Game objective and choice of balls
The goal of 8-ball billiards is simple: you have to direct all the balls in your group (either the solid colored balls 1-7 or the striped balls 9-15) through the corresponding holes on the table, and then pocket the black ball, or eight ball (8-ball).
Game begins with a break. After the ball is released, the group of balls (striped or all-colored) is yours to choose from if you officially pocket one ball. If both a striped ball and a solid ball are pocketed at the same time during a break, the striker can choose which group to pocket, or play continues with an “open board” until one of the groups is pocketed on the next legal shot. Remember: before the hit you have to call (inglise keeles pocket,the hole where you are aiming it (although this is often omitted in recreational play, it is the official rule!).
Common mistakes and penalties
The most common mistake is hitting the white ball into the hole, or ditch. If the white ball goes into the hole, it is a foul (foul, and the opponent can place the white ball in a suitable place on the table (ball-in-hand). Other common mistakes that give the opponent ball-in-hand advantage, are:
- The white ball does not hit your group of balls first: Each shot must begin with the white ball hitting your group of (striped or solid colored) balls first.
- After the collision, neither ball goes into the hole nor hits the edge of the table: The shot must be powerful and legal enough to either pocket the ball or cause a ball (including the cue ball or object ball) to touch the edge of the table.
- The ball leaves the table: If any ball (except the white, which is the ditch) leaves the table, that is also a fault.
If you make a mistake, your opponent gets an advantage in making the next shot.
End of the game and victory conditions
To win the game, a player must first legally hole out all 7 of your target balls (either striped or all-colored). Only after this is it permitted to aim at the black ball (8-ball).
The game is lost immediately. (loss of game), if:
- You hit black ball in the hole before all your target balls have been removed from the table.
- You hit the black ball in the hole in the same time your last target ball.
- You hit the black ball in the hole during foul (e.g. the white ball goes into the hole at the same time).
- The black ball leaves the table at any time during the game (except during a break, when it is replaced).
If you hole the black ball legally and in the correct order (after all the other balls), you are the Hangout lounge pool master!
