The Rules of 8 Ball Pool (Eight Ball Pool) - EXPLAINED!

Summary

In this video, Ninh explains the rules of 8 Ball Pool, a popular two-player game where the objective is to legally pot the 8 ball after sinking all your designated balls (either solids or stripes). The game starts with a break, and players must follow specific rules like avoiding sinking the cue ball or touching opponents' balls. Fouls result in the opponent gaining control of the cue ball. Ninh also covers variations like Blackball and automatic loss scenarios, offering an essential guide for new players or those looking to brush up on the rules.

Takeaways

• 😀 The goal of 8 Ball Pool is to pot all your designated balls (either solid or striped) and then legally pot the 8 ball to win.
• 😀 A legal break requires at least 4 balls to hit the rails, and the cue ball must not go into a pocket.
• 😀 If you sink a ball on your first shot, you must continue to sink either solid balls or striped balls, depending on the type of ball you potted.
• 😀 Once all of your designated balls are potted, you can aim for the 8 ball and must declare the pocket where you intend to sink it.
• 😀 Failing to pot the correct ball or making a mistake results in your turn ending, and your opponent takes their shot.
• 😀 There are various fouls you should avoid, such as hitting the wrong ball first, potting the cue ball, or hitting the ball off the table.
• 😀 A scratch or foul results in the opponent getting the cue ball in hand, allowing them to place it anywhere on the table.
• 😀 In competitive matches, players typically compete in a series of games (best of 10, 15, or 20), and the first player to win 6, 8, or 10 games wins.
• 😀 Automatic loss can occur if you hit the 8 ball off the table, sink the 8 ball prematurely, or sink the 8 ball in the wrong pocket.
• 😀 Some variations of the game, like Call Shot, require you to declare which ball you will pot into which pocket before taking the shot.
• 😀 The Blackball variation of the game uses red, yellow, and black balls instead of numbered ones, with slight rule differences, including skill shots and two shots for fouls.

Q & A

What is the objective of 8 Ball Pool?

The main objective of 8 Ball Pool is to legally hit and pocket the 8 ball after sinking all of your designated balls (either solid or striped).

How do you start a game of 8 Ball Pool?

The game starts with a break shot. To make the break legal, at least four balls must hit the rails of the table, and the cue ball must not go into any pocket.

What are the different types of balls in 8 Ball Pool?

There are 15 object balls in total, numbered 1 to 15. Balls 1 to 7 are solid colors, while balls 9 to 15 are striped. The goal is to sink all of either the solid or the striped balls before attempting to pocket the 8 ball.

What happens if you sink a ball after the break?

If you sink a ball off the break, you must continue to pot the same type of ball (solid or striped) for the remainder of the game.

What is the rule for potting the 8 ball?

To win, you must declare which pocket you will sink the 8 ball into, and if you legally sink the 8 ball into the declared pocket, you win the game.

What happens if you fail to pot the relevant ball?

If you fail to pot the correct ball, your turn ends, and your opponent gets a chance to aim for their designated balls.

What are some actions that result in a foul in 8 Ball Pool?

Actions that result in a foul include sinking the cue ball, hitting an opponent's ball before your own, failing to hit the object ball, hitting a ball off the table, or committing a double hit with the cue ball.

What happens when a foul occurs?

When a foul occurs, your opponent is awarded the cue ball in hand, meaning they can place it anywhere on the table to continue their shot.

What are some automatic loss conditions in 8 Ball Pool?

You lose automatically if you hit the 8 ball off the table, sink the 8 ball and the cue ball at the same time, sink the 8 ball before clearing your designated balls, or sink the 8 ball in the wrong pocket.

What is the 'Call Shot' rule in 8 Ball Pool?

In some variations or tournaments, players must declare which ball they will sink into which pocket. Failing to pot the ball into the correct pocket results in a foul.

How does Blackball differ from 8 Ball Pool?

Blackball is a British variation of pool played with red, yellow, and black balls on a smaller 7ft table. Unlike 8 Ball Pool, skill shots are allowed, and fouls result in two shots rather than the opponent receiving the cue ball in hand.