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Pool Billiards - The Rules of Play
3. Eight Ball
Eight ball is played with fifteen numbered object balls and the cue ball. The shooter's group
of seven balls (one through seven or nine through fifteen) must all be off the table before he
attempts to pocket the eight ball to win. Shots are called.
3.1 Determining First Break
The player winning the lag has the option to determine who has to execute the first break shot.
(See 1.2 Lagging to Determine Order of Play.) The standard format is alternate break (See
Regulation 15, Subsequent Break Shots.)
3.2 Eight Ball Rack
The fifteen object balls are racked as tightly as possible in a triangle, with the apex ball on the
foot spot and the eight ball as the first ball that is directly below the apex ball. One from each
group of seven will be on the two lower corners of the triangle. The other balls are placed in
the triangle without purposeful or intentional pattern.
Spot
Eight Ball Rack
3.3 Break Shot
The following rules apply to the break shot:
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table
remains open. (See 3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups.)
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails,
or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) re-racking and breaking, or
(3) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
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(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the
breaker has the option of
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or
(2) re-breaking.
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent
has the option of
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string;
or
(2) re-breaking.
(g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul; such balls remain out
of play (except the eight ball which is re-spotted); and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has the option of
(1) accepting the balls in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups
Before groups are determined, the table is said to be "open," and before each shot, the shooter
must call his intended ball. If the shooter legally pockets his called ball, the corresponding
group becomes his, and his opponent is assigned the other group. If he fails to legally pocket
his called ball, the table remains open and play passes to the other player. When the table is
"open", any object ball may be struck first except the eight ball.
3.5 Continuing Play
The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally pocket called balls, or he
wins the rack by pocketing the eight ball.
3.6 Shots Required to Be Called
On each shot except the break, shots must be called as explained in 1.6 Standard Call Shot.
The eight ball may be called only after the shot on which the shooter's group has been cleared
from the table. The shooter may call "safety" in which case play passes to the opponent at the
end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety remains pocketed. (See 8.17 Safety
Shot.)
3.7 Spotting Balls
If the eight ball is pocketed or driven off the table on the break, it will be spotted or the balls
will be re-racked. (See 3.3 Break Shot and 1.4 Spotting Balls.) No other object ball is ever
spotted.
3.8 Losing the Rack
The shooter loses if he
(a) fouls when pocketing the eight ball;
(b) pockets the eight ball before his group is cleared;
(c) pockets the eight ball in an uncalled pocket; or
(d) drives the eight ball off the table.
These do not apply to the break shot. (See 3.3 Break Shot.)
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3.9 Standard Fouls
If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue ball is in hand, and the
incoming player may place it anywhere on the playing surface. (See 1.5 Cue Ball in Hand.)
The following are standard fouls at eight ball:
6.1 Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table
6.2 Wrong Ball First; The first ball contacted by the cue ball on each shot must belong to the
shooter's group, except when the table is open. (See 3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups.)
6.3 No Rail after Contact
6.4 No Foot on Floor
6.5 Ball Driven off the Table (See 3.7 Spotting Balls.)
6.6 Touched Ball
6.7 Double Hit / Frozen Balls
6.8 Push Shot
6.9 Balls Still Moving
6.10 Bad Cue Ball Placement
6.11 Bad Play from Behind the Head String
6.12 Cue Stick on the Table
6.13 Playing out of Turn
6.15 Slow Play
3.10 Serious Fouls
The fouls listed under 3.8 Losing the Rack are penalized by the loss of the current rack. For
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the referee will choose a penalty appropriate given the nature
of the offense.
3.11 Stalemate
If a stalemate occurs (see 1.12 Stalemate), the original breaker of the rack will break again.