8-ball rules

The game

8-ball is played with fifteen object balls and a cue ball. A player must first pocket all balls of their group (1–7 or 9–15) before attempting the 8-ball. All shots are called.

Determining the break

The player who wins the lag decides who breaks. Alternating break is the standard model.

The rack

Fifteen balls are racked tightly together. The apex ball is placed on the foot spot and the 8-ball goes in the centre of the rack. In the back row, the corner balls must come from different groups (one solid, one stripe). The remaining balls are placed without any particular order.

The break shot

The cue ball is placed anywhere behind the head string. The shot is not called and need not strike a specific ball. If a ball is pocketed on a fair break, play continues and the table is open. If no ball is pocketed on the break, at least four balls must reach a rail — otherwise the break is foul and the next player may: accept the table, re-rack and break, or re-rack and require the original breaker to break again. Pocketing the 8-ball on the break is not a foul: the breaker may have the 8 re-spotted and continue, or re-break. If the 8-ball and cue ball are both pocketed on the break, the opponent chooses between spotting the 8 with cue-ball behind the head string, or re-breaking. If any other ball jumps the table on the break it is a foul (jumped 8 is spotted) and the opponent chooses to accept the table or play from behind the head string. Any other break foul gives the same choice.

Open table and group selection

Before groups are chosen the table is open, and each shot must be called. Legally pocketing a called ball assigns that group to the shooter and the other group to the opponent. While the table is open the cue ball may first hit any ball except the 8.

Continuing play

A player stays at the table as long as they legally pocket balls, and wins the rack by legally pocketing the 8-ball.

Call shot

Every shot except the break is called. The 8 may only be called once all of the shooter's group is down. A player may call a safety, after which the opponent shoots; any balls pocketed on a safety stay down.

Spotting balls

If the 8-ball is pocketed or jumps the table on the break, it is spotted, or the rack is re-racked.

Loss of the rack

A player loses the rack by: fouling while pocketing the 8; pocketing the 8 before clearing their group; pocketing the 8 in an uncalled pocket; or knocking the 8 off the table. This does not apply to the break shot.

Standard fouls

After a foul the opponent gets ball-in-hand anywhere on the table. Standard fouls: cue ball off the table; wrong-ball-first contact; no ball reaches a rail after contact; no foot on the floor; ball off the table; bad hit on frozen balls; double hit or push shot; balls still moving; cue ball placed wrong; bad play behind the head string; cue left on the table; playing out of turn; slow play.

Serious fouls

The fouls listed under Loss of the rack cost the current rack. Unsportsmanlike behaviour is penalised by the referee in proportion to the offence.

Stalemate

If a stalemate occurs, the player who broke that rack breaks again.

This is an informative summary. Official tournaments follow WPA/EPBF rules.