General guide to the rules of 8 ball pool

8 ball pool is usually played with 14 coloured balls (normally seven red balls and seven yellow balls), plus one black ball and the white cue ball. The object of the game is to pot (pocket) all seven of your particular set of coloured balls followed by the black ball (the "8" ball), all before your opponent does.

First, you need to decide who will take the first shot of the game. This can be by either playing a "Lag Shot" whereby each player hits one ball to see who can get their ball closest to the baulk (back) cushion. Alternatively, you can simply toss a coin. The winner chooses who is to take the opening shot.

To start the game you need to first set-up the balls in a certain arrangement. Use the triangle supplied with the table to do this. The black ball needs to be in the middle of the third row, with the coloured balls arranged as shown.

Use the triangle loaded with the correctly arranged balls to position them towards the back end of the pool table, with the bottom row of 5 balls facing the back end and the top, single ball facing the top end of the table. The black ball is positioned directly over the spot nearest the back cushion.

When breaking off, the white cue ball can be placed anywhere behind the baulk line (the line that runs across the pool table). The player shoots the cue ball directly into the rack of balls to break off. At least four balls MUST hit a cushion when breaking off otherwise it will be declared a foul and their opponent will be asked to break. (The balls need to be re- racked and re-positioned when breaking off again).

If a ball is potted during the break off the player at the table then continues their "break" (their visit to the table) with the colour of their playing balls being whichever colour of ball was first potted. If no ball is potted then the table remains “open” and no particular colour belongs to any player until the first ball is pocketed.

When either player first successfully pots a correct ball they may continue shooting until they fail to legally pocket a ball of their group. The first player to legally pocket all balls within their group and then pocket the 8-ball is the winner.

Pocketing the 8 ball

The 8 ball must be potted correctly into the correct pocket to win the game. When a player is attempting to pot the 8 ball they must nominate which pocket they are attempting to pocket the ball into. If they subsequently pocket the 8 ball into another pocket they lose the game. They also lose if the 8 ball jumps off the table when playing the shot.

Pocketing the white cue ball

If a player pockets the cue ball when breaking off then their opponent places the cue ball anywhere behind the baulk line and starts their own break. Any balls pocketed will remain pocketed.

If a player pockets the cue ball at any other time during the game then their break will end and their opponent can place the cue ball anywhere on the pool table when starting their own break.

Other foul shots:

• Potting an opponent’s ball (except if the ball is nominated to be played after their opponent has played a foul shot).
• Hitting your opponents coloured ball before hitting your own ball.
• Hitting the 8 ball before your own coloured ball.
• Missing all of the balls on the table with the cue ball.
• Taking more than 60 seconds to strike the next ball after the cue ball has come to rest after the previous shot.
• Playing a shot without having at least one foot touching the ground when actually playing the shot.

NB: There are many regional and international variations to the rules of 8 ball pooll. For full and updated World Eight Ball Federation rules visit http://www.epa.org.uk/wrules.php