Match Rules

Playing Rules

  1. The object of 8-ball is that one player must pocket the solid coloured balls, while the other player must pocket the striped ball.  The first player to pocket all of the balls in their group then legally pocket the 8-ball wins the game.
  2. No masse or jump shots.
  3. When racking, the 8-ball must be in the centre, and bottom two corners must consist of both one stripe ball and one solid ball. All others are random.

The Break

  1. On the opening break, the player must place the cue ball behind the head string.
  2. To be a legal break, the shooter must either pocket an object ball, or drive at least 4 object ball off the rail.  If not, the shooter re-racks and breaks.
  3. If the player pockets an object ball and has not committed a cue ball foul (scratching or sending the cue ball off the table) then continue shooting.
  4. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break with or without another all and do not foul, you will spot the 8-ball below the dot and as close to the dot as possible.  All other balls remain down.
  5. The player making the 8-ball on the break without fouling will receive 1 bonus point for their team.
  6. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break and foul (i.e. cue ball flies off the table), your shot ends.  Your opponent will put the 8-ball as close to the dot as possible and take ball in hand behind the line.
  7. Make sure to write this down on both score sheets, with the player’s name, and report it to the webmaster when you give your scores.
  8. During the break or any other time in the game, if any ball flies off of the table, it should be returned to the table and placed on the head spot with the exception of the 8-ball.

Scratch (Pocketed cue ball, or cue ball that goes off table)

  1. If the cue ball is pocketed, or files off of the table during a shot it is considered a scratch.  When a scratch occurs on the break, the opposing player shoots the cue ball from behind the head string, down table same as the break.
  2. Any scratch other than on the break results in ball in hand.  The opposing player may put the cue ball wherever they wish on the table, and can be shot in any direction.

The Choice of Group

  1. The choice of group is determined by the first called ball to be pocketed.  When you call a ball, you do so by identifying the ball and the pocket the ball is going to end up in.
  2. For a shot to be legal, the first ball that your cue ball makes contact with must be the same group as your object ball, anything in between those two balls is fine.  For instance, you could shoot the combination of 4, 12 and 3 ball you called that would be a legal shot, you cannot shoot the combination of the 12, 4 and 3. You may use the 8-ball as the middle ball.
  3. If you foul on the cue ball, you lose your shot, if the 8-ball drops in out of turn, as a result of your shot, you lose the game.

Loss of Game

  1. The most common way to lose is pocketing the 8-ball out of turn.
  2. If the 8-ball flies off the table, you lose.
  3. Pocketing the 8-ball in any other pocket than the one you called is loss of game.
  4. The shooter may not pocket their last object ball, and the 8-ball in the same shot, this is loss of game.
  5. 8-ball must be pocketed by a legal shot.
  6. If any ball is pocketed by a player by hand, it is in concession of the game, a loss will be incurred, plus a 1 point will be removed from the player’s team for interference.

Shooting your object balls

  1. Once groups of balls are established you must hit one of your object balls first or your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table.  You do not need to hit the ball you aimed for, as long as you hit one of your own balls first.

Shooting the 8-ball

  1. If you have shot your last object ball, and have hooked yourself you must make contact with the 8-ball first or you lose the game.
  2. If your opponent hooks you, you must hit the 8 as it is your object ball.  If you do not contact the 8 first, your opponent gets ball in hand.
  3. If you scratch or the cue ball flies off the table while attempting to hit the 8-ball it is a loss of game.
  4. All balls including the 8-ball must go in the called pocket regardless of kiss, double kiss, or carrom.
  5. You do not need to hit a rail after contacting any of your object balls.

Stalemating

If after 2 consecutive turns at the table by each player, 4 turn’s total, both players agree that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in immediate loss of game, the balls will be re-racked with the original breaker of the stalemated game breaking again.  The stalemate rule may be applied regardless of the number of balls that are left on the table.