8-ball pool rules

The objective

Solids are 1–7 and stripes are 9–15. The table stays open after the break; the first legally pocketed group ball afterwards assigns the groups. Pocketing your own ball without a foul lets you continue. Hit your group first, then pocket a ball or send any ball to a cushion. A scratch, no contact, wrong first contact or no pocket and no cushion is a foul: the opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on clear cloth.

Clear your group, then pocket the 8 on a later legal shot. An early 8, an 8 with your last group ball, or an 8 on a foul loses the rack. The break must pocket an object ball or send four different object balls to cushions. An 8 on the break is respotted. These casual house rules use no called pockets, spin or jumps.

Aiming and shooting

Move the mouse to aim and click to shoot. On a touchscreen, tap or drag on the cloth to aim, then press Shoot at the desired point on the rising and falling power meter. Lifting your finger does not shoot. Left and right arrows rotate the cue; Space or Enter shoots. After a foul, place the cue ball on clear cloth and press Confirm.

Ways to play

Find your angle. Finish on the eight. A free 8-ball table for online matches, private invitations, computer practice and two players sharing a screen.