Potting any opponent's ball, except with the first shot following any foul.Hitting the 8 ball (black) with the cue ball before making contact with any of ones own balls (except with the first shot following any foul.).Jump shot - defined as when the cue ball is intentionally jumped over any part of any ball before making contact.
Hitting an opponents ball(s) with the cue ball, except with the first shot following any foul.In these circumstances, the need to make a ball contact the cushion after impact is not required, but the player must confirm to their opponent that they are indeed totally snookered before playing the shot. The only exception to the above rule is when a player is totally snookered on all of their balls a total snooker being defined as the player not being able to see any part of their chosen ball set. If on any visit a player fails to pot a legal ball, either the cueball or an object ball does not touch a cushion.Except following a foul when only the 8 ball (black) and ball(s) of the opponents group are on the table, then with the first shot of the first visit, the player may legally pocket the 8 ball (black) as well as ball(s) of the opponent's group by any combination and in any order.Ī player who clearly fails to make any attempt to play a ball of their own group will lose the game.Ī foul is deemed to have occured in the following circumstances. If a player pockets the 8 ball (black) before all the balls in their own group, except on the break.Ī player going in off the 8 ball (black) when the 8 ball (black) is pocketed.Ī player pocketing the 8 ball (black) and any other ball on the same shot. If the black is potted off the break, one re-racks the balls without penalty.Ī game is deemed to be lost under the following circumstances. The game is completed when the 8 ball (black) is pocketed legally in any pocket, and all the remaining balls have come to rest. If they take the latter option, they themselves must perform a legal break, following which they will then nominate their preferred set. If one fouls on the break by not driving four balls onto cushions, the oncoming player has the choice to play the balls as they lay or to have them re-racked. This is the only time in the frame where two shots do not carry following a foul.) With the first shot, the player can then play or pot whichever ball they wish (the exception being that one cannot pot the black) following which they then nominate their preferred set. This advantage will then pass to the opponent, who will receive two shots, the first of which will be a free table (NB: Note two ‘shots’ and not two “visits”. If a player fouls from the break, the right to nominate will be lost. Further, if one red is potted, they can if they so choose, nominate yellows without having to pot. If the player breaking pots a combination of balls, for instance a red and a yellow, they can simply nominate which ball set they wish to play. The break will also be deemed a "fair break" if at least one colour is potted.įollowing the break shot, regardless of whether a player has potted a ball or not, the person breaking will nominate their choice of balls. To be deemed a legal break, 4 balls have to hit a cushion. The game begins by the first player breaking the balls. The person whose ball is deemed closest to the baulk cushion chooses if they wish to break or not.) (To lag, both players simultaneously play a ball up the table from anywhere behind the baulk line, with the intention of stopping it as close to the baulk cushion as possible. To determine who has the right to break, both players will lag to determine who gets that advantage. To win, a player must pocket all their group of object balls in any order, and then legally pocket the 8 ball. Pool Rules - The game is played on a rectangular 6-pocket table with 15 balls (7 yellows, 7 reds and a black 8 ball.)
Rileys are a leading name in cue sports and this is an up to date set of rules. Stop all arguments by following the standard 8 ball pool rules. Most pool leagues will use the standard 8 ball UK pool rules.īelow are the official 8 Ball pool rules from Rileys. Pool Rules - There are so many different types of pool rules and variations of the game that it can get very confusing as to which rules you should be playing. Pool Rules - Official rules of play for English 8 Ball Pool by Rileys