Quick Rules
8-Ball (WPA Quick Rules)
Objective
Solids (1–7) vs stripes (9–15).
Clear your group, then legally pocket the 8-ball (called) to win.
Break
Cue ball in hand behind head string.
Legal break: pocket any ball or 4+ balls hit a rail.
8-ball on legal break: spot and continue, or re-break.
8-ball on foul break: opponent can spot + ball-in-hand behind head string, or re-break.
Open Table & Groups
After the break, table is open until a called ball is legally pocketed.
On an open table, you may hit any ball except the 8-ball first.
The group of the first legally pocketed called ball becomes yours.
Call Shot & Legal Shot
Call ball + pocket on every shot (except the break).
If it's not obvious, you must clearly call it.
Legal shot: hit a legal object ball first, and then pocket any ball or drive any ball to a rail.
Missing your called shot (without a foul) just ends your turn; cue ball stays where it stops.
Fouls (Ball in Hand)
Scratch, cue ball off table, wrong ball first, no rail after contact, ball off table, double hit / push shot, touching balls, balls still moving, bad placement, playing out of turn, slow play, rack template foul.
Penalty: opponent gets cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.
Any ball knocked off table stays out of play, except the 8-ball, which is spotted when required.
Loss of Game
8-ball made on a foul.
8-ball made before your group is cleared.
8-ball made in an uncalled pocket.
8-ball driven off the table.
(These four do not apply on the break.)
Stalemate
If no progress is being made, the rack is replayed; original breaker breaks again.
Jump to: Objective | Break Shot | Open Table | Call Shot | Legal Shot | Continuing Play | Fouls | Loss of Game | Spotting Balls | Stalemate | Special Situations
Full Rules
Preamble
These 8-Ball rules follow the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) standards. All WPA General Rules on fouls, legal shots, cue-ball in hand, and conduct apply unless explicitly stated otherwise below.
1. Objective
8-Ball is a call-shot game played with fifteen object balls and a cue ball.
One player is assigned solids (1–7) and the other stripes (9–15).
A player wins by legally pocketing the 8-ball after all balls of their group have been pocketed.
2. Break Shot
Cue ball starts in hand behind the head string
No ball is called
Any object ball may be contacted first
Legal break
At least one object ball is pocketed, or
At least four object balls contact a rail
If the breaker pockets a ball legally, they continue shooting and the table remains open.
Illegal break
If no ball is pocketed and fewer than four balls contact a rail, the incoming player chooses to:
Accept the table as it lies
Re-rack and break
Re-rack and allow the breaker to break again
8-ball on the break
On a legal break:
The breaker may spot the 8-ball and continue, or re-break.
On a foul break:
The opponent may spot the 8-ball and take cue-ball in hand behind the head string, or re-break.
3. Open Table
The table is open after the break and until a group is assigned.
Any object ball may be struck first except the 8-ball.
A ball must be called on each shot.
Groups are assigned when a player legally pockets a called ball.
If the called ball is not pocketed, the table remains open and play passes.
4. Call-Shot Requirement
All shots except the break must be called by stating the object ball and intended pocket.
If a shot is not obviously the intended ball and pocket, it must be clearly called.
A player may call "safety", in which case play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any legally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
5. Legal Shot
A shot is legal when:
The cue ball first contacts a legal object ball, and
Either a ball is pocketed or any ball contacts a rail
Missing a called shot without committing a foul is not a foul; play passes with the cue ball remaining in position.
6. Continuing Play
A player continues shooting as long as they legally pocket balls from their group.
Once all group balls are cleared, the player must call and pocket the 8-ball.
7. Fouls
All fouls result in cue-ball in hand anywhere on the table, unless otherwise stated.
Standard fouls include:
Scratch or cue ball off the table
Wrong ball struck first
No rail after contact
No foot on the floor
Ball driven off the table
Touched ball
Double hit or push shot
Balls still moving
Bad cue-ball placement
Playing out of turn
Slow play
Rack template foul
Any object ball driven off the table remains out of play, except the 8-ball, which is spotted when required.
8. Loss of Game
A player loses immediately if they:
Pocket the 8-ball and foul
Pocket the 8-ball before clearing their group
Pocket the 8-ball in an uncalled pocket
Drive the 8-ball off the table
(These conditions do not apply on the break.)
9. Spotting Balls
Only the 8-ball is ever spotted.
No other object balls are spotted in 8-Ball.
10. Stalemate
If no progress is being made, a stalemate is declared.
The rack is replayed, and the original breaker breaks again.
11. Special Situations (Authority)
Handled by WPA 8-Ball Rules and WPA General Rules.