Fun Billiard Games

8 Ball uses all 15 billiard balls.

Both pool sharks and recreational players enjoy billiards, which includes a variety of games to play. Many recreational players prefer the common game of 8-Ball, while 9-Ball is the variety most common in pool tournaments. People play still more types of billiards games in pool halls besides these.

8 Ball

Players rack all 15 balls in the triangle (with the eight ball in the center), and if the person who breaks is successful in pocketing a ball he gets to choose between the balls numbered one through seven ("solids") or nine through 15 ("stripes.") Players then must knock all of their assigned balls into the pocket, and win if they successfully pocket the eight ball. If a player scratches by knocking the cue ball into a pocket while shooting at the eight ball he will automatically lose.

9 Ball

The balls numbered one through nine are racked into a diamond, with the nine ball in the center. After the break players must knock the balls into the pocket in numerical order. A player can win automatically if he puts the nine ball into a pocket on the break, or if he puts the nine ball in the pocket by hitting it with another of the numerical balls (a "combo.") When one player scratches, the other player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table for the next shot.

One Pocket

Players choose a pocket before play begins and must pocket all balls into that pocket. The game uses all 15 balls and begins with a break. If one player knocks a ball into the second player's pocket, the second player scores a free point. Any balls knocked into other pockets go back on the table. A player's turn continues until he does not successfully pocket a ball in the assigned pocket. Players normally continue One Pocket to a score of eight points.

14.1 Continuous

This game uses all 15 balls, placed in a triangle for the break. Players must call their shots, announcing both the ball and the pocket in which they intend to hit it. A player can shoot at any ball on the table and continues play until he misses a shot. After 14 balls are pocketed, they are re-racked, and the player must pocket the 15th ball while also distributing the racked balls around the table so he can continue his run. This game usually continues to scores of 100 or 150.

References

• Best Billiard: Game Rules
• Billiard Congress of America: Rules & Specifications