What is an Open Table in Billiards?

Video Transcript

"This next clip scenario is when you break and have an open table. In tournament play in eight ball when you break the balls, even if you make a stripe or a solid, the table is still considered open because you didn't call that shot. You don't have to call on the break shot, but in a bar room table, because of the scenario of having to put a dollar in for each game, they made it where if you break and make a solid, you have solids and if you break and make a stripe, you have stripes. Also, if you make one of each or two of one and one of the other it's considered choice. You have the option to go after either or. In tournament play, when you break the balls, even if like you make like a stripe or solid, it's still open until you make your next shot. It?s open meaning so then you can hit either stripes or solids, but you can not hit the eight ball first in an open table. Even if I break right now and I make the balls, one of each, it gives me an open table, now I can go for stripes or solids. I can not hit the eight ball first. That's a foul and if that happens, If I happen to, you know you break sometimes and there be an eight ball right on top of the cue, you have no if, ands, or buts but to hit, so it's a foul. Your opponent then gets to come up and have ball in hand again behind the line. Remember, anything behind the line he can't shoot. He'll have ball in hand behind the head line. Remember, anything that's pocketed during this shot stays down and the play starts from there. So again, the game starts, you break the balls, it doesn't really matter what goes in because it will be an open table. What's being determined here is whether I get to shoot again or the opposing player gets to shoot. My competition. So let's just give them a break."