Pool8 UK

1. Introduction

Pool 8 UK is a game for two players played on a table with seven red balls (reds), seven yellow balls (yellows), and one black ball (the 8-ball). Pool 8 UK is essentially the same as Pool 8, the form of pool most people are familiar with. If you can play Pool 8, you’ll have no trouble whatsoever with Pool 8 UK.

2. The object of the game

The object of the game is to use a cue stick and a white cue ball to hit your set of balls, either reds or yellows, into the table pockets. Players use their cue stick to hit the white cue ball. The white cue ball should then contact a red or yellow ball and propel that ball directly or indirectly (combination or bank shot) into one of the table’s six pockets. The first player to shoot all of his set of balls, either reds or yellows, into the pockets must then pocket the black 8-ball to win the game.

3. Turns

Players alternate turns. If during a player's turn, he pockets one of his balls without committing a foul, he continues playing (see below for a list of fouls). If the player fails to pocket one of his balls, pockets one of his opponent's balls by accident, or commits a foul, it then becomes the opposing player's turn. If at any time, a player accidentally pockets the white cue ball, (even if he pockets one of his own balls during the shot) it becomes the other player's turn.

4. Start of the game

The game starts with all balls (except for the white cue ball) placed in a triangle formation at one end of the table. The player that is going to break the balls, places the white cue ball anywhere in the semicircle or “D” at the lower part of the table. The player then "breaks" the triangular formation of balls using the white cue ball. If during the break, the player pockets a ball, he must continue to pocket that ball set for the rest of the game. For example, if he pockets a yellow, he must continue to play yellows. If he sinks: A) no balls or B) both a red and a yellow ball during the break, he must designate which set of balls he wishes to pocket during the game.

5. If only black ball left

After a player has pocketed all balls of his set, he must then pocket the black ball. Before shooting for the black ball, the game will ask the player to first nominate which pocket he intends to shoot the black ball into. After the player nominates a pocket, he must then shoot the ball into that pocket. If the player pockets the black ball into the pocket that he nominated, he wins and the game is over. If the player pockets the black ball into a pocket other than the nominated pocket, he loses and the game is over. If the player does not pocket the black ball, it becomes the opposing player’s turn.

6. Fauls

Foul are essentially illegal moves or actions that lead to penalties against the player committing the fault.

• When a player breaks the balls to start the game, at least two balls—not including the white cue ball—must come in contact with the cushions OR at least one ball must be pocketed. (The cushions are the sides of the pool table.) If not, a fault has occurred and the balls will be re-racked and the opposing player (the player that did not break) will be given the opportunity to re-break the rack of balls.
• If the player that is breaking the balls pockets the white cue ball during the break, regardless of how many other balls may have been pocketed, it is a foul. It becomes the opposing player’s turn.
• If at any time during the game a player pockets the white cue ball, he loses his turn. The white cue ball is removed from the pocket and given to the opposing player. The opposing player can now put the white cue ball anywhere within the semicircle and shoot for any ball. The player is also awarded an extra shot.
• If a player pockets one of the opposing player’s balls, it is a foul. The player loses his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot.
• If a player pockets the black ball before he has pocketed all the balls of his set (yellows or red), he instantly loses and the game ends.
• If a player hits the white cue ball and the white cue ball does not subsequently come in contact with any other ball on the table, a foul has been committed. The player loses his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot.
• If a player shoots and the cue ball FIRST comes into contact with one of the opposing player’s balls, a foul is committed, even if the player sunk one of his own balls during the shot. The player loses his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot.
• If a player shoots and the white cue ball FIRST comes into contact with the black ball, a foul is committed unless the black ball is the shooter’s last remaining ball on the table. The player loses his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot. This foul does not apply if the cue ball first contacts a rail, then contacts the black ball.
• If, after pocketing all balls of his set, the player pockets the black ball into a pocket other than the pocket he has nominated, he loses and the game is over.
• If a player pockets the last ball of his set and the black ball at the same time, it is a foul and that player automatically loses the game.