The player pocketing either group first, and then legally pocketing the 8ball wins the game. Mike shamos, resident rules guru for billiards digest and one of pools most respected individuals, wrote. The gmabca strives to place teams into appropriate leagues with regards to. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 to 7 solid colors, while the other player has 9 through 15 stripes.
It was introduced by the brunswickbalkecollender company, and for years was known as b. Under bca worldstandardized rules, pocketing the 8ball while committing a foul is a loss of game. I was recently playing at a bar and had someone claim that, in bca, a foul on the break in 8 ball gives the other player ball in the kitchen. A scratch on the break is not a loss it is ball in hand behind. All jumped object balls are spotted except in 8 and 9ball when all balls have stopped moving. Usually, however, the penalty for scratching during the game is harsher. After a player has legally pocketed his entire group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8ball. Eight ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. The first person to make all of their assigned groups solid or stripes of balls and then make the 8ball in a designated or called pocket wins the game. Object of the game 8ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 through 15. Scratching the cue ball is always a foul, therefore a loss of game. In apa, if you scratch cue ball off the table while shooting the 8 ball, it is loss of game whether the 8 ball is pocketed or not. Thepurpose ofthisgameisforoneplayertopocketthesolidballs. These rules are adapted from the billiard congress of america for doolys 8ball fun league and tournaments.
Anytime you scratch, the opponent receives ballinhand. Eight ball rules and league rules and regulations updated 060206 santa barbara pool league. If the player legally breaks the racked balls and does not make any balls, his opponent then shoots, having an open table. The 8ball becomes your legal object ball on your first shot after there are no balls of your group on the table. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 solid colors, while the other player has 9 through 15 stripes. Under standard 8ball rules, if a player sinks the cue ball during her turn, play is passed over to her opponent, who. The losing player receives one point for each ball in his or her group pocketed during the game. The shooters group of seven balls one through seven or nine through fifteen must all be off the table before he attempts to pocket the eight ball to win. Billiards congress of america bca official rule book. Another basics of eight ball rule is that any scratch, or when the cue ball is sunk in one of the pockets or misses the object ball, results in the opponent having a ball in hand shot. Official 8ball rules straight from the bca rule book. All games described in these rules are designed for tables, balls and equipment meeting the standards prescribed in the bca equipment specifications.
A combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the 8ball. If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is foul. Lets break down some basic terminology before we move on. Keep in mind though that these are just the basics. A combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the 8ball, except when the 8ball is the first ball contacted in the shot sequence. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not met, it is a. The player who legally pockets the 8ball wins the game. One player is solids balls 17 and the other is stripes 915. If you scratch, your opponent gets to place the ball anywhere behind the head string. The original game was played with seven yellow balls, seven red balls, a black ball and the cue ball it wasnt until. How to play 8 ball pool like a pro official bca 8 ball rules. If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.
Apacpa 8ball game rules generaldescription8ballisplayedwithacueball andnormalrackoffifteen15objectballs. Ninh explains the rules of 8 ball pool a popular cue sports table game from the usa. If the cue ball touches an object ball that was already pocketed for example, in a pocket full of object balls, the shot is a foul. The billiard congress of america bca uses the above rules. The player or team pocketing their group of object balls and legally pocketing the black ball wins the game. When the 8 ball is the legal object ball, a scratch or foul is not a loss of game when the 8 ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table. Eight ball eight ball is played with fifteen numbered object balls and the cue ball. If a player scratches on a legal break shot, 1 all balls pocketed remain. Eight ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls. The breaker must strike the 1ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. A player loses the game if he commits any of the following infractions. This is a beginners explanation of eight ball pool rules.
The official rules of the bca pool league are the most extensive set of rules in history, and for the first time they are accompanied by interpretive decisions. If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or some object ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul. Scratches do not end the game, only the 8ball leaving the table bcawpa. In some games, a cue ball scratch always results in the opponent shooting the ball from behind the head string, no matter when the infraction takes place. Cue ball scratch it is a foul scratch if on a stroke, the cue ball is pocketed. If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul. How to play 8 ball the basics the object of the game the object is pretty simple.
Us 10ball rules us professional poolplayers association. The object balls are two groups of seven and the black ball. The numbered balls are split into three sets, and each set will belong to each of the three players. How to play 8ball, 8 ball rules, eight ball pool rules. Any foul on the 8ball, regardless of whether the ball is pocketed or not, is an automatic loss. If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of 1 accepting the table in position and shooting, or 2 taking cue ball in hand behind the. Each opponents balls left on the table counts for 1 point and the pocketing on the 8 ball counts for 2. This rule modification is appropriate on coinoperated tables where all pocketed balls are captured. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 solid colors, while the other player has 9 thru 15 stripes.
If you are shooting the 8 ball as the final shot and you scratch. Open table the 8ball may be used as the first ball of open table the 8ball may not be used as the first ball of a combination to determine stripes and solids. When shooting at the 8ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table. Sink your balls to get to the 8 ball, then pocket the 8 ball to win. Eight ball is played with fifteen numbered object balls and the cue ball. New bca rule book official press release from billiard congress of america. If an object ball is pocketed on the break, you get to continue with your turn, unless you scratch i. Eightball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 through 15. For the complete rules, we recommend that you visit the bcas website. Black ball black ball is played with 15 colored object balls and the cue ball.
Rules for scratching in eight ball pool azoldtime09 on august 31, 2011 at 5. Its believed that the game of 8ball originated around 1900, since the first records of it date back to 1908. Draft of bcapl official rules cuesports international csi. The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except. Edited this section after finding apa rules online the american poolplayers association 8ball rules do specify that object balls are spotted if they have been knocked on the floor rule 6. Pool billiards the rules of play bca alberta pool leagues. Official bca one pocket rules unless clearly contradicted below, general pocket billiards rules of play and etiquette apply to. The most popular american pocket billiard games is hands down 8ball. The official rules of the bca pool league are the most extensive set of. If a player scratches on a legal break, 1 all balls remain. The primary purpose of this game is for one player to pocket the solid balls numbered from 1 to 7 or the striped balls numbered from 9 to 15, and then pocket the 8ball before their opponent. After a player has legally pocketed his entire group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8 ball. If the 8ball is still on the table, the game continues.
Following any other foul, the cue ball is played where it lies. The balls are played in ascending numerical order and the lowest numbered ball must be contacted by the cue ball in order to establish a legal hit. It is a foul scratch if on a stroke, the cue ball is pocketed. In apa, the only shot that must be called at all is the 8ball, and that is done by physically placing a marker next to the intended pocket as to avoid all confusion. The rules of 8 ball pool eight ball pool explained. If you pocket a ball and scratch on the opening break, the pocketed ball is placed back on the table and you lose you turn as well. Billiard rules for sinking a cue ball our pastimes. If you pocket a ball and scratch on the opening break, the pocketed ball is placed back. I play in a bca league and we always play ball in hand on any foul at any time.