It is the opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. In Call Pocket, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object ball after the break shot. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BREAK SHOT. The choice of stripes or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made from only one or both groups. On an open table, all pocketed balls remain pocketed. When the table is open it is legal to hit any solid or stripe or the 8-ball first in the process of pocketing the called stripe or solid. Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice versa. The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet been determined. Any jumped balls are spotted in numerical order. If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the headstring and shooting. If the player legally breaks the racked balls and does not make any balls, his opponent then shoots, having an open table.ĩ. Using Option #2, a game cannot be won or lost with an 8-ball on the break, regardless of what is pocketed on the same shot.ĭuring International Championships and Junior Championships, Option #2 will be used.Ĩ. Should the breaker pocket the 8-ball and scratch, the incoming player has the option of spotting the 8-ball and shooting from behind the headstring or reracking and assuming the break. The breaker may ask for a rerack or have the 8-ball spotted and continue shooting. An automatic win for the player breaking, however, if the cue ball is scratched when making the 8-ball on the break, the opponent wins the game. Making The 8-Ball On The Break: (Leagues may adopt Option #1 or Option #2) If the shooting player is informed of improper positioning, he/she must then reposition the cue ball.ħ. If the opposing player does not so inform the breaking player before the shot is made, the break is considered legal. The opposing player must inform the breaking player of improper positioning of the cue ball before the shot is made.

If a player positions the cue ball completely and obviously outside the kitchen and shoots the cue ball, it is a foul, if called by the opponent.Ħ. PLEASE NOTE: Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the headstringand may not shoot an object ball whose base is not outside the headstring, unless he/she first shoots the cue ball past the headstring and causes the cue ball to come back behind the headstring and hit the object ball. If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed (exception, the 8-ball), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open. When positioning the cue ball for the break shot, the base of the ball must be behind the headstring (kitchen).ĥ. The opponent will receive cue ball in hand behind the headstring.Ĥ. Stopping or deflecting the cue ball prior to hitting the racked balls are considered fouls and loss of turn. If the player fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul however, the opponent has the option (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) have the balls reracked and shooting the break himself or have original breaker rebreak.ģ. If the breaker hits the racked balls with the cue ball driving four or more numbered balls to a cushion or pocketing one or more object balls, the game is considered started. During International competition, the teams will flip a coin to determine home team.Ģ. Start of Play - the home team breaks first and writes their line-up down first. The object of the game is to make one group of numbered object balls, either stripes or solids, and then LEGALLY POCKET THE 8-BALL which then wins the game.ġ. The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the footspot, a stripe ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in the other corner, as the above illustration shows.ģ. The game is played with one cue ball and 15 numbered object balls.Ģ. The following rules will be used at the VNEA International Championshipsġ.

Billiards rack placement