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except
when clearly contradicted by these additional rules,
thegeneral rulesof pocket billiards apply.
object of the game eight-ball is a call shot game played with
a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 through 15. one player
must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid colors),
while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes). the player
pocketing either group first, and then legally pocketing the 8-ball
wins the game.
call shot in call shot, obvious balls and pockets do
not have to be indicated. it is the opponent’s right to ask which
ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. bank shots and
combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be
taken in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket. when
calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as
the number of cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc. any balls
pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they
belong to the shooter or the opponent. the opening break is not a
"called shot." any player performing a break shot in 8-ball may
continue to shoot so long as any object ball is legally pocketed on
the break.
racking the balls the balls are racked in a triangle at the
foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle,
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.
order of break winner of the lag has the option to break. the winner
of each game breaks in the next. the following are common options
that may be designated by tournament officials in
advance:
loser breaks.
player trailing in game count breaks the next game.
legal
break shot (defined) to execute 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. when the
breaker fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming
player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and
shooting, or (2) having the balls re-racked and having the option
of shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to
re-break.
scratch on a legal break if a player scratches on a
legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed
(exception, the 8-ball: see rule "8-ball pocketed on the break"),
(2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open. please note: the incoming
player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may not
shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he
first shoots the cue ball past the head string and causes the cue
ball to come back behind the head string and hit the object
ball.
object balls jumped off table on the
break if a player jumps an object ball off the table on the
break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) taking cue
ball in hand behind the head string and
shooting.
8-ball pocketed on the break if the 8-ball is pocketed on
the break, breaker may ask for a re-rack or have the 8-ball spotted
and continue shooting. if the breaker scratches while pocketing the
8-ball on the break, the incoming player has the option of a
re-rack or having the 8-ball spotted and begin shooting with ball
in hand behind the head string.
open table (defined) the table is "open" when the choice of
groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. when the
table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or
vice-versa. note: the table is always open immediately after the
break shot. when the table is open, it is legal to hit any solid or
stripe first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or
solid. however, when the table is open and the 8-ball is the first
ball contacted, it is a foul and no stripe or solid may be scored
in favor of the shooter. the shooter loses his turn; the incoming
player is awarded cue ball in hand; any balls pocketed remain
pocketed; and the incoming player addresses the balls with the
table still open. on an open table, all illegally pocketed balls
remain pocketed.
choice of group the choice of stripes or solids is not
determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or
both groups, because the table is always open immediately after the
break shot. the choice of group is determined only when a player
legally pockets a called object ball after the break
shot.
legal shot (defined) on all shots (except on the break and when
the table is open), the shooter must hit one of his group of balls
first and (1) pocket a numbered ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or
any numbered ball to contact a rail. please note: it is permissible
for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before contacting
the object ball; however, after contact with the object ball, an
object ball must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any numbered ball
must contact a rail. failure to meet these requirements is a
foul.
"safety" shot for tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket
an obvious object ball and also discontinue a turn at the table by
declaring "safety" in advance. a safety shot is defined as a legal
shot. if the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an
obvious object ball, then prior to the shot, the shooter must
declare a "safety" to the opponent. it is the shooter’s
responsibility to make the opponent aware of the intended safety
shot. if this is not done, and one of the shooter’s object balls is
pocketed, the shooter will be required to shoot again. any ball
pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.
scoring a player is entitled to continue shooting until
failing to legally pocket a ball of his group. after a player has
legally pocketed all of his group of balls, he shoots to pocket the
8-ball.
foul penalty opposing player gets cue ball in hand. this means
that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (does
not have to be behind the headstring except on opening break). this
rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls which would
put an opponent at a disadvantage. with "cue ball in hand," the
player may use a hand or any part of a cue (including the tip) to
position the cue ball. when placing the cue ball in position, any
forward stroke motion contacting the cue ball will be a foul, if
not a legal shot. (also see general rules ?playing from behind the
string?.)
combination shots combination shots are allowed; however, the
8-ball can’t be used as a first ball in the combination unless it
is the shooter’s only remaining legal object ball on the table.
otherwise, should such contact occur on the 8-ball, it is a
foul.
illegally pocketed balls an object ball is considered
to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball is pocketed on
the same shot a foul is committed, or (2) the called ball did not
go in the designated pocket, or (3) a safety is called prior to the
shot. illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed and are scored in
favor of the shooter controlling that specific group of balls,
solids or stripes.
