Many college apartment complexes offer the luxury of billiards in the clubhouse game room. Sure you’ve knocked the balls around here and there before in the past – or brutally embarrassed yourself at a bar after a few two many cocktails …err…sodas. But the actual rules of the game still escape you and, on top of not being able to decipher the proper angles to get the ball into the pocket, you also don’t know the rules to even be able to move a game along.
To avoid this humiliating scenario, and to finally be able to take advantage of some closely provided free entertainment, scroll through and learn the basics of 8-Ball.
idiotsguides.com offers these tips on how to play a game of 8-Ball Billiards.
8 Ball is the most popular game in the United States.
Leagues often control thegame rules of the game for their members play, so they vary from league to league.
There are, however, some basic principles and common rules.
The object: Whoever sinks the 8 ball wins.
- Before you can pocket the 8, you have to pocket all the balls in your group.
- The two groups of balls are the solids (1–7) and the stripes (9–15). (No difference between the solids and stripes.)
Which player gets what group is determined by the break.
- If a ball is pocketed on the break, the pocketed ball’s group becomes the breaker’s group, and the breaker keeps shooting.
- If a ball is not pocketed on the break, it’s the next player’s turn; just as with the break, whichever ball is pocketed first becomes that player’s group.
The More You Know
- If you accidentally pocket the 8 before you’ve pocketed all of the balls in your group, you lose.
- If you accidentally pocket an opponent’s ball, it counts for her or him. (Under most rules this also results in loss of turn.)
- If you pocket one of your balls and a ball of your opponent on the same shot, you are credited with your ball and you are allowed to continue shooting. However, your opponent is credited with their ball.
- If you scratch (sink the cue ball) you lose your turn. If you pocket a ball and scratch in the same turn, the pocketed ball gets put back on the table and you lose your turn.
The Rack
- All 15 numbered balls are used in 8-Ball, and they are racked in the familiar triangle shape.
- The 8 always goes in the middle, and the 1 ball is traditionally placed in front.
- The rest of the balls should be alternated (stripe/solid). The rack must be as tight as possible (all balls touching their neighbors).
The 8-Ball break is an open break.
- The more powerful and accurate it is, the better off you are.
- The goals of your break shot:
- To separate the balls as widely as possible
- Give them enough momentum to roll around a lot and find a pocket
- To pocket at least one ball (preferably, two or three).
- The best break shot in 8-Ball is to hit the second ball in the rack, causing the most action (spreading of the balls) and may push the 8 ball into the corner pocket.
- It’s a rail break, and some people prefer to move the ball away from the cushion just a little so that they can get their hand on the table.
- You wouldn’t want the cue ball to be closer to the cushion than this for your break shot in 8-Ball. A little reverse spin will keep you from scratching in the right corner pocket.
Most Important
- To win: know which group — the solids or the stripes — provides the best opportunity. You don’t have a choice sometimes.
- But when you can make that decision, choose carefully.
- Isolate the two sets of balls in your mind.
- Look for trouble balls—clusters or balls with no pocket.
- Consider the possible solutions.
- Consider these quick tips for the next time you need some free fun on the weekend.
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