14 Pool Games to Play: With Friends, Alone or at a Party
8-Ball is just the start. Here are 14 pool games worth knowing, grouped by how many people are playing. Each one has a quick "how it works" so you can rack up and play tonight.
Two players: the classics
- 8-Ball. One player takes solids, the other stripes. Clear your group, then make the 8 to win. The most played game in the world. Full rules.
- Last Pocket 8-Ball. A popular bar version: the 8 must go in the same pocket as your last ball of your group. It makes every rack harder to finish.
- 9-Ball. Balls 1 to 9. Always hit the lowest ball first; whoever makes the 9 wins, even on a combination. Fast, and the most common tournament game. Full rules.
- 10-Ball. Like 9-Ball with ten balls and called shots, so there is less luck. Full rules.
- 7-Ball. A quicker version of 9-Ball with only the 1 through 7. Great when you want short racks.
- Straight Pool (14.1). Call any ball in any pocket, one point each, and keep shooting until you miss. Re-rack 14 balls and keep going. Games go to 100 or more. Full rules.
- One Pocket. Each player gets one corner pocket at the foot of the table, and only balls in your pocket count. First to 8 wins. A chess match on a pool table. How it works.
- Bank Pool. Every ball must be banked off at least one cushion and called. Usually first to 8 in a full rack. Full rules.
- Rotation (61). Hit the lowest ball first, like 9-Ball, but every ball you make is worth its number in points. There are 120 points on the table, so 61 wins.
Three to five players
- Cutthroat. Three players each own a group of five balls (1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15). Sink your opponents' balls; the last player with a ball left wins. The best game for three. Full rules.
- 3-Ball. Rack just three balls and try to pocket all three in as few shots as possible, break included. Everyone takes a turn and the lowest score wins. Quick, simple and very competitive.
Groups and parties
- Kelly Pool. Each player secretly draws a number from 1 to 15. Shoot the balls in rotation; whoever legally pockets the ball that matches their secret number wins. Great for a crowd, because anyone can win.
- Killer. Every player starts with three lives and takes one shot per turn. Make a ball and stay alive; miss and lose a life. Last player standing wins. Big groups take turns around the table, so nobody waits long.
- Scotch Doubles. Two-player teams take turns shooting: partner A, then partner B, every shot. Perfect for couples and mixed teams. How it works.
Playing alone
Play the ghost: break, take ball in hand, and try to run the rack. If you miss, the "ghost" wins that rack. Race to 5 and track your score over time. It is in our practice drills, and you can log your results in the free practice log. Between sessions, play our free pool games online.
Not sure which game fits you? Take the which pool game is yours? quiz. Then find a tournament for it: tonight or this weekend.
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.