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World Rules: A Brief Introduction

Although I would strongly recommend that you read the World Eight-Ball Pool Rules thoroughly, here is some brief guidance on the main points. For about 90% of the time, this will get you through as a player - it is not enough, however, to referee a game!

Please note: we do not apply the time limit of 1 minute per shot.

If you are at all unfamiliar with the World Eight-Ball Rules, then it is strongly recommended that you read all of the above thoroughly. Furthermore, guidance is available from the T&DPL Committee, should you require it.

Breaking

• The balls should be racked as shown (slightly different to the old formation still used in many pubs and clubs)

• Four balls (not including the cue ball) must hit a cushion OR a red/yellow must be potted

• If less than four balls hit a cushion, and no colour is potted = foul break: balls are re-racked, and the next player has two visits... but again the "four balls" rule applies on this second break

• Black potted = re-rack, same player to break, no penalty

• White potted:

  • If four balls have hit a cushion, or a colour has been potted, then this is a legal break - next player has one visit, playing the cue ball from anywhere behind the line

  • If no colours have been potted, and less than three balls have hit a cushion, then it's a foul break as above: re-rack, next player to break with two visits

• Ball off the table = foul break. The next player has two visits, and the ball is returned to the table (see the "Balls Off the Table" section

Immediately After the Break

• If no balls are potted on the break, it is an open table

• If you pot a colour on the break:

  • You MUST nominate a colour even if you decide to continue with that colour: if you fail to nominate a colour before your next shot, it will be a foul!

  • If you nominate the colour you potted, you are that colour

  • If you nominate the non-potted colour:

    • If you pot that colour, you are now that colour

    • If you do not pot that colour, the table reverts to being "open", and your opponent can go for any colour on the table

• If nothing is potted on the break, the table is open - colours will be decided by the first ball legally potted

• At this point, you do not have the option to choose colours - if you pot a red, you are red

• Unless, of course, you pot one of each colour - in which case you must select which colour you want - colours are now determined

In Open Play

• AFTER the cue ball makes contact with the object ball, a ball (cue ball, object ball, or any other ball on the table) must hit a cushion: bouncing off the cushion into the object ball does not count

  • Example 1: You play the cue ball into your red, and the red knocks a yellow onto the cushion - this is a legal shot

  • Example 2: You play the cue ball into your red, and the white then hits a cushion after that - this is a legal shot

  • Example 3: You play the cue ball off two cushions into your red, but then neither ball hits a cushion (or causes any other ball to hit a cushion) - this is a foul shot

• If you hit a ball that's "frozen" on the cushion (i.e. is already touching the cushion) then that does not count as hitting the cushion - after hitting it, a ball must still hit a cushion

Fouls

• The next player is awarded two visits

• You may not (in normal circumstances) nominate a "free ball"

• You may not (in normal circumstances) pick up the cue ball and play from baulk

• Your two visits carry, onto and including the black

• The standard rule about "hitting a cushion" applies throughout your two visits

• Deliberate fouls are allowed - you give away two visits to your opponent as standard, but no other penalty applies

Snookers

• If you are fully snookered on all of your balls - i.e. you cannot see any part of any ball - you may ask the referee for a Total Snooker

• If the referee agrees that you are completely snookered, they'll call "Total Snooker" and for that shot the "hitting a cushion" rule does not apply

  • You must ask for a total snooker - the referee cannot offer it to you

  • If you don't ask for a total snooker, then the standard rule for "hitting a cushion" applies - even if it's blindingly obvious that you're snookered

• You are fully entitled to ask for a total snooker even when you have put yourself in that position

Foul Snookers

• If your opponent has just fouled, and you are in a situation where you cannot hit the extreme edges of any of your balls - this is a Foul Snooker

• You may pick up the cue ball and play from baulk OR nominate one specific ball on the table to act as a free ball for your first shot

  • If you decide to play from baulk and there is a position where you can hit the extreme edges of any of your balls, you cannot nominate a free ball - even if you move the cue ball to a position in baulk where you cannot hit the the extreme edges

  • However, if in baulk there is no position where you can hit the extreme edges of any of your balls, you may then nominate one specific ball as a free ball

• You must ask the referee for a Foul Snooker - the referee cannot offer it to you, unless asked

• You may only nominate a free ball following a foul if it is a "foul snooker" - i.e. you cannot hit the extremes of any of your balls. If you wish to take a free ball, you must nominate the specific ball you're using

• You cannot be snookered by the straight part of the cushion alone

• If the object ball is resting on or near the corner of a pocket, this is not a foul snooker

• If the cue ball is resting on or near the corner of a pocket, and the jaw is preventing you from hitting the extreme edges of any object ball, then this is a foul jaw snooker, and the same rules as in a foul snooker apply

• You cannot be snookered by your own ball - so if the only thing stopping you hitting the extreme edge of your ball is another one of your balls - that is not a snooker

Touching Balls & Push Shots

• Push shots are usually allowed - unless the referee can physically see your cue pushing the cue ball along, or hitting it twice

  • Generally, if you play it quite hard, the referee will not be able to physically see the contact, so the shot will be legal

• Touching balls are an exception - you must play away from a touching ball, otherwise a foul will be called

  • If you're touching your own colour, ask the referee to give a "Touching Ball" - you are deemed to have already made contact, so just need to hit a cushion for a legal shot

Balls Off the Table

• Any balls knocked off the table should be returned to the table on the black spot, or on a line between the black spot and the cushion at the black end of the table

• If a ball drops into a pocket without being hit, it should be returned to the table as close as possible to where it was

The Black

• You do not need to nominate a pocket when going for the black

• If your opponent has fouled, your two visits continue even when you get to the black

Conduct

• Coaching is not allowed during the frame - however, doubles partners may consult between each other

• If you are in doubt about any rules, ask the referee - do not ask anyone else, particularly other members of your own team

  • If the referee requires any guidance, they may consult the team captains

  • If further clarification is required, you can ring the League Secretary for guidance

• Do not drink or smoke over the table

• Please be courteous to the referee and your opponent

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Last Update: 11 November, 2007
©2007 Totton & District Pool League