Rules of american billiard
Rules of American billiards : A LA 9
Objective of the American billiard.
The 9-Ball game is played with nine (9) balls numbered from one (1) to nine (9) and the cue ball. On each shot, the cue ball must hit the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls do not have to be pocketed in numerical order. When a player pockets a ball on a legal shot, the player remains at the table and continues to play until he misses, fouls or wins the game by pocketing the NINE.
In the rules of pool, when a player misses, his opponent must resume play by taking the position left by the previous player. However, after a miss, the next player may resume play by placing the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players never have to name their moves. A match ends when a player has won the required number of games.
Ball placement according to the rules of American billiards:
The balls are laid out in a diamond shape, with the number ONE ball on the fly at the top of the diamond, the NINE in the center and the other balls randomly. The opener places the cue ball anywhere in the starting area to make the break.
Legal Break :
The rules for the break are the same as for other shots, except as follows:
a) The opener must reach the one ball first and either pocket a ball or shoot at least four balls to the rail.
b) If the cue ball is pocketed or thrown off the table, or if the above conditions (a.) are not met, it is a foul, and the opponent has the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
c) If, on the break, the shooter throws one of the numbered balls off the table, it is a foul and the opponent has the cue ball in hand. The ball is not put back on the table (exception: if it is the NINE, it will be put back on the spot).
Continued play :
Immediately after the break, the player may play a “push shot.” (See Rule 5). If the opener pockets one or more balls in a row on a legal break, he continues to play until he misses, fouls or wins the game.
When the player misses or fouls, the opponent resumes play. The game ends when the NINE is pocketed on a legal shot or if the referee forfeits the game due to a major rule violation.
Push Out:
Immediately after the break, the opener (or his opponent) may play a “push out” to move the cue ball for the next move.
On such a shot, it is not necessary to throw the cue ball to the rail or to hit a numbered ball. All other rules apply. The player must state the intention to “push” before making the shot, otherwise the shot will be considered normal. Balls pocketed on a push out remain pocketed, except for the NINE, which is placed back on the spot. Following a legal push out, the opponent has the option of (1) playing the cue ball from this new position or (2) handing over his turn to the push out player. There is no foul on a push-out if all the rules (except rules 7 and 8) are followed.
When opener pockets white on the break, the opponent may not play a push-out.
Fouls:
When a foul is committed by one of the players, that player yields his turn to his opponent; no pocketed ball is placed back on the table (exception: if the NINE is pocketed illegally, it is placed back on the fly). The opposing player has the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Multiple fouls on the same shot only count as one foul.
Missed shot :
It is a foul when the cue ball first strikes a ball other than the lowest numbered ball on the table.
Cushion after impact:
After the cue ball strikes the lowest ball, and if no ball is subsequently pocketed, it is a foul if the cue ball or any other ball does not reach a rail.
White in hand:
The player with the cue ball in hand may place it anywhere on the playing surface. The cue ball may not be placed in contact with any other ball. The player may adjust the position of the cue ball as long as the shot has not been made.
Balls thrown off the table:
A ball is judged to be thrown off the table when it stops anywhere other than on the playing surface. It is a foul and the ball is not returned to the table (exception: when the NINE is thrown, it is returned to the spot). The opponent resumes play with the cue ball in hand.
Skipped and massaged shots :
It is a foul on the cue ball when a player attempts to get around a ball that is obstructing the target ball by a jumped, deflected or massaged shot, and the obstructing ball moves (notwithstanding that said ball was moved by the player’s hand, cue stick or bridge).
Three consecutive fouls:
When a player commits three consecutive fouls in as many times at the table, he loses the game. All three fouls must occur in the same game. The player must be notified of the second foul.
End of the game:
The game begins on the break when the cue ball crosses the top line. The opener must reach the one ball on a legal break. The game ends on the legal pocketing of the NINE ball; or when the player loses the game due to a foul.
Rules of the American billiard game : A LA 8
Objective of the game:
This named shot game is played with a cue ball and fifteen balls numbered from 1 to 15. One of the players must pocket the low group (1 to 7) and his opponent, the high group (9 to 15). THE PLAYER WHO FIRST POCKETS THE BALLS IN HIS OR HER GROUP, THEN CONTINUES BY POCKETING THE EIGHT, WINS THE GAME.
Named shot:
When playing named shot, players do not have to name obvious shots. A player always has the right to ask about the move his or her opponent is about to make. Cushion shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, so it is important to name the ball and the pocket.
On a named shot, it is NEVER necessary to add details such as the number of cushions, shocks, ricochets, etc. Any ball pocketed illegally remains pocketed, whether it is from one group or the other. A break shot is not a “named shot”. The breaker may continue his turn if he has legally pocketed a ball on the break.
Starting position :
The balls are arranged in a triangle at the bottom of the table; the one at the apex rests on the fly, the EIGHT in the center, and one low and one high occupy each of the two ends of the triangle. The rest are random.
Alternate Break :
In the Billiards rules, the player who makes the first break is determined by the back-and-forth. Thereafter the break will be alternate.
