8-ball Rules

Game objective Nominating Racking the balls The opening player Fouls at jumps and masse Correct break stroke The white ball leaves the table during a correct opening stroke A color ball jumps off the table during an opening stroke The 8-ball is pocketed during an opening stroke Open table Ball group selection Correct strokes Safety stroke Scoring Penalty for fouls Combined strokes Balls pocketed incorrectly Color balls off the table Playing the 8-ball Loosing a game Stalemate

 

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1. Game objective

The "8" is a nominated game, (this rule does not apply in an on-line version) which is played with the white cue ball and 15 object balls that are numbered from 1 to 15. One of the players plays the group of balls numbered from 1 to 7 (solid color balls), and the other plays the group of balls numbered from 9 to 15 (stripped balls). The player who pockets all the balls of his / her group complying to the rules, and then pockets the 8-ball in a correct nominated stroke, wins the game.

 

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2. Nominating

If the situation on the table determines the next stroke unambiguously, verbal nomination is not necessary. The opponent is authorized to ask for ball and pocket nomination, if he / she has any doubts. Strokes including cushion hitting or combined movement are not regarded as obvious. The player is obliged to nominate both the ball and a pocket. While nominating, no details such as cushion hitting or the number of caroms are declared.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.
Balls pocketed during a foul stroke, are left there, regardless they belong to the player's group or the opponent's one. The opening stroke is not a nominated stroke. The player who performs an opening stroke is allowed to continue playing only if he / she pockets at least one color ball.

 

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3. Racking the balls

The balls are set in a triangle with a racking triangle at the table foot. The 8-ball is situated in the triangle centre. The apex ball is situated at the table foot. The triangle base is parallel to the table foot cushion. There is a stripped ball in one triangle base apex and a solid color ball in the other.

 

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4. The opening player

The player who has won the game for breaking decides who will perform the opening break.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.
In individual matches players open sequential games in turns.

 

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5. Jump and masse shot foul

When the rule "only the white ball is at foul" applies, if a match is not conducted by the referee, a player must realize that a foul is being committed when during the jump shot the ball bowing or masse movement, makes a color ball move, regardless by hand, cue or bridge.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.

 

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6. Correct break stroke

(Definition) In order to perform a correct opening break, the opening player, while hitting the white ball from within the bulk, must:
1.) pocket a color ball, or
2.) make at least four color balls touch a cushion.
If a player fails to do it, the player who is to play next can:
1.) accept the ball position on the table, or
2.) require re-racking the balls and breaking the triangle or ordering the opponent to perform another breaking stroke.

 

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7. The white ball leaves the table during a correct opening stroke

If during a correct opening stroke the white ball leaves the table, then:
1.) all color balls having been pocketed stay there, except for the 8-ball (see paragraph 9),
2.) it is a foul and
3.) the table is open.
NOTE: The player who is to play next has the white ball in hand and spots it in the baulk cannot play any color ball situated in the baulk, unless the white ball leaves the baulk first and then comes back to it, hitting a color ball within it.

 

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8. A color ball jumps off the table during an opening stroke

If the opening player makes a color ball jump off the table during an opening stroke, it is a foul and the opponent can:
1.) accept the ball position on the table and continue playing, or
2.) spot the white ball from in hand in the bulk and continue playing.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.

 

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9. The 8-ball is pocketed during an opening stroke

If during an opening stroke, the 8-ball is pocketed, the opening player can order re-racking the balls or re-spotting the 8-ball on the table and continue playing him- / herself. If during an opening stroke the 8-ball is pocketed and simultaneously the white ball leaves the bed of the table, the player who is to play next can order re-racking the triangle or re-spotting the 8-ball playing the white ball from in-hand within the bulk.

