Goal of the Game

9 Ball game is played with 9 balls, numbered from 1 to 9, and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numerical ball on the table, before the cue ball strikes any other ball. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains for another shot, and continues until he misses, commits a foul, or wins the game by pocketing the 9 ball. If he misses, the next player must shoot from the position left by the previous player and shoot the lowest numerical ball, but after any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere he want on the table. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

 The Rack

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1 ball at the top and on the foot spot, the 9 ball in the center, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as possible.

Push Out

If the player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break, doesn't have a direct line between the cue ball and the lowest numerical ball (i.e. snookered) he may choose to hit a push shot. He first must declare that he intends to hit such a shot and then he can shoot any shot he desires. His opponent, in his turn, may choose whether to hit the next shot or let his opponent hit again.

Fouls

When a player commits a foul, he must give up his turn at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are re-spotted. The incoming player is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.

What is considered a foul?

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numerical ball on the table.

• Hitting other ball than the white with the cue.
• Object ball jumped off the table
• Touching a ball with something else than the tip of the cue.
• Playing a shot with both feet off the ground.

End of Game

The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9 ball, or when a player loses the game as the result of a foul, for example, pocketing the cue ball when the 9 ball is the object ball.