The actual rules of the game

racking the balls

  • Formation:

    • Balls are racked in a triangle with the first ball on the spot.
    • The 8-ball is placed in the center of the triangle.
    • The two rear corner balls must consist of one solid and one stripe.
    • The remaining balls are randomly placed, ensuring compliance with the above rules.
  • Placement:

    • The base of the triangle must be parallel to the foot rail.
8-ball set correct rack

Break

  • Legal Break Requirements:

    • The breaker must strike the cue ball, which must hit the racked balls.
    • At least four object balls must hit a rail, or a ball must be pocketed.
  • Fouls on the Break:

    • If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, it is a foul. The opponent has ball in hand. 
    • The turn starts from behind the baseline and has to be played forward.
    • If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaker may choose to re-rack or spot the 8-ball and continue play.
  • Open Table After Break:

    • The table remains open (no groups are assigned) until a ball is legally pocketed.

selection of target group

  • Open Table:

    • The table is considered open until a player legally pockets a solid or stripe ball after the breakshot.
    • A legal shot designates the player’s group for the remainder of the game.
  • Determining Groups:

    • Once a player pockets a ball from a group (solid or stripe) on a legal shot, that group becomes their target group.

turn-taking

  • Legal Shot:

    • The cue ball must first strike a ball from the player’s group, and then either pocket a ball or cause any ball to contact a rail.
    • The player always has to call their shot. E.g. “I call the nr. 1 ball in a certain pocket.” Does this ball or any other ball from the player’s group pocket somewhere else, it’s considered a ‘lucky-shot’. The opponent will take turn. 
  • Continuing Play:

    • A player’s turn continues as long as they legally pocket balls from their group.
  • End of Turn:

    • The turn ends if no ball is pocketed or a foul is committed.

pocketing 8-ball

  • Conditions for Pocketing:

    • The 8-ball can only be pocketed after all of a player’s group balls have been cleared from the table.
  • Called Shot:

    • The pocket for the 8-ball must be clearly called before the shot.
  • Loss of Game:

    • The game is lost if the 8-ball is pocketed before clearing the player’s group balls, or if the 8-ball is pocketed in an unintended pocket.

winning

  • Victory Conditions:

    • A player wins by legally pocketing the 8-ball after clearing their group balls and calling the correct pocket.
  • Forfeiture:

    • A player loses if they commit a foul while pocketing the 8-ball, pocket the 8-ball prematurely, or knock it off the table.

fouls

  • Common Fouls:

    • Failing to hit the cue ball first.
    • Failing to hit a ball from the player’s group.
    • Failing to cause any ball to hit a rail after contact.
    • Pocketing the cue ball.
    • Striking the cue ball twice in a single shot.
    • Touching any ball with anything other than the cue stick.
  • Cue Ball Fouls:

    • If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, the opponent gets ball-in-hand.
  • 8-Ball Fouls:

    • Pocketing the 8-ball prematurely or in the wrong pocket results in an automatic loss.
  • Penalty for Fouls:

    • The opponent receives ball-in-hand, allowing them to place the cue ball anywhere on the table.

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