Billiard Rules

Billiards is a great game, as billiard rules are easy to learn, and there are a variety of games to play. One of the most popular games, 9-ball, is especially fun. It evens out the playing field for players, as it may only take one shot to win. Even if you are not doing well the whole game, there is also a possibility that you may come away the victor. Unlike 8-ball, 9-ball is a billiards game that anyone of any skill level can play, and still have a relatively even match. Here are the basic rules of the games.

1. Determine who breaks before racking. This is done by shooting the cue ball from one end of the table to the other. The person to get the cue ball closest to the bumper near the shooter wins, after banking it off the opposite bunker.
2. Rack the balls. This is done with the 1-ball in the front, and then each number consecutively going up from left to right, bottom to top. The 9-ball is placed as the second ball in the third row, between the 4 and 5-ball.
3. The first player breaks, making sure to hit the 1-ball.
4. Each player takes turns shooting, making sure they hit the lowest number on the table first. For example, if the 1 ball has been pocketed, the player must hit the 2 ball before any other ball on the table is struck. If this does not happen, the other player treats it as a scratch.
5. Scratches are played from behind the foul line. The cue ball can be placed anywhere behind the line. The foul line is located at the third diamond up from the bumper on the starting side of the table.
6. The player to pocket the 9-ball wins. This can be done at any point during the game; there may still be other balls on the table when this happens. As long as the lowest ball was hit first, the player who pockets the 9-ball wins. If there is a scratch, that does not mean the player looses, as in 8-ball.