4.1 Lagging for the Break
Players lag to determine who will shoot first. (See
1.2 Lagging to
Determine Order of Play)
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4.2 The 14.1 Rack
For an opening break shot, the fifteen balls are racked in a
triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot. When the balls are
re-racked, the apex ball is omitted if only fourteen balls are being
racked. The marked outline of the triangle will be used to determine
whether an intended break ball is in the rack area.
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4.3 Opening Break Shot
The following rules apply to the opening break shot:
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) If no called ball is pocketed, the cue ball and two object balls
must each be driven to a rail or the shot is a breaking foul. (See
8.4 Driven to a Rail.) This is penalized by subtracting two points
from the breaker’s score. (See 4.10 Breaking Foul.) The non-breaking
player may accept the balls in position or may require the breaker
to play another opening break shot, until he satisfies the
requirements for an opening break or the non-shooting player accepts
the table in position. (See 4.11 Serious Fouls)
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4.4 Continuing Play and Winning the Game
The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally
pocket called balls or wins the game by scoring the required number
of points. When fourteen balls from a rack have been legally
pocketed, play is suspended until the balls are re-racked.
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4.5 Shots Required to Be Called
Shots must be called as explained in
1.6 Standard Call Shot. The
shooter may call “safety” in which case play passes to the opponent
at the end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety is
spotted.
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4.6 Spotting Balls
All balls pocketed on fouls, or on safeties, or without a called
ball having been pocketed, and all balls driven off the table are
spotted. (See 1.4 Spotting Balls.) If the fifteenth ball of a rack
needs to be spotted and the fourteen balls have not been touched,
the fifteenth ball will spot on the apex spot and the referee may
use the triangle to assure a tight rack.
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4.7 Scoring
The shooter scores one point for legally pocketing a called shot.
Each additional ball pocketed on such a shot also counts one point.
Fouls are penalized by subtracting points from the offending
player’s score. Scores may be negative due to penalties from fouls.
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4.8 Special Racking Situations
When the cue ball or fifteenth object ball interferes with racking
fourteen balls for a new rack, the following special rules apply. A
ball is considered to interfere with the rack if it is within or
overlaps the outline of the rack. The referee will state when asked
whether a ball interferes with the rack.
(a) If the fifteenth ball was pocketed on the shot that scored the
fourteenth ball, all fifteen balls are re-racked.
(b) If both balls interfere, all fifteen balls are re-racked and the
cue ball is in hand behind the head string.
(c) If only the object ball interferes, it is placed on the head
spot or the center spot if the cue ball blocks the head spot.
(d) If only the cue ball interferes, then it is placed as follows:
if the object ball is in front of or on the head string, the cue
ball is in hand behind the head string; if the object ball is behind
the head string, the cue ball is spotted on the head spot, or on the
center spot if the head spot is blocked.
In any case, there is no restriction on which object ball the
shooter may play as the first shot of the new rack.
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4.9 Standard Fouls
If the shooter commits a standard foul, a point is subtracted from
his score, balls are spotted as necessary, and play passes to his
opponent. The cue ball remains in position except as noted below.
The following are standard fouls at 14.1:
6.1 Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table The cue ball is in hand behind
the head string (see 1.5 Cue Ball in Hand).
6.3 No Rail after Contact
6.4 No Foot on Floor
6.5 Ball Driven off the Table (All object balls driven off the table
are respotted.)
6.6 Touched Ball
6.7 Double Hit / Frozen Balls
6.8 Push Shot
6.9 Balls Still Moving
6.10 Bad Cue Ball Placement
6.11 Bad Play from Behind the Head String
For a foul under the
second paragraph of 6.11, the cue ball is in hand behind the head
string for the incoming player.
6.12 Cue Stick on the Table
6.13 Playing out of Turn
6.15 Slow Play
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4.10 Breaking Foul
A breaking foul is penalized by the loss of two points as mentioned
under 4.3 Opening Break Shot, as well as a possible re-break. If
both a standard foul and a breaking foul happen on one shot, it is
considered a breaking foul.
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4.11 Serious Fouls
For Rule
6.14 Three Consecutive Fouls, only standard fouls are
counted, so a breaking foul does not count as one of the three
fouls. A point is subtracted for the third foul as usual, and then
the additional fifteen-point penalty is subtracted and the offending
player’s consecutive foul count is reset to zero. All fifteen balls
are re-racked and the offending player is required to shoot under
the requirements of the opening break.
For
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the referee will choose a penalty
depending on the nature of the offense.
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4.12 Stalemate
If a stalemate occurs (see 1.12 Stalemate), the players will lag
again to determine who will shoot an opening break.
