What is 8-Ball Pool?
8-Ball Pool is the world's most popular pocket billiards game. Two players
compete to pocket all their designated balls (solids 1-7 or stripes 9-15), then legally pocket the 8-ball to
win.
Controls: without a selection bar, your aim and assigned group automatically determine the target ball and pocket, highlighted in yellow. Check the highlights as you aim. The call is fixed before the shot starts. Your assigned group stays the same; after clearing it, aim for the 8-ball. Breaks need no call. With ball in hand, press the cue ball again to move it before shooting. A separate dialog opens only for break exceptions or special spotting choices.
Am I solids or stripes?
Solids are balls 1โ7; stripes are balls 9โ15. Going first or hitting a ball first does not assign your group. Until groups are assigned, the table is โopen.โ
- At the start: neither player has a group. You are not yet solids or stripes.
- After the break: groups remain unassigned even if solids or stripes were pocketed. Pocket a ball without fouling and the same player shoots again.
- On a shot after the break: choose the ball and pocket. Legally pocket that ball in that pocket to claim its group. This is a call shot; an obvious shot need not be announced aloud every time.
- Once assigned: you play your group and your opponent gets the other. Pocketing another kind of ball later does not change either group.
- Example: you pocketed the 2-ball on the break
- Pocketing the solid 2-ball on the break does not make you solids. On your next shot, call the striped 10-ball into the right corner and pocket it without a foul: you are stripes (9โ15), and your opponent is solids (1โ7).
- What if I miss or foul?
- Before assignment, missing the called shot or fouling leaves the table open and passes play to your opponent. Pocketing the 3-ball and cue ball together is a foul, so it does not assign solids.
- What if both kinds go in?
- On the break, groups remain unassigned. Later, the legally pocketed called ball determines your group, not which ball falls first. Call and legally pocket the 10-ball while also pocketing the 3-ball: you are stripes.
- What can I hit first on an open table?
- After the break, either a solid or a stripe may be struck first while the table is open. Hitting the 8-ball first is normally a foul. WPA 4.4 provides a special exception when an entire group has already been pocketed.
Basic Rules
- The Break:
- Break from behind the head string. If no ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must reach a cushion. Balls pocketed on the break do not assign groups.
- Ball Assignment:
- After the break, legally pocket your called ball in the called pocket to claim its group; your opponent gets the other. A miss or foul before assignment leaves the table open.
- Taking Turns:
- Legally pocket your called ball in the called pocket to continue. A miss or foul passes play to your opponent. A declared safety passes the turn even if a ball is pocketed.
Ball Types
- Cue Ball (White):
- The only ball players strike. Use it to pocket other balls.
- Solids (1-7):
- Seven solid-colored balls. Yellow(1), Blue(2), Red(3), Purple(4),
Orange(5), Green(6), Maroon(7).
- Stripes (9-15):
- Seven balls with white stripes. Same color pattern as solids.
- 8-Ball (Black):
- Both players aim for this ball last. Clear your group, then call and pocket the 8-ball on a later shot. Break-shot pocketing has separate rules.
How to Shoot
- Aiming:
- Click and drag to adjust the cue direction. The guide line shows the cue
ball's predicted path.
- Power:
- Pull back the cue for more power. The power meter shows exact strength.
- Shooting:
- Release the mouse to execute the shot. Timing and precision are key.
Spin (English)
- Top Spin:
- Hit the top of the cue ball to make it roll forward after contact. Great
for positioning.
- Back Spin:
- Hit the bottom to make the ball come back after contact. Effective for
distance control.
- Side Spin:
- Hit the sides to change the angle off the rail. Enables difficult shots.
Foul Rules
- Scratch:
- Pocketing the cue ball is a foul.
- Miss:
- Failing to hit any ball with the cue ball is a foul.
- Wrong Ball:
- Once assigned, hit your own group first while any remain. Hitting an opponentโs ball or the 8-ball first is a foul. After clearing your group, hit the 8-ball first on the next shot.
- Cushion after contact:
- If no ball is pocketed, the cue ball or an object ball must reach a cushion after the cue ball contacts an object ball. Otherwise it is a foul.
- Foul Penalty:
- After a standard foul, your opponent may place the cue ball anywhere on the playing surface. Break fouls have separate rules, including placement behind the head string.
Winning Conditions
- Normal Win:
- Clear all seven balls of your group, then legally pocket the 8-ball in the called pocket on a later shot. Do not pocket your last group ball and the 8-ball on the same shot.
- Instant Loss:
- On a shot other than the break, you lose by pocketing the 8-ball early, in an uncalled pocket, or while fouling. Pocketing it on the break has separate rules.
Beginner Tips
- Start with easy shots. Accuracy matters more than power.
- Always think about position for your next shot. Control cue ball placement.
- Use the rails for difficult shots. Bank shots can be very effective.
- Avoid fouls. Sometimes safe play is better than a risky shot.
- Learn spin gradually. Master basic shots before adding spin techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: When should I pocket the 8-ball?
- A: Under WPA rules, aim for the 8-ball on a shot after clearing your group. Pocketing it early loses the rack, except for the separate break-shot rules.
- Q: What is ball in hand?
- After a standard foul, your opponent may place the cue ball anywhere on the playing surface. Break fouls have separate rules, including placement behind the head string.
- Q: What if the 8-ball goes in on the break?
- A: Under WPA rules, pocketing the 8-ball on a legal break is not an automatic win or loss. The breaker chooses to spot it and continue or re-break. If it goes in with a foul, the opponent chooses a re-break or spotting it with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
- Q: How do AI difficulties differ?
- A: Easy uses basic shots only. Medium employs simple strategy. Hard uses spin and advanced position play.
- Q: What is the fo score?
- A: fo is the ranking score of God Game Platform. It increases with wins and decreases with losses. Higher fo indicates higher skill.
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