Scratching on the Break in Billiards

Video Transcript

"The next shot is scratching on the break. Scratching on the break is a foul. It's when you hit the balls on the rack and you actually scratch by the cue ball going in you of the pockets. Here's what it looks like to scratch on the break. So we just broke and we scratched. The first thing that happens is any balls that went down stay down, except if it's the eight, which I'll get to that rule in a second. You scratched, any balls that went down stay down, and it's a neutral or open table to your opponent who then has to shoot behind the head string. Again, terminology, head string is the line behind this spot and these two dots or this neutral area back here. He once again gets ball in hand. He can not shoot any ball behind the head string unless he actually has the cue ball go past the head string and then back. If he had a scenario where this ball was hanging, that was his only shot, he could actually shoot the ball sown into that rail and come back and make this ball. It's the only way he could do that. So now the eight ball goes in. Let me just tell you what happens with the eight ball. I just want to talk quickly about the eight ball going in on the break. Usually in most bar tables, and this is for international play, but the rule for New York City and most bar tables, if you make the eight ball on the break and you don't scratch you win. If you make the eight ball and scratch on the break. International play or tournament play, if you break and you make the eight ball and you don't scratch, the eight ball could either, you could do one of two things, you could actually have the balls re-racked and re-break, or you just have the eight ball come up and put it on the opposite spot, and have it spotted and continue shooting if you make a ball, one of the solids or stripes. If not, your opponent gets the next shot. If you break and scratch, your partner could come up, your opponent I mean, up and ask for a re-rack for him to break, or he could have the ball spotted and he gets the ball in hand behind the head string and could continue shooting from there. So again remember if I made the eight ball on the break I could have the balls re-racked, or if I like it cause I think it's an easy table I could just ask for the eight ball to be spotted, and here's the spot on the other end of the head rail, and that's a spotted eight ball."