Pool (Pocket Billiards)

Pool Rules

Lagging

Players "lag" to determine the order of play and it is the first shot of the match. Both players strike their balls at the same time from near the head string to the foot cushion with the goal of returning the ball closer to the head cushion than the opponent’s ball.

Balls

A white cue ball and colored object balls are used in pool. In 8-ball pool, blackball pool and 14:1 continuous pool, there are 15 object balls and in 9-ball pool, there are nine object balls. In these balls, 7 balls numbered from 1 to 7 are solid colored and other 7 balls numbered from 9 to 15 are striped and the 8-numbered ball is black colored.

Fouls

Any of the rule infringement is known as a foul. After making any foul, the striker loses his turn and concedes points to his opponent in some situations. Some of the acts which are considered as foul are:-

• Pocketing the cue ball
• Playing out of turn
• Striking the ball more than once in a stroke
• Striking the ball before all balls are at rest
• Forcing a ball off the table
• Striking the ball with something other than the cue