8-ball Pool Made Simple

Here is a complete and simplified guide on how to play 8-ball pool the easy way. Usually, 8-ball pool is introduced to those who are just starting to learn to play pool. Of course, after brushing up on some of your skills and knowledge, you have to take a mental note of the different rules regarding 8-ball pool.



To give a brief introduction, 8-ball pool is a one-on-one game played by two persons or two opposing teams both aiming for the eight ball to catch a hole. There are 15 object balls placed on the rack. The 1st seven balls are called solid and the numbers 9-15 are stripes. While the ball which has the number 8 on it and is colored black is the objective of the entire game. Rule is, you cannot aim at the black ball without finishing all your solids or stripes.



Like every common billiard game, 8-ball pool is played on a standard billiard table which has 6 pockets. The white ball or most commonly known as the cue ball is the one that needs to be struck first and used to hit the other balls.



The 1st person to strike the cue ball is called a breaker. The opponent, on the other hand, would have to be the incoming pool player. Usually someone in authority chooses who goes first. But in an unofficial game, they decide through coin flipping. Some do it through paper-scissors-stone.



Once the game has its breaker, all 15 object balls, are placed inside a diamond or triangular shaped rack. The moment the breaker performs a shot, the game has officially begun.



There are basically two types of shots: legal and foul. To achieve a legal shot, the breaker must at least move 4 or 5 balls or sink a particular ball in a hole. A foul is exactly the opposite. If a foul takes place, the incoming player can have his turn.



If the breaker didn't commit a foul and has successfully hit a ball inside a pocket, the type of ball sank will determine if he is playing for solids or stripes. If he, by any chance made a solid and stripe sink with just one shot, he is entitled to choose his own group of balls.



Whether you're playing for stripes or solids, you have to remember that your choice of balls must be consistent. Don't hit a solid if you're playing for stripes. This will result in a foul. When this happens, the opposing team gets ahold of the game and may take your mistake for their own advantage.