8-ball

8-Ball Pool – Official Rules (WPA)

Objective of the game

8-ball is played with 15 colored balls and 1 white cue ball.

• One player plays with the solid balls (1 to 7)
• The other player plays with the half balls (9 to 15)

The player who first pockets all of their own balls and then correctly pockets the 8-ball wins the game.

The setup (rack)

• The 15 balls are placed in a triangle
• The 8-ball is in the center
• At the two rear corners lies:
  • 1 solid ball
  • 1 half ball
• The front ball is on the foot spot

The break

Valid break

The break is valid when:

• at least 1 ball is pocketed, or
• at least 4 balls hit a cushion

In case of an incorrect break

When no ball is pocketed and fewer than 4 balls hit a cushion:

• may the opponent:
  • continue playing as the table is set
  • let it rack again and break it yourself
  • let it rack again and let the original player break again

8-ball on the break

• Can you pocket the 8-ball on a valid break:
  • then you may:
    • put the 8-ball back and continue playing
    • or break again
• Sink the 8-ball and make a mistake:
  • then the opponent chooses:
    • 8-ball spot + ball in hand behind the head string
    • or let it break again

Open table

After the break, the table is "open".

That means:

• there are no groups assigned yet
• You can first hit both a full and a half ball.
• except for the 8-ball

The group is determined as soon as a player:

• a correctly announced ball from a group of pots

Shot calling

Except during the break, every shot must be announced:

• which ball
• in which pocket

For obvious shots, this usually doesn't need to be explicitly stated.

Combinations, cushions, or caroms do not need to be announced separately, as long as:

• the right ball
• disappears into the right pocket.

Valid shot

A shot is valid when:

1. the white ball first hits a correct object ball
2. then:
   • a ball is potted, or
   • at least one ball hits a tire

Continue playing

You stay at the table as long as you:

• legally pot a ball from your own group

When all your group balls are gone:

• you have to announce the 8-ball
• and pot correctly to win

Fouls

In case of a foul, the opponent receives:

• ball in hand
• everywhere on the table

Common fouls

• white ball potted (scratch)
• hit the wrong ball first
• no cushion contact after contact
• playing ball off the table
• double tap / push shot
• touching a ball with hand or clothing
• play while the balls are still moving

Loss of the game

You lose immediately when you:

• pot the 8-ball pot with a foul
• pot the 8-ball too early
• pot the 8-ball into another pocket than nominated
• play the 8-ball off the table

(Exception: this does not apply during the break.)

Safe play (Safety)

You may announce a "safety."

Then you:

• try to play a legal shot
• but consciously pass the turn

Any potted balls will simply remain away.

Stalemate

When neither player can make any further progress:

• is the game being set up again
• and the same player breaks again

Important difference with "café rules"

Many people play at home or in a café with different rules, such as:

• black loses immediately on a scratch on the break​
• “slop” always counts
• no call shots
• black ball in opposite pocket of last potted ball
• after a foul ball behind the white line

Those are not official WPA rules.

9-Ball Pool – Official Rules (WPA)

Objective of the game

9-ball is played with:

• the balls 1 to 9
• and 1 white play ball

The player who correctly pockets the 9-ball wins the game.

Important:

• you must always hit the lowest numbered ball on the table first
• but you don't have to play the 9-ball as the last shot

Combinations are allowed.

The setup (rack)

The 9 balls are placed in a diamond shape.

• the 1-ball is at the front of the foot spot
• The 9-ball is in the middle
• the remaining balls are placed randomly

The break

Valid break

The break is valid when:

• at least 1 ball is pocketed, or
• at least 4 object balls hit a cushion

Additionally, the white ball must first hit the 1-ball.

In case of an incorrect break

When the break is invalid:

• the opponent gets the choice to:
  • to continue playing as the table is set
  • to let the opponent break again
  • to break oneself again

9-ball on the break

When the 9-ball is legally pocketed on a valid break:

• the player immediately wins the rack

Order of play

With each shot:

1. the white ball must first hit the lowest numbered ball
2. then you must:
   • pot a ball, or
   • hit at least one ball against a rail (cushion)

When you don't:

• then it is a foul

Combinations allowed

You may:

• play with different balls
• make combinations
• to use caramboles

As long as:

• the lowest ball is hit first

Example:

• you hit the 3-ball first
• the 9-ball then goes in
• → you win the rack

Push-out

After a valid break, the player whose turn it is may:

• play a "push-out" once

In a push-out:

• you don't have to hit a rail with any ball
• you don't have to pot any ball

After the push-out, the opponent chooses:

• to play himself
• to give the turn back

Valid shot

A shot is valid when:

1. the lowest numbered ball is hit first
2. then:
   • a ball is potted, or
   • a ball hits a tire

Fouls

In the case of a foul, the opponent receives:

• ball in hand
• everywhere on the table

Common fouls

• hit the wrong ball first
• white ball pots (scratch)
• no cushion contact after contact
• playing ball off the table
• play while the balls are still moving
• double tap / push shot
• touching a ball with hand or clothing

Three consecutive fouls

Does a player make:

• 3 consecutive fouls
• within the same rack

then that player automatically loses the rack.

The player must be warned after the second foul.

Balls off the table

A ball object flying off the table:

• stays out of the game
• except for the 9-ball

The 9-ball:

• will be placed back on the foot spot

Safety play

A safety is allowed.

A player may:

• to play a valid shot
• but consciously leave the turn safe

In contrast to 8-ball:

• shots usually don't have to be announced

Stalemate

When neither player can reasonably continue playing:

• is the rack being set up again
• and the same player breaks again

Important difference with "café rules"

Many recreational rules differ from the official WPA rules, for example:

• no push-out
• The 9-ball must be pocketed "clean."
• no profit through combination
• no three-fouls rule

Those are not official WPA rules.