Rules to play 8 Ball Pool
11. Break Shot
The following rules apply to the break shot
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table remains open.
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails, or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of.
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) re racking and breaking, or
(3) re racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the breaker has the option of
(1) re spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or
(2) re breaking.
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent has the option of
(1) re spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string; or
(2) re breaking.
(g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul; such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball which is re spotted); and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has the option of
(1) accepting the balls in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table remains open.
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails, or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of.
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) re racking and breaking, or
(3) re racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the breaker has the option of
(1) re spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or
(2) re breaking.
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent has the option of
(1) re spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string; or
(2) re breaking.
(g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul; such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball which is re spotted); and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has the option of
(1) accepting the balls in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
12. Open Table Choosing Groups
Before groups are determined, the table is said to be open, and before each shot, the shooter must call his intended ball. If the shooter legally pockets his called ball, the corresponding group becomes his, and his opponent is assigned the other group. If he fails to legally pocket his called ball, the table remains open and play passes to the other player. When the table is open, any object ball may be struck first except the eight ball.
13. Continuing Play
The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally pocket called balls, or he wins the rack by pocketing the eight ball.
14. Shots Required to Be Called
On each shot except the break, shots must be called as explained in 1.6 Standard Call Shot. The eight ball may be called only after the shot on which the shooters group has been cleared from the table. The shooter may call safety in which case play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety remains pocketed.
15. Spotting Balls
If the eight ball is pocketed or driven off the table on the break, it will be spotted or the balls will be re racked. (See 3.3 Break Shot and 1.4 Spotting Balls.) No other object ball is ever spotted.
16. Losing the Rack
The shooter loses if he
(a) fouls when pocketing the eight ball;
(b) pockets the eight ball before his group is cleared;
(c) pockets the eight ball in an uncalled pocket; or
(d) drives the eight ball off the table.
These do not apply to the break shot.
(a) fouls when pocketing the eight ball;
(b) pockets the eight ball before his group is cleared;
(c) pockets the eight ball in an uncalled pocket; or
(d) drives the eight ball off the table.
These do not apply to the break shot.
17. Standard Fouls
If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue ball is in hand, and the incoming player may place it anywhere on the playing surface.
18. Serious Fouls
The fouls listed under 3.8 Losing the Rack are penalized by the loss of the current rack. For 6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the referee will choose a penalty appropriate given the nature of the offense.
19. Practice racking the balls
The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8 ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner.
20. Practice doing a legal break shot
To execute a legal break shot, the breaker must break behind the head string. He must either pocket a ball, or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. When the breaker fails to do so, it is a foul, and the incoming player has the option of accepting the table in position and shooting, or having the balls re racked and having the option of shooting the opening break or allowing the offending player to re break.
