Las Vegas Billiards Club

General Description - 8-Ball is played with a cue ball
and normal rack of fifteen (15) object balls. The purpose
of this game is for one player to pocket the solid balls
numbered from 1 to 7 or the striped balls numbered
from 9 to 15, and then marking and pocketing the 8-ball
before his opponent. Choice of balls to be pocketed is
made by the player legally pocketing the first ball of the
game.

1. Lag - Method used to start a match. Players
simultaneously shoot a ball from behind the head string,
banking it off the foot rail and back to the head of the
table. Striking the side rails or any pocket results in loss
of the lag. The closest ball to the head rail wins. It is
permissible to strike the head rail. If the lagged balls
make contact during the lag, re-lag.

2. Racking - All balls should be frozen (touching) as
tightly as possible. Balls are racked with the front ball
on the foot spot and the 8-ball in the center. The
breaking player may request and receive a rerack.

3. Breaking - To be a legal break, players must break
from behind the head string. The head ball or second
ball must be struck first and at least four object balls
must be driven to the rails or a ball must be pocketed.
The cue ball may not be shot into a rail before the rack.
If the break does not qualify as legal, the balls are
reracked and rebroken by the same player. If the break
does not qualify as legal and results in a scratch, the
balls are reracked and broken by the opposite player.

4. After the Break - Various circumstances can occur
upon completion of the break. They are:

a.) A foul on a legal break results in ball-in-hand
behind the head string and the incoming player
may shoot any ball outside the head string.

b.) No balls are pocketed and it is the other player's
turn.

c.) The 8-ball is pocketed. This is a win, unless the
player scratches, in which case he loses.

d.) One ball is pocketed; it is still the breaker's
turn and he continues shooting the category of
balls he just made.

e.) One ball of each category is pocketed. The breaker
has his choice of balls. He may shoot any ball,
except the 8-ball (which would be a foul), and
each pocketed ball counts. If he makes one of each
category on his second shot, he still has an "open
table." If he misses or fouls on his second shot, his
opponent has an "open table." "Open table" means
a player can shoot a combination involving a stripe
and a solid and whichever he makes, without
committing a foul, would be his category.

f.) If two balls of one category and one ball of
the other category are pocketed, it is the shooter's
choice just as in "e" above.

5. Combination Shots - Combination shots are legal,
but striking the correct ball first is required except in an
"open table" situation. The 8-ball is not neutral. A
player is credited with all balls he legally pockets.
When a player does not pocket one of his balls but
pockets an opponent's ball, he loses his turn. The
opponent gets credit for the pocketed ball. No pocketed
ball is ever spotted.

6. Balls on the Floor - If the 8-ball is knocked on the
floor, it is loss of game. Object balls knocked on the
floor are spotted. If the spot is taken, the ball is placed
on a line directly behind the spot as close as possible.

7. Pocketed Balls - Balls must remain in a pocket to be
legal. If a ball goes in a pocket, but bounces back onto
the playing surface, it is not considered pocketed. If it is
the 8-ball, it is not considered either a win or loss. If it
is the cue ball, it is not considered a scratch.

8. One Foot on the Floor - While shooting, at least one
foot must be on the floor at all times if a bridge is
available. There is no foul—simply stop the shooter and
hand him the bridge. League Management cannot
guarantee the presence of bridges and some Host
Locations may not have them.

9. Fouls - If any of the following fouls are committed, the
penalty is ball-in-hand for the incoming player. Make
certain you have ball-in-hand before you touch the cue ball
by confirming with your opponent. Ball-in-hand means
you are allowed to place the cue ball anywhere on the
table (with the exception of a scratch on the break which
results in ball-in-hand behind the head string) and shoot any
of your balls (or the 8, if all of your category of balls have
been pocketed).

10. There are various ways to lose:

a.) Your opponent pockets his numerical group and
legally pockets the 8-ball.

b.) You pocket the 8-ball out of turn or knock it on
the floor.

c.) You pocket the 8-ball in the wrong pocket or fail to
properly mark the pocket.

d.) You foul the cue ball and then pocket the 8-ball.

e.) When playing the 8-ball, you scratch.

Note: If you are shooting at the 8-ball and miss it altogether
without scratching, you have fouled and your opponent has
ball-in-hand, but you don’t lose because of this foul.

f.) A game is forfeited if you alter the course of the
8-ball or the cue ball in a game losing situation.

11. How to Win - A player has won the game when all
the balls of his numerical group have been pocketed
and he has legally pocketed the 8-ball in a properly
marked pocket without scratching.