The General Billiard Game Rules

This section will guide you to understand The General Rules apply to all pool games and Snooker. Exceptions to these general rules are noted in the Rules for each game.

Play by Innings

Players take turns at the table called innings. An inning continues until the player fails to pocket a ball on a valid shot, according to the rules for each game. And the turns will be taken by opponent.

Rack

The Rack is the number and arrangement of the object balls at the start of the game. Racks vary by game, but generally it is a triangle or diamond shape with the front ball on the foot spot. On the numeric Ball, lowest numbered ball is on front and the last ball on the center of the rack.

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, lag over.

Break Shot

A Break Shot is the shot that starts the game. Some games require the first shot of each rack to be an ‘‘open break’‘. To be a legal break, players must break from behind the head string. The break at least four objects balls make cushion contact. In matches that consist of several racks, the winner of each rack will break the following rack, called “winner break”

Call Shot

A Called Shot means the object ball and the pocket as specified for the shot. Most games require the shooter to call the ball and pocket for any shot that isn't obvious. The usual convention is obvious straight-in shots are not explicitly called. Called shots do not require details such as kisses or combinations, only the ball and pocket.

Pocketed Balls

A ball is considered pocketed if as a result of an otherwise legal shot, it drops off the bed of the table into the pocket and remains there. (A ball that drops out of a ball return system onto the floor is not to be construed as a ball that has not remained pocketed.) A ball that rebounds from a pocket back onto the table bed is not a pocketed ball.

Extra Balls Pocketed

For some games, if extra balls are pocketed on a shot, they usually count for the shooter.

Low Ball First

In some games (nine ball, rotation, etc.), the first ball and the cue ball must contacts be the lowest numbered ball remaining on the table, the next numbered ball followed.

Cue Ball in Hand

Cue Ball in Hand means the player can pick up and place the cue ball anywhere on the table. The break shot begins with ‘‘cue ball in hand behind the head string’‘, meaning that the shooter may place it anywhere in the top quarter of the table. Ball in hand also occurs after the cue ball is pocketed (scratched), hit off the table, and after other fouls in some games. Depending on the game, this may be either behind the head string or anywhere on the table.

When playing from behind the head string, the first ball struck must be on the other side of the head string. However, a ball behind the head string may strike first if the cue ball crosses the head string before contact, such as banking the cue ball off the foot rail. In case all legal target balls are behind the head string, the one closest to the line is spotted so the shooter is not forced to play an out-and-back shot.

Spotting Balls

Most pool games spot balls in situations where a rules violation or illegally pocketed balls require balls to be returned to the table. They are usually placed on the foot spot, or as close to the foot spot as possible on a line between the spot and the center of the foot rail. If several balls are spotted, they are spotted in numerical order.

Owed Balls

Some games penalize fouls by returning previously pocketed balls to the table. If the shooter fouls without any balls to his credit, he ‘‘owes’‘ a ball to the table, and it is spotted at the end of the next inning in which he scores. Several balls may be owed.

Delayed Balls

In some games, other balls pocketed along with legal scoring balls are spotted at the end of the shooters turn. If the shooter pockets all balls on the table the delayed balls are spotted so the shooter can continue.

Fouls

Fouls end a shooter's inning and are penalized according to the rules of each game. The following are fouls:

Scratch
Pocketed the cue ball.

Ball Off Table
Hit a ball off the table. If a ball jumps onto the rail and returns to the table, there is no penalty.

Contact the balls
Contact balls on the table by hand or any equipment.

Failure to Contact Object Ball
It is a foul if on a stroke the cue ball fails to make contact with any legal object ball first. Playing away from a touching ball does not constitute having hit that ball.

Fouls by Double Hits
If the cue ball is touching the required object ball prior to the shot, the player may shoot toward it, providing that any normal stroke is employed. If the cue stick strikes the cue ball more than once on a shot, or if the cue stick is in contact with the cue ball when or after the cue ball contacts an object ball, the shot is a foul.

No Rail
If no ball is pocketed, and at least one ball does not contact a cushion after the cue ball contacts an object ball. This usually comes up during safety (defensive) play or when the shot is played too softly.

Three Fouls

In some games, if one player fouls on three consecutive shots, there is an additional penalty, usually loss of the game. Games without a three foul rule may have a special rule to prevent stalemates.

Foot on Floor

Player must have at least one foot in contact with the floor at the moment the cue tip contacts the cue ball, or the shot is a foul. Foot attire must be normal in regard to size, shape and manner in which it is worn.