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8Ball Pool

8ball pool is THE most popular billiard game in the world. You can find people playing the game in every possible pool hall in the US as well as in almost every online pool room on the internet.

8ball pool game is played with 2 players or two teams of players. The object of the game is to be the first player who sinks one group of object balls into the pockets and afterwards pockets the 8-ball legally.

8Ball Pool Equipment

Pocket billiard table (pool table)
Cue stick
Billiard balls including one cue ball and 15 numbered object balls: the balls numbered 1-7 are solid, the balls numbered 9-15 are striped and the 8-ball is black.

How to Play 8Ball Pool

Lag for Break

The lag for break is the procedure taken in formal pool matches prior to the first shot of the game. Its purpose is to choose the first player who will open the game and break the rack. Both players will shoot a ball from behind the head string towards the foot cushion. The winner is the player whose ball has reached closer to the head cushion, and he will open the game. In online 8ball pool games, the breaker is chosen automatically by the random system, therefore these procedure is not taken.

Opening Break Shot

The chosen player is called the breaker and his opponent the incoming player. The breaker, who puts the cue ball behind the head string, is required to either pocket a ball, or to drive at least 4 balls to the rail.

If the opening break shot was declared a success according to the requirements detailed in the former chapter, the breaker may continue shooting at the table and the pocketed ball or balls remain in their pockets. If not, the incoming player may either ask the breaker to re-open the game or to receive the table from the current position and start shooting.

Choice of Group of Balls

At this time of the game, the table is open, which means that the choice of group of object balls has not been made up yet. The choice between the group of solid and striped balls is made with the first legally pocketing of an object ball that occurs after the break.

Legal Shot

The player is required to hit at least one object ball of his group and then either pocket an object ball or send any object ball to the rail. When accomplished, the player may continue shooting at the table. When failed, the incoming player gets to shoot.

Pocketing the 8-Ball

The 8-ball can be pocketed only after the entire group of object balls has been pocketed. Additionally, before pocketing the 8-ball, the player must call a certain pocket and attempt to pocket the 8-ball in it.

End of Game

The first player who pockets legally the 8-ball after legally pocketing his group of object balls, wins the game. If a player fouls when pocketing the 8-ball, including pocketing the 8-ball before its time or pocketing it to a different pocket, he loses the game.