9-ball RULES

1. Game objective

The "9" is played with nine color balls that are numbered from 1 to 9 and the white ball, which is a ball in play. On each stroke, a player must hit with the white ball the ball that is of the lowest number on the table. Nevertheless the balls need not be pocketed in the order of their numbers. If, as a result of a correct stroke, a player pots any ball into a pocket, a player remains at the table to perform another stroke and that continues until a ball is not pocketed, or a foul is committed, or the game is won by pocketing the 9-ball on a correct stroke. The player who starts the turn must strike with the white ball the other balls situated in position that has been left by the predecessor. If a previous player commits a foul, the next player is allowed to correct the white ball position from in-hand and spot it anywhere on the table. Players need not nominate any ball or pocket. A match is finished when one of the players has won the definite number of games.

2. Ball racking

The balls are racked in a diamond. The 1-ball is situated at the diamond top that is exactly on the foot step of the table. The 9-bal is situated in the diamond center and the remaining balls are organized randomly but they must touch each other. The game is started with WHITE-IN-HAND within the baulk.

3. Legal Break

The rules determining the break are identical to the regulations defining other strokes, except for:

EXCEPTION: The 9-ball is re-spotted if it has been made to jump off.

4. Game continuation

The player who strikes directly after the correct break is allowed to perform so nominated PUSH-OUT (see paragraph 5). If a player pockets one or more balls while performing a break, he / she continues striking on the table until fails to pocket a ball, commits a foul or wins. If a player does not pocket a ball or commits a foul, another player takes over playing. The other player continues playing until he / she fails to pocket a ball, commits a foul or wins. The game is over when the 9-ball is pocketed during a correct stroke. The game can also be stopped due to the serious violation of any paragraph of the regulations. The offender loses then.

5. PUSH-OUT

The player who strikes directly after the correct break is allowed to perform so nominated "PUSH-OUT" in order to situate the white ball in a more favorable position for the next stroke. During the push-out the white ball need not touch a color ball or a cushion, but the other rules concerning fouls in force. The player must declare the intention to PUSH-OUT; otherwise the stroke is considered to be a regular one. The balls pocketed during the PUSH-OUT are not scored and they are not re-spotted, except for the 9-ball. A correct PUSH-OUT having been performed, the opponent is allowed to strike from the position or to order the player who has pushed out to strike. The push-out is not regarded as a foul if the rules are not violated, except for the paragraphs 7 and 8. The incorrect push-out is punished according to the committed foul type. Having performed an incorrect break with a foul, a push-out is not allowed.

6. Fouls

The player who commits a foul is not allowed to perform another strike, and the balls pocketed on a stroke with a foul are not re-spotted on the table. The player who is to perform the next stroke plays WHITE-IN-HAND, which can be spotted anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls during one stroke, they are regarded as one foul.

EXCEPTION: The 9-ball is re-spotted.

7. Bad hit

If the white ball hits the ball that is not of the lowest number on the table, first, it is a foul.

8. Touching a cushion

If no color ball has been potted into the pocket and the white ball or a color ball that has been previously hit by the white ball does not touch a cushion, it is a foul.

9. WHITE-IN-HAND

If the white ball is in hand, a player can spot it anywhere on the bed of the table but it must not touch a color ball. A player can change the white ball position until the stroke is performed.

10. A color ball off the table

The ball that has not been pocketed is regarded as jumped off the table if it stands still anywhere off the bed of the table. Making a color ball jump off the table is a foul. The jumped-off ball is not re-spotted on the table and playing is continued.

EXCEPTION: The 9-ball is re-spotted.

11. Jump and masse strokes

When the referee does not conduct the match, it is a white ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the ball not on moves, the one over or around which the white ball was supposed to pass, regardless of whether the motion was caused by hand, the cue or a cue rest etc.

12. Three consecutive fouls

If a player commits three successive fouls on three consecutive strokes, which are not interrupted by a correct stroke, they lose the game. The three consecutive fouls must happen in one game. The player ought to be warned between the second foul and the third one. A player's inning starts the moment that he /she is allowed to perform a correct shot. It finishes when a player does not pocket a ball, commits a foul, wins the game or commits a foul between strokes.

13. Game end

The game is finished the moment that the 9-ball is pocketed correctly, or one of the players is regarded as the one who loses due to the serious violation of the regulations.