8 Ball Pool Rules: A Beginner's Guide to Playing
8-ball pool was invented somewhere in the early 1900s and quickly became a popular two-player game throughout the 20th Century. It's still going strong to this day, and the rules of American 8-ball pool have stayed startlingly similar over the years. If you're interested in playing this game or honing your skills, then here's a complete guide to all the rules and how you can get started.
Understanding 8 Ball Pool Rules
You can play 8-ball pool on a standard pool table - or you can use 247Pool to play online from the comfort of your home. The rules of the game are extremely simple: you must pocket all of your balls, followed by the 8-ball, before your opponent pockets all of theirs.
What decides which balls belong to which player? Well, a game of 8-ball pool will have sixteen balls in play:
- Solids - These are the balls numbered 1-7
- Stripes - These are the balls numbered 9-15
- 8-Ball - This is the sole black ball on the table
- Cue Ball - This is the white ball and is only used to hit the other balls; it has no other value
The game starts with all fifteen balls racked in a triangle, as demonstrated below:
According to the official US Professional Poolplayers Association rules, there are only two main stipulations when racking the balls at the start of the game:
- The 8-ball must be in the central spot in the third row of balls
- There must be a solid ball in one corner and a striped ball in the other corner of the final row
Other than that, you can rack the rest of the balls however you want. Some players put them in a bag and pull them out at random, but you can choose whatever setup you wish. The game begins as one player "breaks" - this means they will hit the cue ball into the rack of balls to disperse them around the table. You can decide who will break with a coin toss.
From here, players are assigned either solids or stripes depending on who pockets the first ball. For example, if you break and pocket a solid, you will then have to pocket all of the other solids before finishing with the 8-ball. It's not uncommon for players to pocket both a stripe and a solid when they break, which gives them the freedom to choose either ball type.
Once the ball types have been assigned, play will continue as follows:
- Each player takes turns to play a shot
- If you pocket one of your balls, you can take another shot
- Keep going until you don't pocket a ball, then play switches back to your opponent
Eventually, one player will end up with only the 8-ball left, and they win the game with a successful pocket. There are no points for pocketing balls in pool; it's a simple case of clearing the table before your opponent.
Key Pool Rules to be Aware of as a Beginner
We've mentioned the basic rules of pool and how you win, though there are a couple of key things to know if you're playing for the first time. Specifically, this relates to what is or isn't a "legal" shot.
Rules For Breaking in 8-Ball Pool
The break shot is the first shot in any game of pool, but it comes with some rules. Firstly, you must place the cue ball behind the "head string" - this is the white line at the top end of the table. You can place the cue ball anywhere behind this line, but it must never go over it.
Secondly, a break is only deemed legal if the player does either of the following:
- Pockets a numbered ball, or;
- At least four balls hit the rails (this is the technical term for the sides of the pool table)
The image below shows what an invalid break looks like in a game:
As you can see, no balls have hit the rails, so this counts as a foul. We'll explain what happens during fouls and the penalties you receive later in this guide!
Rule For Taking Your Shot in 8-Ball Pool
Every shot after the break must also follow a strict set of rules. Many people don't realize this until they play online pool or enter a proper match with a referee. It goes without saying that every shot should begin with your cue hitting the cue ball - you can't hit any other ball with your cue, or it's a foul.
Additionally, a shot in 8-ball pool is only valid if one of the following happens after contact with the cue ball:
- One of the balls is pocketed
- At least one of the balls touches a rail
This is done to prevent slow play, encourage people to look for more aggressive shots, and avoid "snookering." Snookering is a term given to a specific type of defensive shot in a game of snooker, which is a different type of billiards game. A player is "snookered" when they don't have a clear line of sight onto one of their available balls. It tends to end with lots of fouls, which is why pool looks to discourage it.
Can You Hit the 8 Ball First?
No, you can't hit the 8 ball first in a game of pool. As we spoke about already, every pool match starts with the balls arranged in a triangle. The 8 ball has to be in the center of this, which makes it physically impossible to hit first.
But what if you break and pocket the 8 ball first? What happens then?
This situation is highly uncommon but not impossible. If the 8 ball is pocketed from a break, then the ramifications depend on who you're playing with or where you're playing. For instance, if you play casually with friends, then there's a house rule where a player can call that they'll pocket the 8 ball straight from the break. If they manage this, then you call it a game-win for them.
Realistically, most people don't play with those rules - and that's not how professional 8-ball pool players go about things. If you're playing in a professional setting or using one of the themed pool games at 247Pool.com, then pocketing the 8-ball from a break will lead to the game ending. Whoever pocketed it will automatically lose the game because they violated the rules.
The same is true when someone pockets the 8-ball before all their other balls have been pocketed. This is deemed a foul and will mean they lose the game - so make sure you avoid doing this while playing!
Calling Your Shots in 8 Ball
Another one of 8-ball pool's strange rules involves calling your shots. What does this mean? Calling your shots is when you state which ball you're trying to pocket and which pocket you're aiming for it to go into.
Now, complexities arise over whether or not you need to call your shots in a game of 8 ball. Generally speaking, if you're playing online pool or playing casually with friends at a bar, then you do not need to call your shots - unless you're pocketing the 8 ball.
Even when playing casually, you must state which pocket you're aiming for when you're on the final ball. It makes the game more interesting and leaves no room for error. Pocketing the 8 ball in a pocket you didn't call out will result in the opponent winning.
