8-Ball

Objective and legal balls

Your first legally pocketed object ball after the break usually assigns your group. From then on, only your group is legal until the table is open again after specific fouls or scratches.

Racking and break

Rack all 15 balls in a triangle with the 8-ball in the center and one stripe + one solid in the back corners. On the break, at least four object balls must hit rails or any ball must be pocketed.

Turn sequence

If you pocket a legal ball without fouling, you continue shooting. If you miss, foul, or pocket only illegal balls, your inning ends and the opponent comes in.

Common fouls

Fouls typically give ball-in-hand to the opponent.

• No valid first contact (cue ball does not hit your legal group first).
• Cue ball scratch or jump off the table.
• No rail after contact on a non-pocketing shot.
• Pocketing the 8-ball early.

Winning the rack

You win by legally pocketing the 8-ball after all of your group is cleared. If you scratch on the 8-ball, pocket the 8-ball in the wrong pocket (if called-pocket rules apply), or knock it off the table, you lose.

House-rule note

Local leagues may differ on details like break requirements, open-table assignment, or whether 8-ball must be called by pocket only. Agree before the match if you are not using an official rulebook.