8-Ball
Eight Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls numbered 1 through 15. One player is assigned the solids (1–7), the other the stripes (9–15). Clear your group, then legally pocket the 8 ball to win.
1. The rack and the break
- Rack all fifteen balls with the 8 ball in the center of the triangle and a solid and a stripe in the back corners.
- The breaker shoots the cue ball from behind the head string.
- A break is legal when at least four balls are driven to a rail or a ball is pocketed.
- Anything less is a foul break and the turn simply passes.
- If the 8 ball is pocketed on the break, the balls are re-racked and the same player breaks again.
2. The open table
The table is open after the break – neither group is assigned yet. The first legal ball pocketed after the break decides your group: solids or stripes.
- Balls pocketed on a foul do not assign a group.
- You may not pocket the 8 ball on the shot that assigns your group.
- While the table is open you may hit either group, but the 8 ball is still not a legal first ball.
3. Playing a shot
Once your group is assigned you must always contact your own group first. You may not drive the cue ball off a rail first to reach it.
After the break, and while the table is still open, you may hit the cue ball off a rail before contacting your ball.
4. Calling your shot
- Call the ball and the pocket. It is your opponent's right to ask.
- You do not have to call the number of rails, banks, or caroms.
- A combination shot counts as a called ball, so long as you hit your own ball first. The 8 ball may not be used as the first ball of a combination.
- Make a called ball and you keep shooting. Miss and the turn passes.
5. The 8 ball
The 8 ball becomes your legal object ball on your first shot after the last ball of your group is pocketed.
- You must call the 8 and the pocket.
- Pocketing the 8 ball on the same shot as your last group ball is a loss.
- You may not pocket the 8 on the shot that assigns your group.
- Fouling while shooting at the 8 is not an automatic loss – unless the 8 goes in the pocket, which is.
6. Fouls
A foul is a loss of turn. The incoming player gets ball in hand – they may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
- Shooting the cue ball into a pocket (scratching).
- Failing to hit the lowest legal ball of your group first.
- No ball pocketed and no ball driven to a rail after contact.
- Pocketing an opponent's ball, or pocketing the 8 ball illegally.
- Pocketing the 8 ball and the cue ball on the same shot.
- Jumping a ball off the table, or touching and moving any ball by hand.
- Jumping, curving, or massing the cue ball over a ball that is not your legal object ball.
7. You lose the game if you
- Pocket the 8 ball before your group is cleared.
- Pocket the 8 ball on a foul.
- Jump the 8 ball off the table on any shot other than the break.
8. House notes
Three fouls in a row is a loss. The Sagebrush is a call shot table, and the bartender's ruling during a tournament is final.