9-Ball

9-ball uses object balls numbered 1 through 9. On every shot the cue ball must first contact the lowest-numbered ball on the table. Any ball pocketed on a legal shot counts — there is no calling. The player who legally pockets the 9-ball wins the rack, at any point in the game.

Rack the balls in a diamond with the 1-ball at the front on the foot spot and the 9-ball in the centre. The remaining balls go in any order. The rack must be tight.

The breaker shoots from behind the head string and must hit the 1-ball first. A legal break either pockets a ball or drives at least four object balls to a rail.

• Pocketing the 9 on a legal break wins the rack.
• A foul on the break gives the opponent cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. A 9 pocketed on a foul is re-spotted.

On the shot immediately after the break, the incoming player may announce a push-out: the cue ball may be moved to a new position without needing to hit the lowest ball or a rail (other fouls still apply). After a push-out, the opponent chooses whether to shoot from the new position or hand the shot back.

Any foul ends the turn and gives the opponent cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Fouls include missing the lowest-numbered ball, scratching, no rail after contact, jumping the cue ball off the table, and touching or double-hitting balls.

Object balls pocketed on a foul stay down, except the 9, which is spotted.

Where the venue or tournament uses the three-foul rule, a player who fouls on three consecutive shots in the same rack loses that rack. The opponent must warn the player after the second consecutive foul for the rule to apply.

House rules. A venue or tournament may publish a variation (for example the three-foul rule or what happens when the 8 drops on the break). When it does, the variation is shown on the match or tournament page and the Ringmaster applies it. Agree on any open question before the first rack.