The Role of the 8 Ball in Winning
Let's quickly go over the role of the 8 ball in winning a game of pool. We've already established that the aim of pool is to pocket all of your balls and finish with the 8 ball. We also just mentioned that you must call out where you're pocketing the 8 ball in order to win.
If all goes according to plan, you'll win the game with a successful call-out on your 8-ball shot before your opponent manages to do so.
Nevertheless, the 8 ball also comes into play and can cause someone to lose/win a game in these scenarios:
- Someone mistakenly pockets the 8 ball before clearing their balls, which means the other player wins
- A player pockets the cue ball when trying to pocket the 8 ball. This results in a win for their opponent
- The 8 ball is pocketed in the wrong pocket that a player called out, which means the opponent wins
Effectively, the 8 ball determines who wins a game of pool. The main thing to remember is that you need to pocket all of your balls before pocketing the 8 ball - and you must put it in the correct pocket.
Fouls and Penalties in 8 Ball
A game of pool can be complicated if you've never played before, and that's largely because of the fouls. A shot is called a "foul" when it goes against the rules of the game. Some of the most common fouls are listed below:
- Scratching - This is the technical term for pocketing the cue ball. You can't do this at any time, or it results in a foul and a penalty.
- No Hit - If you fail to hit any of the balls on the table, then it's considered a foul.
- Wrong Group Hit - It's also a foul if you hit the other player's ball group before yours. E.g. You're stripes, but you hit a solid first on your turn.
- No Rail Touch - At least one ball must touch a rail after being hit; if this doesn't happen, you've committed a foul. The rule is slightly different during a break, as four balls must hit a rail instead.
- Ball Off The Table - This is only appropriate in real-life pool, but hitting any ball off the table is a foul.
- Pocketing The 8 Ball - We've spoken about this a few times, and pocketing the 8 ball before pocketing all the other balls is a very common foul.
- Not Matching Your Callout - If you call out where you're pocketing a ball, and the ball doesn't go in that pocket, then it's a foul.
What Are the Penalties for a Foul in 8-ball Pool?
"Ball-in-hand" is the official penalty for 95% of the fouls in 8-ball pool. This rule means the opponent picks up the cue ball and can decide where to place it.
You'll notice the text in this image says, "Player 1 has ball in hand" and they can now move the cue ball anywhere on the table. In this case, the opponent has moved it behind the yellow ball to get an easier shot into the bottom-left pocket. It's a very powerful position to be in, as it basically means you get a free pocket. That's why you should avoid making fouls at all costs - it gives your opponent an advantage.
The only exceptions to this rule involving breaking and pocketing the 8-ball:
- An invalid break means the other player decides what they want to do. They can either play the table as it is or decide to re-rack and pick who breaks.
- Pocketing the 8-ball before pocketing all the other colors leads to an immediate loss. Also, if you scratch the cue ball while pocketing the 8-ball, then it's also an instant loss.
Decoding 'Ball in Hand' Rule
We know there's some confusion about the ball-in-hand rule when you start playing pool. It's not as complex as it seems; it simply gives a player the ability to put the cue ball anywhere on the table.
The player with the "ball-in-hand" can move the cue ball as often as they like before taking their shot. In other words, you can keep adjusting the placement and angle until you're satisfied - it's not a case of being forced to take your shot the moment you put the ball on the table. As long as your cue hasn't made contact with the cue ball, you're free to keep playing around with its placement.
Ball-in-hand is the most powerful position in a pool match. It lets you decide which ball to pocket next, break up a big cluster of balls, or figure out the best shot to set up any future shots! However, you can foul from a ball-in-hand rule if you break any of the standard pool rules. It doesn't give you the freedom to hit the wrong ball first or avoid rules like a ball not touching a rail.
How to Win at 8 Ball: Tips & Tricks
At this stage in our guide, you should have a full grasp of how to play 8-ball pool and the rules to be aware of. The next question on your mind is a big one: how do you win? We've collected some great tips and tricks to help you win more pool matches:
- Practice Makes Perfect - The more you practice, the better you get. Winning pool requires extensive knowledge of hitting the right angles or learning how to put spin on the ball. You'll only get better at this if you play frequently.
- Focus On Your Target Ball - Look at the ball you want to hit and focus on the target point. Envision the cue ball striking exactly where you want; this is a great way to improve accuracy.
- Get A Good Break - Breaking effectively helps you get a leg up on your opponent as you can pocket a ball or two. The best break is to aim at either the front ball or slightly to the side. Use a good amount of power, and it almost always results in at least one ball being pocketed.
- Learn To Control The Cue Ball - Pocketing the cue ball can be disastrous. It either gives your opponent the ball in hand, or it loses the game entirely. Work on controlling the cue ball and learning which angles it flies off at. Also, practice putting a spin on the ball to decide what happens after it hits a colored ball. Striking the cue ball at a downward angle creates backspin, while hitting it more toward the top of the ball creates topspin.
- Don't Use Too Much Power - There's a tendency to hit every shot with as much power as you can muster. We don't recommend this; power shots are more erratic and can easily result in the wrong balls being pocketed or a ball flying off the table. Control your shots and learn when to hold back the power.
8-ball pool is a fairly easy game to master; you just need lots of practice and patience. Learn all the rules to avoid making costly fouls - and be sure you find a grip that feels comfortable. You need to feel in control when you hold the cue; otherwise you'll keep missing shots. We hope you've found this guide interesting and it's taught you all you need to know about 8-ball pool.
Seasonal Pool Games
More Games
Pool News
Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.