Fouls on jump shots and massed shots:
Although the “cue ball fouls only” rule is in effect in a match without an official referee, it should be noted that it is a foul when the player attempts to get around a ball that is obstructing the target ball by a jump, deflection or massaged shot and the obstructing ball moves (notwithstanding that the said ball was moved by the player’s hand, cue stick or rack).
Legal Break :
To make a legal break, the opener must stand behind the top line (starting area) and must (1) pocket a ball, or (2) shoot at least 4 balls to the rail.
If opener fails to make a legal break, it is not a foul, but his opponent has the option of either (1) accepting the ball position as is and playing, or (2) having the triangle reformed with the option of breaking on his turn or allowing the offending player to replay the break.
Pocketing White on a Legal Break:
If opener pockets the cue ball on a legal break,(1) all pocketed balls remain pocketed (except the EIGHT: see rule #9), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table remains open. NOTE: The opponent has the cue ball in hand behind the top line, unless he can get the cue ball out of the starting area and back to one of these balls.
Balls thrown off the table on the break :
When a player throws a numbered ball off the table on the break, it is a foul and the opponent has the option of (1) accepting the position of the balls as is, or (2) taking the cue ball in hand behind the top line and playing.
Pocketing the EIGHT on the break:
When the EIGHT is pocketed on the break, opener has the option of (1) retaking the break or (2) placing the EIGHT back on the fly and continuing his turn. If opener pockets both the white and the EIGHT on the break, his opponent has the option of (1) retaking the break or (2) replacing the EIGHT on the fly and starting his turn with the white in hand behind the top line.
Open table:
The table is said to be “open” until the choice of groups (high or low balls) has been determined. When the table is open, it is legal to hit a high, low or 8-ball first to pocket a selected ball. However, when the table is open and the EIGHT ball is hit first, the pocketed ball does not count, remains pocketed and the player loses his turn. His opponent continues play with the open table.
In the event of a foul on an open table, any balls pocketed illegally are not put back on the table.
Group Selection:
The choice of high or low is not determined by the balls pocketed on the opening shot. THE TABLE IS ALWAYS OPENED immediately after THE BREAK. Group selection will be determined after the break when one player legally pockets a named ball.
Legal Shot:
On every shot played, except on the break or when the table is open, the player must hit a ball from his group first and either (1) pocket a numbered ball or (2) cause the cue ball or a numbered ball to hit the rail.
NOTE: A player may go to the rail with the cue ball before it hits a ball of his group. However, after contact, he must either (1) pocket the cue ball or (2) cause the cue ball or a ball of his group to strike the rail. Otherwise, it is a foul.
Defensive Shot:
For strategic reasons, a player may choose to both pocket a ball from his group, and interrupt his turn at the table by declaring his move “defensive” in advance. Such a defensive pocketing is legal. The player must notify his opponent in advance, or he must continue to play. Any ball pocketed on a defensive shot remains pocketed.
Continued play:
A player continues to play until he fails to pocket a ball of his group. When a player has legally pocketed all the balls in his group, he attempts to pocket the EIGHT ball.
Fouls:
A foul occurs when the opponent gets the cue ball in hand, i.e., he can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (the top line exists only for the open table). The purpose of this rule is to prevent intentional mistakes that could disadvantage the opponent. A player with the cue ball in his hand may place the cue ball either with his hand or with a portion of his cue ball (including the tip). When placing the cue ball, any forward stroke hitting the cue ball is a foul, unless the stroke is legal.
Combinations:
Combinations are permitted; however, the EIGHT ball may not be used as the first ball in a combination unless the table is open.
Illegally pocketed balls:
A numbered ball is illegally pocketed when (1) pocketed while a foul has been committed, or (2) the designated ball is not pocketed in the designated pocket, or (3) when a player would have declared his shot “defensive” in advance. Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
Numbered balls thrown off the table:
When a numbered ball is thrown off the table, it is a foul (except with the EIGHT ball, when it is a loss of game). The ball is then placed on the fly as per the general rules.
Playing the EIGHT:
When a player attempts to pocket the EIGHT, a pocketing of the cue ball or a foul does not result in a loss of game if the EIGHT is not pocketed or thrown off the table. The opponent then gets the cue ball in hand.
NOTE: The EIGHT can never be pocketed by a combination.
Loss of game:
A player loses the game if he commits any of the following fouls:
1) committing a foul while pocketing the EIGHT (exception: see #9: pocketing the 8 on the break);
2) pocketing the EIGHT before pocketing all his balls (or while playing the last ball of his group)
3) throwing the EIGHT ball off the table at any time during the game
4) pocketing the EIGHT ball in any pocket other than the one named
5) pocketing the EIGHT when it is not the named ball.
NOTE: Any foul must be declared before the next shot, otherwise the foul will not be held against the offending player.
Tie game:
In the rules of American Billiards, if in 3 consecutive appearances at the table by each player (6 appearances total) the players agree that attempting to pocket or move a numbered ball would result in a loss of game, then the triangle is reformed and the break is awarded to the original player. The tie rule only applies when only the EIGHT and two numbered balls remain on the table.
NOTE: Three consecutive fouls do not result in the loss of the game for the EIGHT ball.