 

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10. Open table

(Definition) The table is open if before selecting the ball group (solid color balls and stripped balls). As long as the table is open, it is only allowed to pocket solid color balls with stripped ones and otherwise.
NOTE: The table is always open just after the opening stroke. When the table is open, it is allowed to hit a solid color ball, a stripped ball or the 8-ball in order to pocket the nominated ball, a solid color one or a stripped one. Always, when the table is open and the white ball contacts the 8-ball first, no solid color ball or stripped ball can be scored in advantage of the player in play. In this case the player finishes the turn; all balls are left in pockets; the player who is to play next nominates any ball with the table still open. When the table is open, all the balls pocketed are left in pockets.

 

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11. Ball group selection

The ball groups are never selected during an opening stroke, regardless the balls of one group or two groups are pocketed. The table is always open just after an opening stroke. The ball groups are selected only when a player has pocketed the nominated ball correctly in a separate stroke after an opening stroke.

 

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12. Correct strokes

(Definition) In all strokes except for an opening stroke and when the table is open the player in play must hit the ball of his / her group first and:
1.) pocket a color ball or:
2.) make the white ball or any color ball touch a cushion.
NOTE: It is allowed to hit a cushion with a white ball before it is contacted with the ball on, nevertheless always the white ball having touched the bal on, either a color ball must be pocketed or the white ball must be made to touch a cushion. If any of these requirements is not met, it is a foul.

 

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13. Safety stroke

Due to tactical reasons the player in play can choose to pocket another ball or to complete the inning by declaring a safety. Safety playing is regarded as a correct stroke. If a player wishes to play a safety pocketing a ball simultaneously, they must declare safety playing to the opponent. If they fail to do that and pocket their own ball, they must continue playing. All balls pocketed during a safety stroke are left in the pockets.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.

 

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14. Scoring

A player is authorized to continue the inning as long as they pocket the nominated balls of their group correctly during legal strokes. Having pocketed all the balls of their groups, a player is allowed to pocket the 8-ball.

 

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15. Penalty for fouls

After a foul the opponent can play from the white ball in hand, which offers him / her opportunity of correcting the white ball position on the whole bed of the table (not necessarily within the baulk, except for the opening stroke). The rule prevents from playing intentional fouls, which could bring about the loss on the opponent's part. Playing the white ball from in hand, a player can position the white ball manually or any part of the cue (including the tip) more than once if necessary. If the white ball has been positioned for playing, each contact with it that is not a correct stroke is regarded as a foul.

 

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16. Combined strokes

Combined strokes are regarded as correct ones, nevertheless the 8-ball cannot be played in a combined stroke as the first one, except for the case when the table is open.

 

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17. Balls pocketed incorrectly

A ball is regarded as pocketed incorrectly when:
1.) it is pocketed during a stroke with a foul, or
2.) the nominated ball is not potted in the nominated pocket, or
3.) safety was declared before the stroke.
The balls that have been pocketed incorrectly remain in pockets.

 

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18. Color balls off the table

If a color ball is made to jump off the table, it is a foul and the player finishes the turn. Making the 8-ball jump off the table means loosing the game. All the jumped-off balls are re-spotted on the table in the sequence of numbers.

 

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19. Playing the 8-ball

When the 8-ball is the ball on, committing a foul or making the white ball jump off the table does not mean loosing the game if the 8-ball is not pocketed or jumped off the table. The player that is to play next plays the white ball in hand.

 

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20. Loosing game

A player loses a game in one of the following situations:
a.) A player commits a foul during the stroke in which the 8-ball is pocketed (except for see: pocketing the 8-ball during an opening stroke).
b.) A player pockets the 8-ball during the stroke they pocket the last ball of their group.
c.) A player pots the 8-ball into a pocket different from the nominated one.
d.) A player pockets the 8-ball before it becomes the ball on.
NOTE: Three sequential fouls do not mean that the game is lost.

 

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21. Stalemate

If after three sequential strokes of both players, i.e. after six strokes altogether, the referee judges that no player attempts to win the game have been made, as any other stroke can lead to losing the game, the balls are re-racked and the game is repeated, with the original breaking player of the stalemated game breaking again.
NOTE: The above-mentioned rule does not apply in an on-line version.