BYOMSPM

In response to a heated debate last weekend that I had with my uncle on the rules of pool, I wanted to do some research to understand which rule variations are generally appropriate in which settings. I have outlines 3 sets of rules: the first two are more official rules meant for professional-leaning play, while the last set of rules are the more casual “bar rules.” Key differences between rule lists are in bold.

First up: World Pool Billiard Association (WPA) rules for 8-ball pool for professionals and amateurs according to Rules of Sport:

• RACK: Rack the balls with 8-ball in the center of the triangle and other balls randomly assorted.
• BREAK: To break, hit the cue ball from behind the service line. For a break to be considered legal, four balls must hit a cushion and the cue ball can’t go down a pocket. If the 8-ball is potted, the player can ask for a re-rack.
• ASSIGNMENT: The first player to pot a solid or striped ball must continue to pot those balls; the opposite team must pot the opposite balls.
• TURN: During each turn, a player will continue to take shots until they foul or they fail to pot a ball.
• FOUL: If a player commits a foul, the player on the opposite team is entitled to move the cue ball to anywhere on the table for their turn. Examples of fouls include potting the cue ball, failing to hit your own ball, hitting the cue ball off the table, potting the other team’s ball, hitting the cue ball twice, or taking a shot when it’s not a player’s turn.
• 8-BALL: Once all of a team’s balls have been potted, they must pot the 8-ball. First, they must indicate which pocket they’re aiming for; if they make the 8 ball in any other pocket than the one stated, they forfeit the game. If they don’t make the 8-ball, the other team take their next turn.

Next up is the Billiard Congress of America Eight Ball Rules from Triangle Billiards & Barstools, also for professional pool worldwide:

• RACK: Rack the balls in a triangle with the 8-ball in the middle, the 1 ball at the top corner, and one striped ball and one solid ball in each of the remaining corners. The rest of the balls are assorted randomly.
• BREAK: The player must hit the cue ball from behind the line and either make a ball or have 4 balls hit cushions. If a player scratches on the break, all pocketed balls stay, the table remains open, and it is considered a foul.
• ASSIGNMENT: Balls made during the break do not assign a group of balls to a team; the table is always considered open (unassigned) after the break. The table continues to be open until a player makes a numbered ball, which assigns the corresponding group of balls to that team.
• TURN: A legal shot occurs when a player first hits their own ball and either pockets a numbered ball or hits a numbered ball off of a cushion.
• FOUL: When a player fouls, the other play gets the ball in hand and can place the ball anywhere on the table.
• 8-BALL: After all numbered balls for a team have been pocketed, a player must pocket the 8-ball. The only way to lose when going for the 8-ball is to pocket the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one that has been called or by hitting the 8-ball off of the table.
• AUTOMATIC FORFEITS: A team automatically forfeits if they hit the 8-ball of the table at any time, pockets the 8-ball before all of the team’s numbered balls have been pocketed, pockets the 8-ball in the wrong pocket after all numbered balls have been pocketed, or pockets the 8-ball along with the last of the team’s numbered balls.
• OTHER: There is something called a safety shot, but that’s above my pay grade. Also, there are other fouls specific to breaks and 8-balls I didn’t cover.

Another note: how to deal with scratches/fouls is a common debate I’ve encountered. This last website explains that the “ball in hand” rule intentionally gives a big advantage to the other player in order to discourage players from purposefully scratching/fouling.

Lastly, I found an outline of “bar rules” that much less experienced players use when playing at bars. They noted that these rules often vary by bar, but generally bar rules might differ from the former 2 sets of rules in the following ways:

• Whichever set of balls has more balls pocketed on the break becomes that team’s group of balls.
• If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break that team wins.
• You must call what you’re doing on every shot.
• If you foul/scratch or jump the ball off the table, you must shoot the cue ball from the “kitchen” behind the head string. The cue ball must leave the kitchen before hitting another ball.
• If a player does not hit their own ball first, their turn ends and the cue ball stays where it landed.
• Other fouls not called: not hitting a cushion (and not making a ball); mishits/double hits/pushing.
• The 8 ball cannot be used on combination shots
• When shooting the 8-ball, hitting the other team’s ball first ends the turn. Other scratches are an automatic forfeit, even if the 8-ball wasn’t pocketed.

Hope this was helpful.

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Works Cited

“Pool Rules.” Rules of Sport. 2022. https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/pool.html.

Triangle Billiards & Bar Stools. “Billiard Congress Of America Eight Ball Rules (World Standardized).” 2024. Triangle Billiards & Bar Stools. https://www.tribilliards.com/information/official-8-ball-rules.html.

“8-Ball Bar Rules.” Billiards ColoState.edu. https://billiards.colostate.edu/resources/rules/bar-rules/.