object balls jumped off the table if any object ball is jumped
off the table, it is a foul and loss of turn, unless it is the
8-ball, which is a loss of game. any jumped object balls are not
re-spotted.
jump and massé shot foul while "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 during an attempt to jump, curve or massé 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-through or bridge).
playing the 8-ball when the 8-ball is the legal object ball, a
scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed
or jumped from the table. incoming player has cue ball in hand.
note: a combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the
8-ball, except when the 8-ball is the first ball contacted in the
shot sequence.
loss of game a player loses the game by committing any of the
following infractions:
fouls when pocketing the 8-ball (exception: see "8-ball pocketed
on the break").
pockets the 8-ball on the same stroke as the last of his group
of balls.
jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time.
pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one
designated.
pockets the 8-ball when it is not the legal object
ball.
note: all infractions must be called before another shot is
taken, or else it will be deemed that no infraction
occurred.
stalemated game if, after three consecutive turns at the
table by each player (six turns total), the referee judges that
attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in loss of
game, the balls will be re-racked with the original breaker of the
stalemated game breaking again. the stalemate rule may be applied
regardless of the number of balls on the table. please note: three
consecutive fouls by one player in 8-ball is not a loss of
game.
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except
when clearly contradicted by these additional rules,
thegeneral rulesof pocket billiards apply.
object of the game nine-ball is played with nine object balls
numbered one through nine and a cue ball. on each shot, the first
ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the
table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order. if a player
pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for
another shot, and continues until missing, committing a foul, or
wining the game by pocketing the 9-ball. after a miss, the incoming
player must shoot from the position left by the previous player,
but after any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball
anywhere on the table. players are not required to call any shot. a
match ends when one of the players has won the required number of
games.
racking the balls the object balls are racked in a diamond
shape, with the 1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot
spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls
in random order, racked as tightly as possible. the game begins
with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
order of break winner of the lag has the option to break. in 9-ball,
the winner of each game breaks in the next, unless otherwise
specified by the tournament organizer. the following are common
options that may be designated by tournament officials in
advance:
loser breaks.
player trailing in game count breaks the next game.
legal
break shot the rules governing the break shot are the same as
for other shots except:
the breaker must strike the1-ball first and either pocket a ball
or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail.
if the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the
requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a foul, and
the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the
table.
if on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump
off the table, it is a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in
hand anywhere on the table. the object ball is not re-spotted
(exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is
re-spotted).
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diamond shaped rack 1-ball must be on the foot spot 9-ball must be in the center
of the rack
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continuing play on the shot immediately
following a legal break, the shooter may play a “push out.” (see
rule “push out”). if the breaker pockets one or more balls on a
legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins
the game. if the player misses or fouls, the other player begins an
inning and shoots until missing, committing a foul, or winning. the
game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game
is forfeited for a serious infraction of the
rules.
push out the player who shoots the shot immediately after a
legal break may play a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball
into a better position for the option that follows. on a push out,
the cue ball is not required to contact any object ball nor any
rail, but all other foul rules still apply. the player must
announce the intention of playing a push out before the shot, or
the shot is considered to be a normal shot. any ball pocketed on a
push out does not count and remains pocketed except the 9-ball.
following a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to
shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to the player who
pushed out. a push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no
rule (except rules “bad hit” and “no rail") is violated. an illegal
push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.
after a player scratches on the break shot, the incoming player
cannot play a push out.
fouls when a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his
run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are
re-spotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is
re-spotted). the incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to
his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. if
a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as
only one foul.
bad hit if the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is
not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is
foul.
no rail if no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the
cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts
the object ball on is a foul.
in hand when the cue ball is in hand, the player may place
the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except in contact
with an object ball. the player may continue to adjust the position
of the cue ball until shooting.
object balls jumped off the table an unpocketed ball is
considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other
than on the bed of the table. it is a foul to drive an object ball
off the table. the jumped object ball(s) is not re-spotted
(exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted) and
play continues.
jump and massé shot foul if a match is not refereed,
it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump,
curve or massé the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered
ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved
by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).
three consecutive fouls if a player fouls three
consecutive times on three successive shots without making an
intervening legal shot, the game is lost. the three fouls must
occur in one game. the warning must be given between the second and
third fouls. a player’s inning begins when it is legal to take a
shot and ends at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or
wins, or when he fouls between shots.
end of game a game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over
the head string on the opening break. the 1-ball must be legally
contacted on the break shot. the game ends at the end of a legal
shot which pockets the 9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game
as the result of a foul.
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