. In the course of individual competition, participants will swap breaking on each successive game they compete in.

JUMP AND MASSE SHOT INTO THE AIR.

Despite the fact that “cue ball fouls only” is the rule of play when a match is not presided over by a referee, a player should be aware that it will be considered a cue ball foul if, while attempting to jump, curve, or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-

THE LEGAL BREAK SHOT

(Defined) When attempting a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the head string) must either (1) pocket a ball or (2) drive at least four numbered balls to the rail before the break is considered successful. Failure to make a legal break results in a foul, and the incoming player has two options: (1) accepting the table in its current position and shooting, or (2) having the balls reached and having the option of shooting the opening break himself or allowing either of the offending players to rebreak the table.

GET A CRACK ON A LEGAL BREAK –

A player who scratches on a lawful break shot has three options: (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed (with the exception of the 8-ball; see rule 9); (2) it is a foul; and (3) the table is open. It is important to note that an incoming opponent who has a cue ball in his hand behind the head string is not permitted to shoot an object ball that is behind the head string until the cue ball has passed the headstrong and caused the cue ball to return behind the head string and hit the object ball.

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OBJECT BALLS Jumped Off The Table At The Intermission.

It is a foul if a player jumps an object ball off the table during a break shot. The approaching player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) taking the cue ball in hand behind the head string and shooting.

THE 8-BALL WAS POCKETED DURING THE BREAK

During the break, if the 8-ball is pocketed, the breaker may either request a re-rack or request that the 8-ball be spotted and continue shooting. A player who scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break has the option of either reracking or having the 8-ball spotted and starting with the ball in hand behind the head string.

OPEN THE TABLE.

(Defined) When the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been made, the table is marked as “open.” The practice of hitting a solid first in order to make a stripe or vice versa is acceptable while the table is open. Please keep in mind that the table is always open immediately following the break shot. Whenever the table is open, it is allowed to hit any solid or stripe, as well as the 8-ball, as a first strike in the process of pocketing the referred to stripe or solid. When the table is open and the 8-ball is the first ball to be contacted, however, no stripe or solid may be scored in the shooter’s favor if the table is open. The shooter’s turn is forfeited; any balls pocketed remain pocketed, and the next player addresses the balls while the table remains open. On an open table, all unlawfully pocketed balls stay pocketed, even if the table is closed.

SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS

Even if balls are created from only one or both groups, the choice between stripes and solids is not determined until after the break has occurred. IN EVERY CASE, THE TABLE IS OPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK SHOT. Only when a player legally pockets a called object ball following the break shot does the decision of the group become clear to the other players.

THE LEGAL SHOOT

All shots (excluding the break and while the table is open) must be started by hitting one of a shooter’s own balls and causing the cue ball or any number of balls to make contact with a rail unless the shooter has struck one of his own balls first and pocketed a numbered ball.

It is permissible for the shooter to bank his cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball; but, after meeting his object ball, either an object ball must be pocketed or the cue ball or any numbered ball must make contact with a rail (whichever occurs first). Failure to comply with these standards is considered a misdemeanor.

“SAFETY” CAMERA SHOT

An experienced player may decide to pocket an obvious object ball and also cease his turn at the table by informing the other players that he has declared “safety” in advance. It is characterized as a permissible shot when it comes to safety shots. If the shooting player intends to play it safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, he must notify his opponent of this intention prior to taking the shot. The shooter will be compelled to shoot again if one of his or her object balls is pocketed if this is not done. During a safety shot, any ball that has been pocketed remains pocketed.

THE SCORING PROCESS.

A player has the right to continue shooting until he or she is unable to lawfully pocket a ball belonging to their group. Following the lawful pocketing of all of the balls in a player’s set of balls, the player will attempt to pocket the 8-ball.

PENALTY FOR FOUL.

The cue ball is placed in the hand of the opposing player. As a result, the cue ball can be placed wherever on the table (it is not required to be behind the head string, except for when the player is making an opening break). It is against the rules for a player to commit malicious fouls that would place his opponent at a competitive disadvantage. When a player has a “cue ball in hand,” he or she may place the cue ball using his or her hand or any portion of his or her cue (even the tip). Upon putting the cue ball in its proper position, any forward stroke motion that comes into touch with the cue ball will result in either a foul or a legal shot. (See also Rule 39 of the General Rules of Pocket Billiards for further information.)

COMBINATION PHOTOGRAPHS

Combination shots are permitted; however, the 8-ball may not be used as the first ball in a combination shot unless the table is open at the time of the shot.

BALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY POCKETED

The illegal pocketing of an object ball occurs when (1) the object ball is pocketed on the same shot that a foul is committed, (2) the called ball does not go into the specified pocket, or (3) a safety is called before the shot occurs, all of which occur on the same shot. Balls that have been illegally pocketed remain pocketed.

THE OBJECT BALLS LEFT THE TABLE IN DISGUST.

If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is considered a foul and results in a loss of turn, unless it is the 8-ball, in which case it results in a loss of the entire game. Any object balls that have been jumped are noticed in numerical order according to the General Rules for spotting balls.

THE ART OF PLAYING THE 8-BALL.

The 8-ball is not pocketed or leaped from the table when a scratch or foul is committed when shooting at it, hence a loss of game does not result.

The cue ball is in the hand of the incoming player. It is important to note that a combination shot cannot be utilized to legally pocket the 8-ball.

DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE GAME.

If a player commits any of the following offenses, he will be eliminated from the game:

1. Fouls committed while pocketing the 8-ball (exception: see 8-Ball Pocketed On The Break).
2. Pockets the 8-ball with the identical stroke that he used to pocket the last of his group of balls (see below).
3. Has the ability to remove the 8-ball from the table at any time.

When the 8-ball is placed in a pocket other than the one assigned, the player is considered to be cheating.

In cases where the 8-ball is not the lawful object ball, it is pocketed.

It is important to note that all offenses must be called before another shot may be attempted, or else it will be determined that no infraction happened.

STALEMATED GAME 

If, after each player has taken three consecutive turns at the table (for a total of six turns), the referee determines (or, if there is no referee, both players agree) that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in the loss of the game, the balls will be racked, with the original breaker of the stalemated game breaking once more. The stalemate rule can only be applied if there are only two object balls and the 8-ball left on the table at the time of the occurrence. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING: Three consecutive fouls committed by a single player do not result in a loss of the game.