Rules for EIGHT-BALL


Contents:

  1. TYPE OF GAME
  2. PLAYERS
  3. BALLS USED
  4. THE RACK
  5. OBJECT OF THE GAME
  6. SCORING
  7. OPENING BREAK
  8. DETERMINATION OF GROUPS
  9. RULES OF PLAY
  10. LOSS OF GAME"
  11. ILLEGALLY POCKET BALLS
  12. JUMPED OBJECT BALLS
  13. CUE BALL AFTER JUMP OR SCRATCH

Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.

TYPE OF GAME

Eight Ball (often called stripes and solids) is a unique game, and is doubtless the most commonly played pocket billiard game in the United States. To win this game, players must legally pocket seven balls of one group and then legally pocket the 8-ball; or pocket the 8-ball on a legal break.

PLAYERS

 Two (or two teams).

BALLS USED

 The standard set of object-balls numbered 1-15, plus a cue-ball.

THE RACK

 Standard triangle rack with the apex on the foot spot and the 8-ball in the center of the triangle. One ball from each group is put on the two rear corners; the other balls may be placed at random.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

 To legally pocket all the balls of the player's group (see below for how the player's group is determined), and then the 8-ball.

SCORING

 Group balls have no point value. The player legally pocketing the 8-ball wins the game.

OPENING BREAK

 The starting player must make an open break or pocket a ball. If he fails to do so it is an illegal break and his opponent has the choice of either:
  1. accepting the table in position and shooting, or
  2. shooting the opening break shot himself.

Any balls which fall from a legal opening break count as legally pocketed balls if there were no fouls.

Should a player foul on the opening break, their opponent has cue-ball in hand behind the head string.

If the 8-ball is pocketed on a legal opening break shot, the breaker wins the game.

DETERMINATION OF GROUPS

The table remains open until a player legally pockets one or more balls. The player who first legally pockets a ball from a group is assigned that group, his opponent then has the other group.

If balls a sunk from more than one group, on the first legal counting, then the group from which the most balls were sunk becomes the shooter's group. If a player pockets an equal number of balls from both groups the table remains open.

RULES OF PLAY

Combination shots involving balls of both groups are legal when the table is open. After groups have been determined, the player must cause the cue-ball's first contact to be with a ball of his own group. Failure to do so is a foul. A foul shot is not a legal shot.

When shooting the player must make the cue-ball contact an object-ball (of his group if groups have been determined), and then either:

  1. pocket the object-ball, or
  2. send a ball (object- or cue-) to a cushion.
Failure to do so is a foul.

A player may shoot at any ball that he chooses, but before he shoots he must call the ball and the pocket. He need not call any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal). A legally pocketed ball entitles the shooter to continue. After all the balls of his group are pocketed, the player shoots to pocket the 8-ball (he is said to be "on the 8-ball").

LOSS OF GAME

A player will loose the game for:
  1. pocketing the 8-ball on an illegal, or foul, opening break shot,
  2. pocketing the 8-ball when the shooter still has some of his group balls left,
  3. pocketing the 8-ball on the same stroke as his last group ball(s),
  4. fouling when he is on the 8-ball,
  5. knocking the 8-ball off the table,
  6. pocketing the 8-ball in an uncalled pocket,
  7. fouling on 3 successive strokes.

ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS

 Any of the shooter's balls pocketed on an illegal shot will be spotted. If the shot was a foul an additional ball of the shooter's will be spotted. If any of the shooter's opponent's balls were sunk they will stay down.

If the 8-ball was illegally pocketed the shooter looses the game.

JUMPED OBJECT BALLS

Jumped balls will be spotted if they belong to the shooter. If the jumped balls belong to the shooter's opponent the will count as pocketed. If the jumped ball is the 8-ball the shooter looses the game.

CUE-BALL AFTER JUMP, SCRATCH OR FOUL

 Other than after opening break, incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
These rules are used by Billy Aardd's Club, NMIMT, Socorro, NM.