8-Ball

8-ball uses a cue ball and fifteen object balls. One player (or team) owns the solids, 1–7; the other owns the stripes, 9–15. You win the rack by legally pocketing every ball in your group and then legally pocketing the 8-ball in the pocket you called.

• Rack the fifteen balls in a triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot.
• The 8-ball sits in the centre of the third row.
• One corner of the back row holds a solid and the other a stripe.
• The rack should be tight — balls frozen to their neighbours.

The player who breaks first is decided by a lag or a coin flip; after that, the format chosen for the match (winner breaks or alternate breaks) applies.

The breaker shoots from behind the head string. For the break to be legal the breaker must either pocket at least one object ball or drive at least four object balls to a rail.

• Illegal break (no foul): the opponent may accept the table as it lies or re-rack and break, or have the breaker re-break.
• Scratch on a legal break: a foul — the opponent receives the cue ball in hand behind the head string, and the table is still open.
• 8-ball pocketed on the break: not a loss. Unless a house rule says otherwise, the breaker may re-rack and break again or have the 8 spotted and continue shooting. If the breaker also scratched, the opponent chooses between re-racking and spotting the 8 with ball in hand behind the head string.

The table is always open immediately after the break, even if balls were pocketed. On an open table you may hit any ball first (including a ball of either group, but not to use the 8 to pocket another ball in a way that counts toward a group).

Groups are decided the first time a player legally pockets a called ball after the break. That player takes the group of the called ball and the opponent takes the other.

Every shot after the break is call-shot: identify the ball and the intended pocket. Obvious shots do not need to be announced, but if your opponent asks you must say which ball and pocket. Kicks, banks and combinations should always be called.

• Balls that drop on a legal shot in addition to the called ball stay down and count for their owner.
• If the called ball misses but another ball falls, your turn ends; the pocketed ball stays down.
• A safety may be declared; the shooter's turn ends after the shot whatever is pocketed.

On a foul your turn ends and your opponent receives cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Common fouls:

• Scratching (pocketing the cue ball) or driving it off the table.
• Failing to hit a ball of your own group first (on an open table, any ball except the 8 is fine).
• No ball reaching a rail after legal contact, unless a ball was pocketed.
• Touching, moving or double-hitting balls with your hand, clothing or cue.
• Shooting while any ball is still moving or spinning.
• Not having at least one foot on the floor.

Balls jumped off the table are not re-spotted, except the 8 (see below).

You lose the rack immediately if you:

• Pocket the 8-ball before your group is cleared.
• Pocket the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one you called.
• Foul (including a scratch) on the shot that pockets the 8.
• Drive the 8-ball off the table.

If neither player can make progress without conceding an advantage, the Ringmaster may declare a stalemate and the rack is re-played with the same player breaking.

House rules. A venue or tournament may publish a variation (for example the three-foul rule or what happens when the 8 drops on the break). When it does, the variation is shown on the match or tournament page and the Ringmaster applies it. Agree on any open question before the first rack.