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.

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
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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.
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Continuing Play:
- A player’s turn continues as long as they legally pocket balls from their group.
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End of Turn:
- The turn ends if no ball is pocketed or a foul is committed.
pocketing 8-ball
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Conditions for Pocketing:
- The 8-ball can only be pocketed after all of a player’s group balls have been cleared from the table.
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Called Shot:
- The pocket for the 8-ball must be clearly called before the shot.
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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
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Victory Conditions:
- A player wins by legally pocketing the 8-ball after clearing their group balls and calling the correct pocket.
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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
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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.
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Cue Ball Fouls:
- If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, the opponent gets ball-in-hand.
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8-Ball Fouls:
- Pocketing the 8-ball prematurely or in the wrong pocket results in an automatic loss.
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Penalty for Fouls:
- The opponent receives ball-in-hand, allowing them to place the cue ball anywhere on the table.