8-Ball Rules: The Basics Every Tournament Player Should Know
8-Ball is the most played pool game in America, and also the one with the most "house rules." Tournaments usually follow a published rule set (league rules, BCA/CSI or WPA rules). These are the basics most of them share. When in doubt, ask the director before you play.
The goal
One player shoots the solids (1–7), the other the stripes (9–15). Pocket all of your group, then legally pocket the 8-ball to win.
The break
The breaker must pocket a ball or drive a minimum number of balls to the rails. What happens if the 8-ball goes in on the break depends on the rules in use: under some rule sets it is a win, under others it is spotted or re-racked. Check before you start.
Open table
After the break the table is "open": groups are not decided yet. Your group is set when you legally pocket a solid or stripe on a called shot after the break.
Calling shots
In most tournament rules you call the ball and the pocket for anything that is not obvious. Bank shots, kicks and combinations should always be called.
Fouls and ball in hand
Common fouls include scratching, failing to hit your own group first, and no ball reaching a rail after contact. Most tournament rules give the opponent ball in hand anywhere on the table after a foul.
How you lose on the 8
- Pocketing the 8 before your group is cleared.
- Pocketing the 8 in a pocket you did not call.
- Scratching while pocketing the 8 (under most rules).
Ready to play? Find 8-Ball tournaments near you.
Test yourself: take the 12-question pool rules quiz and share your score with your league. Settling an argument? See the pool rules Q&A.