Straight Pool (14.1 Continuous) Rules and Scoring
Straight pool, officially called 14.1 continuous, was the main tournament game in America for most of the 1900s. It rewards position play and patience more than any other game, and many players say it is the best way to learn the game.
The goal
Every ball is worth one point. Players agree on a target before the match, such as 50, 100 or 150 points for a top-level match, or 25 to 75 points in a local event. The first player to reach the target wins.
Call every shot
You can shoot at any ball, in any order, but you must call the ball and the pocket. Obvious shots usually do not need to be said out loud, but a bank, combination or kick should be called. If the called ball goes in the called pocket, you score a point and keep shooting. Extra balls that fall on a legal shot also count.
The rerack
This is what makes the game "continuous." When only one object ball is left on the table, the other 14 balls are racked again with the spot at the front of the rack left empty. The player keeps shooting, usually trying to make the last ball and break open the new rack with the cue ball in the same shot. Planning that "break ball" is the heart of straight pool strategy.
The opening break
The first break of the game is a safety-first shot. The breaker must either pocket a called ball, or drive the cue ball and at least two object balls to a rail. Failing that is a breaking foul and costs two points, and the opponent can make the breaker break again. That is why most opening breaks just clip a corner ball and send the cue ball back up the table.
Fouls and the three-foul rule
- A normal foul (scratching, not hitting a ball, no rail after contact) costs one point. Scores can go negative.
- Three fouls in a row by the same player cost an extra 15 points, and the balls are reracked. Players are warned after the second foul in a row.
Safeties
You can call "safety" and play a defensive shot. You do not score, but it is not a foul as long as you still hit a ball and get a rail. Long safety battles are normal, especially on the opening break.
Straight pool tournaments
Straight pool events are rarer than 8-Ball or 9-Ball because matches take longer. When they are run, the race is often shorter (for example, 50 or 75 points) or handicapped by points. Look for straight pool tournaments, or brush up on the 9-Ball and 8-Ball rules most weekly events use.
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.