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June 6-8, 2008
Valley Forge Convention Center - King of Prussia, PA
Allen Hopkins Productions
Rules of 8-Ball Summary
Racking
8-Ball in the middle, other object balls placed randomly with head ball on foot spot.
Order of Play
The order of play is determined by the lag.
Break
Begin the break with cue ball in hand behind the head string. Player must “attempt” an open break, no soft breaking. If the cue ball crosses the head string and does not contact the rack, it is a foul. A scratch on the break results in the incoming player having ball in hand behind the head string, all pocketed object balls stay down and the table is considered “open”.
Eight on the break wins the game. If player commits a foul and makes the 8-ball, it is loss of game.
Rotate break after the first game.
After the Break
If the breaker makes an object ball, whatever group of balls he pocketed will be the ones the player must shoot from then on. If at least one of each group is pocketed, player has choice, it is open table.
Whenever the table is open, player may shoot a combination that includes one of each, a solid and a stripe.
The table is open until a player legally pockets a ball.
You must call the object ball and which pocket you intend it to be pocketed in. It doesn’t matter how it gets there so long as the pocket is called. If an object ball is made in the wrong pocket, the ball stays down and it’s the incoming players turn with the cue ball staying where it is.
Combinations
Player must strike his/her group first and pocket his/her group, but the opponents group may be in the middle.
You may use the 8-ball during combinations but only if you strike your group ball first (8 ball in the middle).
Fouls
It is ball in hand anywhere on the table after a foul is committed, except after the break. After the break, it is ball in hand behind the head string. All balls pocketed on a foul stay down except the 8-ball, then it is loss of game.
Shooting the wrong ball group
The first object ball contacted must be the player’s object ball group or it is a foul and the incoming player gets ball in hand.
If a player shoots and pockets the wrong ball group, the opponent must notify him before the player realizes the mistake and shoots the correct ball group. It would be a foul and the incoming player gets ball in hand. If the opponent doesn’t notify the player at the table on time and that player corrects the mistake by shooting the correct group, it is not a foul and the player may continue.
Ball to a Rail
After the shooter contacts his object ball group first, any object ball or the cue ball must be driven to a rail or the shot is a foul.
Three Consecutive Fouls
If a player fouls three times without making an intervening legal shot, he/she loses the game. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning must be given between the second and third fouls. If the warning is not given and the shooter makes a third foul, it is not loss of game and that shooter is back “on two” fouls. At this point, the player still must be notified he/she has two fouls.
How to Win
A player wins by pocketing all of his/her object ball group first and then legally pockets the 8-ball.
Loss of Game
It is loss of game if:
Your opponent legally pockets all of their object ball group and the eight ball.
The shooter scratches during or after the 8-ball shot. However, not contacting the 8-ball is not loss of game; it is ball in hand for the opponent. The 3 foul rule applies.
The shooter knocks the 8-ball off the table.
The shooter pockets the 8-ball before his/her group of balls is cleared from the table.
The shooter pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one that was designated.
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