Part

Getting Started

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Choose teams. 9-Ball is usually played one-on-one. If you have more than two people, divide into two
teams.

In a friendly game, you can play with three or more teams. This is not recommended if some of you are
much better at pool than others.

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Decide who goes first. You can just flip a coin, but "lagging" is a more entertaining way to decide the first
player. On an empty table, every player places a ball just behind the head string. Each player hits his ball
at the same time. The goal is to have your ball touch the far end of the table, then bounce back as far as
possible without touching the near end or the sides. Whoever gets closest gets to break (see below).

Try again if two of the balls touch each other, or if no one manages to hit the end without touching
another side.

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Set up nine balls inside the rack. Pick out the nine balls numbered 1 through 9, and place them inside
the rack. Arrange them in a diamond shape, with the 9-ball in the center and the 1-ball closest to the
shooter. Place balls in the rest of the diamond at random.

The rack goes in the usual place, with the closest point on top of the foot spot.

If you can find a diamond-shaped 9-ball rack, use it. If you have to use a triangular 15-ball rack, just
make the diamond shape as tightly packed as you can.

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Break. Have the first player set down the white cue ball anywhere behind the head string. That player
hits the cue ball at the 1-ball to break.

The break should pocket one ball, and/or send at least three balls to any rail (side).[1] If neither of these
happens, set up the rack again and let the next player break instead.
Part

Basic Rules

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Take your turn until you fail to pocket a ball. Whenever you pocket a ball, you get to take another shot.
Continue taking shots until you fail to pocket a ball, or you foul. When this happens, play passes to the
next player.

This includes the break: if the person who broke pocketed a ball, they get to take another shot.

Just like 8-ball, you can only hit the cue ball, usually a white ball with no numbers.

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Know your objective. In 9-ball pool, whoever pockets the 9-ball wins the game. You can even win on the
break this way! Of course, there are other rules that makes this goal harder than it sounds.

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Aim for the lowest-numbered ball. Every time you take a shot, the cue ball must hit the lowest-
numbered ball still on the table, before it hits any other balls. If it hits a different ball first, or if it doesn't
hit any balls, the shot is a foul. (See below for more info on fouls.)

You can pocket any numbered ball without a penalty. For example, the cue ball can hit the 1-ball, then
bounce off and knock the 7-ball into a pocket. This is a legal shot. You can even pocket the 9-ball this
way to win the game.

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Avoid soft hits. After hitting the lowest-numbered ball, at least one ball must hit a rail or enter a pocket.
If this does not happen, the shot is a foul.[2]

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Place the ball anywhere if your opponent fouls. If a player commits a foul, the next player picks up the
cue ball and places it anywhere on the table before making her shot.[3] As mentioned above, fouls
include hitting the wrong ball first, or failing to drive any ball into a pocket or rail.

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6

Obey standard pool rules. Standard pool fouls also apply: knocking a ball off a table, pocketing the cue
ball ("scratching"), touching a moving ball, or hitting the cue ball out of turn are all fouls. The next player
gets to move the cue ball anywhere on the table.

If the 9-ball is knocked off or pocketed during a foul, "spot" it back to the foot spot, or as close behind
the foot spot as possible. Other numbered balls that leave the table illegally stay out of play.

Accidentally touching a non-moving ball is not a foul, but the other players get to decide whether to
leave it in the new position or move it back.

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Play several games. Compared to other types of pool, 9-ball plays ends quickly. Typically, the players
agree to play until one person or team has won a certain number of games. Try playing first to three
games if you are new pool players, or first to seven if you are intermediate or advanced.

Part

The Push-Out

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Add this rule for more competitive play. The push out rule gives the players a little more control over the
starting position following the break. This adds more strategy to competitive matches. In a friendly game
involving beginner pool players, this rule is not necessary.

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Declare "Push out" right after a break. The push out rule only applies on the first shot following a break.
The player about to take the second shot can choose to announce a "push out." If he does not announce
it, then play proceeds as usual.

If the shooter pocketed a ball on the break, he may announce a push out, since he's about to take
another shot. If he did not pocket a ball, the next player gets the option to push out instead.

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Ignore the 9-ball rules for the push out. On an announced push out shot, the shooter does not have to
hit the lowest-numbered ball, and does not have to send a ball at a rail or pocket.[4]
If the push out pockets a 9-ball, "spot" it back to the foot spot. Any other numbered ball stays in the
pocket.

Other foul rules still apply.

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Let the next player choose whether to play. After the push-out, the next player chooses whether to play
or to pass the turn. She gets to make this decision even if the "push out" pocketed a ball. After this
decision, play proceeds as usual.

If a foul occurred on the push out, follow the usual foul rules instead. The next player places the cue ball
anywhere and takes a shot.