3.1 Determining First Break
The player winning the lag has the option to determine who has to
execute the first break shot. (See 1.2 Lagging to Determine Order of
Play.) The standard format is alternate break (See Regulation 15,
Subsequent Break Shots.)
3.2 Eight Ball Rack
The fifteen object balls are racked as tightly as possible in a
triangle, with the apex ball on the foot spot and the eight ball as
the first ball that is directly below the apex ball. One from each
group of seven will be on the two lower corners of the triangle. The
other balls are placed in the triangle without purposeful or
intentional pattern.
Eight Ball Rack
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3.3 Break Shot
The following rules apply to the break shot:
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any
particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at
the table, and the table remains open. (See
3.4 Open Table /
Choosing Groups.)
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must
be driven to one or more rails, or the shot results in an illegal
break, and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) re-racking and breaking, or
(3) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If
the eight ball is pocketed, the breaker has the option of
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position,
or
(2) re-breaking.
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see
definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent has the option of
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand
behind the head string; or
(2) re-breaking.
(g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it
is a foul; such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball
which is re-spotted); and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the
following player has the option of
(1) accepting the balls in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
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3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups
Before groups are determined, the table is said to be “open,” and
before each shot, the shooter must call his intended ball. If the
shooter legally pockets his called ball, the corresponding group
becomes his, and his opponent is assigned the other group. If he
fails to legally pocket his called ball, the table remains open and
play passes to the other player. When the table is “open”, any
object ball may be struck first except the eight ball.
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3.5 Continuing Play
The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally
pocket called balls, or he wins the rack by pocketing the eight
ball.
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3.6 Shots Required to Be Called
On each shot except the break, shots must be called as explained in
1.6 Standard Call Shot. The eight ball may be called only after the
shot on which the shooter’s group has been cleared from the table.
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 remains pocketed. (See 8.17 Safety Shot.)
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3.7 Spotting Balls
If the eight ball is pocketed or driven off the table on the break,
it will be spotted or the balls will be re-racked. (See
3.3 Break
Shot and 1.4 Spotting Balls.) No other object ball is ever spotted.
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3.8 Losing the Rack
The shooter loses if he
(a) fouls when pocketing the eight ball;
(b) pockets the eight ball before his group is cleared;
(c) pockets the eight ball in an uncalled pocket; or
(d) drives the eight ball off the table.
These do not apply to the break shot. (See
3.3 Break Shot.)
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3.9 Standard Fouls
If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue
ball is in hand, and the incoming player may place it anywhere on
the playing surface. (See 1.5 Cue Ball in Hand.)
The following are
standard fouls at eight ball:
6.1 Cue Ball Scratch or off the Table
6.2 Wrong Ball First
The first ball contacted by the cue ball on
each shot must belong to the shooter’s group, except when the table
is open. (See 3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups).
6.3 No Rail after Contact
6.4 No Foot on Floor
6.5 Ball Driven off the Table (See 3.7 Spotting Balls.)
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
6.12 Cue Stick on the Table
6.13 Playing out of Turn
6.15 Slow Play
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3.10 Serious Fouls
The fouls listed under
3.8 Losing the Rack are penalized by the loss
of the current rack. For
6.16 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the referee
will choose a penalty appropriate given the nature of the offense.
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3.11 Stalemate
If a stalemate occurs (see 1.12 Stalemate), the original breaker of
the rack will break again.
