Everything you need to know to Play 8-Ball Pool

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brislet asked:


8-Ball pool is one of the most popular billiards games.   This is the game that is played most in pool halls and many inexperienced pool players may think that 8-ball rules are the only pool rules.

Often referred to as “Stripes and Solids,” in 8-Ball pool, each player tries to hit in all of the striped or all of the solid balls into the 6 pockets around the pool table.  There are 7 solid balls and 7 striped balls.  Once a player has pocketed all of his balls, he must pocket the 8-ball to win the game, which is where 8-Ball pool gets its name.

To begin a game of 8-Ball pool, all 15 balls are racked together, with the 8-ball placed in the center.  The players then determine who will shoot first, or “break.”  Usually, a coin toss determines the shooter in the first game and they switch off for each subsequent game.

The player who breaks must aim and shoot the cue ball at the 15 balls.  Upon breaking, at least 4 of the balls must hit the sides of the table or the balls will be re-racked and the player will break again.  The first player to pocket a ball determines who will shoot stripes and who will shoot solids.  If the player pockets stripes, then they will shoot for stripes for the rest of the game.  If a player pockets two balls, one stripe and one solid, then the next ball pocketed determines whether they will be stripes or solids.

As players try to pocket all of the stripes or solids, followed by the 8-Ball, they may run into several fouls along the way.  These fouls and there subsequent penalties are as follows:

•    If you accidentally pocket one of your opponent’s balls, then the ball stays pocketed.

•    If you hit the cue ball into a pocket, known as “scratching,” and no balls hit the side of the table or hit the cue ball but don’t hit any other balls, then the cue ball goes to your opponent and he may place it anywhere he wants on the pool table.

•    If you pocket the 8-ball before you have successfully pocketed the other balls, then your opponent wins.

With an understanding of these basic rules, you are now ready to play 8-Ball pool!



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