Rules For 8 Ball in Australia.
The Game :

The game is played with a cue ball and fifteen Pool balls numbered from 1 to 15.

How to Play :

The numbered balls are racked at the pyramid spot with the eight ball in the centre of the triangle. The cue ball on the opening stroke is played from hand.
One player or team must pocket the balls numbered 1-7 in any order, and the other player or team must pocket the balls numbered 9-15 in any order. The player or team pocketing their respective balls first must then legally pot the eight ball to win the game.

The Break :

  1. The player to break the balls will be decided by the toss of a coin.
  2. If a player fails to break the Pool balls on his or her opening shot it is a foul, resulting in an additional shot to his or her opponent. Incoming player accepts the psition of the white ball.
  3. A 'break' occurs when the white ball touches any of the coloured balls.

Commencement of the Game :

  1. Play commences when the cue ball is struck for the first time. Combinations are decided when a player pots any numbered ball. Once a ball is potted (either low or high, stars or stripes, odds or evens) the player remains on that combination.
  2. If a player pots more than one ball of different combinations, he plays the ball which fell first and continues potting until his 'break' is complete. In the event of dispute, the player potting shall have the choice.
Fouls :
  1. If a player goes 'in-off' with the white ball on the break, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  2. If a player goes 'in-off' with the white ball on any other shot during play, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  3. If a player hits an opponent's ball with the white before hitting his own, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  4. If a player pots an opponent's ball, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  5. If a player misses, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  6. If a player hits the black ball with the white on the first impact before all his or her own balls have been potted, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  7. If a player goes 'in-off' the the black ball, the opposing player receives one additional shot.
  8. Ball off table. If any coloured ball (including the black) is off the table, it is to be spotted. If the white ball is off the table, it is to be played from the 'D'. Penalty : one additional shot. If the spot is occupied, then the ball to be spotted is placed as near as possible to the spot in a direct line between the spot and top cushion. Balls can be spotted on Pink spot or Racking spot.
  9. Player's clothing or body touching any ball while making a shot, incurs a penalty of one shot.
  10. If the white ball is potted, opponent can shoot in either direction on the table.
  11. A player must have at least one foot on the floor when playing a shot. Where a foul is called, player completes the shot and opponent receives one additional penalty shot.
  12. By playing out of turn, opponent receives one additional shot.
  13. By playing with other than the cue ball, opponent receives one additional shot.
  14. By playing before the balls have come to rest or before they have been spotted, opponent receives one additional shot.
  15. By causing the cue ball to jump over an object ball when snookered, opponent receives one additional shot.

More rules coming soon ...

Back to the ACE Home Page.