Goal of the game

The goal of the game is to strike all your object balls in the table pockets and then the 8 ball (black ball). Balls 1-7 are called solids and balls 9-15 are called stripes.

Breaking the rack
 A legal break can be performed using the cue ball only. In case the break is illegal, the turn passes to the next player while all the pocketed balls remain in the appropriate pockets.

Choosing between solid balls and striped balls
In case the breaking player successfully pockets a ball (except the cue and the 8-ball), he continues with his turn. If he fails to do so, the turn passes to his opponent.
The first ball to be potted will determine who would pot which balls, i.e. if player B pots the first ball and it's a solid one, he would have to pot all solid balls and his opponent would have to pot all striped balls.
If the player pocketed a solid and a striped on the same shot, he needs to make a choice of the ball category for the next shot. When the choice is still open and the 8 ball is hit, this is considered a foul. In such case, the turn is passed to the player with the ball in hand. All the pocketed balls from the foul turn will still remain in their pockets - thus, the choice will stay open. Pocketing the 8 ball upon an illegal turn will always result in an automatic loss.
As soon as the choice of the ball category is made, hitting the other player's ball first will result in losing your turn. Just like before, all the balls, which were pocketed during the turn, will remain in their pockets and the player, to whom the turn is passed, gets the ball in hand.

What is a legal game shot? 
A shot will be considered legal when:

• A player hits one or more balls in his category first, prior to hitting a ball in his opponent's category or hitting the 8 ball.
• The cue ball touches the rail before hitting the ball in the proper category.

What is an illegal game shot? 
A shot will be considered illegal when:

• The cue ball is pocketed. This is also known as a scratch.
• The 8 ball is the first to be hit by the cue ball, unless there is no other option.
• A ball in the opponent's category is the first to be hit by the cue ball.
• Neither a rail nor a ball in your category (or any other legal location) is hit by the cue ball.

The consequences of performing an illegal shot 
In most cases, when an illegal shot is performed, it is considered a foul. Therefore, the turn is passed on to the other player. That player will also receive the ball in hand - meaning that he can put it on any desired location and aim his shot anywhere. In case a foul was made on a breaking shot, the opponent player is restricted to exclusively put it behind the head string and aiming forward. In any case, when a ball from the opposing category is pocketed illegally, it will stay pocketed.

Getting to the 8 ball shot
After a player pots all his category balls, he should pot the 8 ball. He first must declare to which pocket he aims the 8 ball. If he succeeds, he wins the game. 

 When a Turn is passed?
 A player can get many consecutive shots within his turn. As long as that player maintains legal hits and pockets his type of balls, as described above, he maintains the turn. In case an illegal shot or no shot is performed, the turn is passed on to the opponent. Should a player pocket a ball in his opponent's category, it will remain pocketed and a ball in hand is passed to the opponent. Pocketing a ball within the opposing category after pocketing a ball within the proper category ends the turn, but is not considered a foul.

What is Automatic loss? 
An automatic loss of the game is issued when:

• A foul of any kind is committed upon pocketing the 8 ball.
• The 8 ball is shot to a pocket, which was not designated by the appropriate player.
• The 8 ball is pocketed when there are still other balls on the table.
• The 8 ball is pocketed together with the last ball of the appropriate category.