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!

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. The next player has two visits, and the ball is returned to the table (see the "Balls Off the Table" section