Official World Standardized Rules - Pool Game

Object of the Game - The player pocketing their group of balls first in any order and then legally pocketing the black ball wins the game.

Balls comprise of two groups, represented by yellow balls and red balls on the European table and numbered balls 1-7 which are plain coloured and 9-15 which are striped coloured balls on the Classic table.

1. Commencement of the Game
   1. The person who has challenged someone else to the game breaks first. They get the opportunity to place the white ball anywhere behind the white line.
   2. On the break, if a player legally pockets a ball, then that denotes his/her group, unless he/she pockets balls from each group, if this happens, the table remains free until a single ball is pocketed, this then denotes his/her group.
   3. If a foul is committed on the break any balls pocketed are ignored in determining groups.
   4. If the player pockets the 8 ball (black) from the break, the player loses the game.
   5. If a ball or balls are legally pocketed, this entitles the player to one additional shot and this continues until the player either:
      1. fails to pocket one of his/her set of allocated balls, or
      2. commits a foul, at any time.
   6. Combination shots are allowed provided that the player hits one of his group of balls first.


2. Fouls
   1. Cue ball pocketed.
   2. Hitting opponent's balls before his/her own balls.
   3. Failing to hit any ball with the cue ball.
   4. If a player hits the 8 ball (black) with the cue ball on the first impact before all his/her own balls have been potted.
   5. Potting any opponent's balls except if you have a free shot ie. Two shots after the cue ball has been potted by your opponent….


3. Penalty following any Foul
   1. Following any foul described under rule 2, the incoming player may play the cue ball from where it lies, or if the cue ball is potted off the table, from behind the white line.
   2. Following a foul, the incoming player is entitled to one free shot with which he/she may without nomination, play the cue ball directly onto any ball, including the opponent's balls and the 8 ball (black). However, he/she may not pocket the 8 ball (black), which would mean loss of the game, unless the player has already pocketed all of his/her group of object balls and only needs to pocket the 8 ball (black) to win the game.
   3. Following the single free shot described in 3 b) the player will commence his/her normal visit.


4. Loss of Game
   1. If the player pockets the 8 ball (black) before he/she pockets all balls in his/her own group, he/she loses the game.


5. General
   1. The game is completed when the 8 ball (black) is potted in any pocket and all the remaining balls including the cue ball have come to rest.


6. Guidance
   • The term 'shot' means striking the cue ball once.
   • The term 'break' refers to the first shot of the game or the first shot of a game being re-started.