Billards Tutorial

The following outlines the original tournament rules for 8-Ball. This includes the activation of options "shot call", "all fouls", and "safety shot", and omitting the "last pocket" rule. At the end of the introduction, one can learn about what each option does.

In 8-Ball, one player hits balls 1-7 (solids) and another player hits balls 9-15 (stripes). The player who first sinks all of his/her balls and then finally sinks the 8-ball, wins the game.
8-Ball runs through four phases

1. Opening shot (the Break)
   Is repeated until correctly done.
2. Open Table
   The table remains open as long as neither player has legally pocketed a ball.
3. Play according to ball group
   A player tries to sink all of the balls in their designated ball group.
4. Pocketing the 8-ball
   If a player has pocketed all of the group of object balls, he/she may try to sink the 8-ball.

The game is won when a player legally sinks the 8-ball.

After the break, a player must always call which ball he/she intends to player, and into which pocket he/she intends to sink the ball. A pocketed ball is considered a foul if the chosen ball is not hit into the chosen pocket.

A foul ends the player's turn. The next player can then place the ball anywhere on the table.

The game always begins with the break. The first player can place the cue ball anywhere behind the head string of the table. His/her break is only valid if

1. a colored ball is sunk or
2. at least four colored balls have touched the sides

If this is not successful, then the next player may

1. leave the balls in position and continue to play, or
2. reset the balls and re-break him/herself.

If the cue ball is pocketed on the break, then

1. the next player can place the cue ball anywhere at the head of the table, and
2. the table stays open, even if balls have been pocketed.

If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, then the opening player goes again, and can choose whether to

1. re-rack the balls or
2. or put the 8-ball back in its starting position.

If the cue ball and the 8-ball are both sunk on the break, then the next player can

1. re-rack or
2. just put the 8-ball back and continue playing, with the ability to place the cue ball anywhere at the head of the table.

If all the balls of a color are pocketed, then the opening player continues and has the choice of ball group.

The ball group is chosen when a called ball is sunk. If the cue ball hits the 8-ball before sinking a ball, the player loses his/her turn, and the next player plays.

When the table is not open any more, a player can only sink balls from his/her color group. Finally,

1. a colored ball must be pocketed
2. a ball (including the cue ball) must touch the side after the first hit.

If not, the shot is considered a foul.

If the white ball is sunk, it is considered a foul.

If a player sinks the chosen ball in the chosen pocket, then the player goes again.

For strategic purposes, a player can call a safety shot before his/her turn. After a safety shot, the player's turn ends.

A player may attempt to sink the 8-ball when all other balls from his/her color group are sunk. Whoever sinks the 8-ball first wins.

A player automatically loses, if

1. The 8-ball is sunk with a foul (i.e. on the break)
2. The 8-ball is incorrectly sunk (wrong pocket)
3. The 8-ball is sunk before all of the balls of a players color group are sunk
4. The opposing player sinks all his balls plus the 8-ball

Shot calling

If this options is deactivated, then:

• A break ball that touches at least one object ball is considered correct
• In an open table, a ball is correctly sunk even if the 8-ball is played
• A shot is also correct even if no balls hit the sides

Can only be played when this option is activated.

When this option is activated, the 8-ball must be shot into the same pocket as the shooter's last object ball. ( A player supposedly "owns" a pocket in which the 8-ball must be played).