8-Ball Rules: The Complete Guide (WPA Standard)

8-ball rules in one paragraph

8-ball is played with the cue ball and 15 object balls: solids (1–7), stripes (9–15) and the black 8-ball. One player takes solids and the other stripes. You pocket all the balls in your group, then legally pocket the 8 in the pocket you called to win. Pocket the 8 before your group is cleared, or foul while pocketing it, and you lose.

These are the WPA World Standardized Rules — what you'll meet in most international competition. Bar and league rules differ in a few places; we flag them as we go. For a quick ruling on any situation use our free pool rules & dispute tool.

The rack and the break

Rack with the 8 in the centre of the third row, a solid in one back corner and a stripe in the other — step by step in how to rack pool balls. The break is taken with ball in hand behind the head string.

• Legal break: you must pocket a ball, or drive at least four object balls to a cushion.
• Illegal break: the opponent may accept the table or ask for a re-rack (and choose who breaks).
• Scratch on the break: foul — the opponent gets ball in hand behind the head string, and the table is open.
• 8-ball made on the break: not a loss under WPA — the breaker may re-spot the 8 and continue, or re-break.

Want a bigger, more controlled break? Read how to break in 8-ball.

Open table and choosing groups

After the break the table is always open, even if balls went in on the break. On an open table you may hit any ball first except the 8. Your group is decided when you legally pocket a called ball after the break: pocket a stripe and you have stripes.

Fouls and ball in hand

After any foul (except on the break) your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table. The most common 8-ball fouls:

• Scratching — the cue ball goes into a pocket or off the table.
• Hitting the wrong ball first — an opponent's ball, or the 8 before your group is cleared.
• No rail after contact — after the cue ball hits your ball, no ball is pocketed and no ball reaches a cushion.
• Double hits, push shots and touching or moving any ball with your hand, cue or clothing.
• Shooting with no foot on the floor, or jumping an object ball off the table.

How you win (and lose) on the 8

You win by legally pocketing the 8 in the pocket you called, after your group is cleared. You lose the game if you:

• Pocket the 8 before all your group is off the table.
• Pocket the 8 in a pocket you didn't call.
• Foul (for example, scratch) on the shot that pockets the 8.
• Drive the 8 off the table.

The rules are the easy part — running out is the skill. Train it with the Ghost 8-ball drill and our 8-ball pattern play strategy.