How to Play 9-Ball (The Rules)

9-ball is one of the most well-known billiards (pool) games around today. It can usually just played with two players but can be played by any number of players. I have been playing pool for many years and can honestly say that 9-ball is, without a doubt, the game that I enjoy the most at the billiards table.

The objective of the game is, very simply, to get the 9-ball in while following the rules below.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   The Rack

   RULE 1 - THE BREAK
   Rack balls 1 through 9 using a 9-ball rack (If no 9-ball rack is available, you can use a regular 8-ball rack and just use your fingers to move the balls into the shape of a 9-ball rack). The 9-ball must go in the middle and the 1-ball must go at the front. The player breaks by hitting the queue ball into the 1-ball. Missing the 1-ball OR scratching results in the penalty (see penalty section below).

2. RULE 2 - HIT LOWEST NUMBERED BALL FIRST
   The queue ball must hit the lowest numbered ball before it hits any other balls. For example, lets say all balls (balls 1 through 9) and the queue ball are on the table. Since the 1-ball is the lowest numbered ball on the table, the player must shoot the queue ball into the 1-ball. If the 1-ball goes in, the player continues and must now shoot the queue ball into the new lowest numbered ball on the table (the 2-ball). If the queue ball misses the lowest numbered ball OR the queue ball does not hit the lowest number ball FIRST OR the player scratches, the penalty occurs (see penalty section below).

3. RULE 3 - THE PENALTY
   There is only one penalty in 9-ball; You lose your turn and the other player gets the queue ball 'in hand' and can place it ANYWHERE he/she likes on the table. This is very advantageous to him/her.

Tips & Warnings

• What makes someone a good nine-ball player is his/her ability to position the queue ball in a good location for the NEXT shot while making the CURRENT shot.
• A game can quickly be won if the player can hit the queue ball into the lowest numbered ball so that that ball hits the 9-ball and the 9-balls goes in (a combination).
• Another quick way of winning is to hit the queue ball off of the lowest numbered ball so that it then goes into the 9-ball and the 9-ball goes in (not so easy).
• If you can't get the lowest numbered ball in, just try to at least hit it because missing it will give your opponent the 'ball in hand' and the ability to line up the next shot for himself.

Resources

• More Info About 9-ball