You must have seen an 8-socket pool table and wondered how to play it well. 8 ball billiards, also known as 8-ball pool, is one of the most popular pool games in the world, loved for its combination of strategy, skill and a little luck.
The goal of the 8 ball billiards
The main goal of the 8 ball billiards is to pocket all the balls in your group (plain or striped) and then properly pocket the 8-ball (black) into a designated pocket to win.
There are a total of 15 object balls and 1 cue ball (white). The target balls are divided into two groups:
Solid balls: Includes balls numbered 1 to 7.
Striped balls: Includes balls numbered 9 to 15.
The 8-ball: The black ball that determines the winner or loser.
Racking the balls
Use the triangle to arrange the 15 target balls. The first ball of the triangle (apex ball) must be on the foot spot of the table. The 8-ball must be placed in the center of the triangle. In the two back corners of the triangle, there must be a solid ball and a striped ball. The remaining balls are arranged randomly and must fit tightly together.
Determining the Break
Usually, the first break is determined by a coin toss, or by a "lag" (each player hits a ball from behind the head string, hitting the end of the table and trying to get it as close to the end string as possible).
The Break Shot
The breaker places the cue ball anywhere behind the head string.
For a break shot to be valid, at least four object balls must hit the end of the table, or one object ball must be pocketed.
If the 8-ball is pocketed on a break shot without a foul, the breaker wins immediately. If the 8-ball is pocketed with a foul, the breaker loses immediately.
If no balls are pocketed and fewer than four balls hit the end string, it is an illegal break shot. The opponent has the option to:
Continue shooting from the current position of the balls.
Ask the player to rearrange the marbles and hit them himself.
Ask the player to rearrange the marbles and ask the original player to hit them again.