32 | OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2022 |
8-Ball Rules You May Not Know 8-Ball, sometimes called "Stripes
& Solids," is our most popular pool game. In the past we taught you
to play "Key Ball," a special variant of 8-Ball, saying that most of you
know how to play regular 8-Ball. Indeed, most players do know the
rules. Kind of.
Here are a few rules that not everyone knows. (However, as with all
games, you may play any other rules on which all the players agree.)
1. RACKING. 8 in the center. One stripe and one solid on the
back corners. The other balls go anywhere, with NO deliberate
pattern.
2. CALL SHOTS. 8 Ball is a call shot game (except for the break).
3. BREAK SHOT.
a. After the break the table remains
open until someone calls and makes a
shot.
b. I prefer that sinking the 8-Ball on the
break wins the game. But BCA rules
are that the breaker spots the 8-ball
and chooses to either break again or
accepts the balls in position. Agree on
your choice before the game.
c. After a break scratch, the next player
has ball in hand behind the line. For
break fouls where the cue ball remains
on the table, the next player may also choose to accept the
balls in position.
4. SPOTTING. Only the 8-ball is ever spotted, and then only if
driven off the table on the break. (Possibly a hold-over from
coin-operated tables where you could not retrieve a sunken
ball.)
5. LOSING. You lose if:
a. You foul when correctly sinking the eight ball. But not if
you don't sink it!
b. You pocket the eight ball before your group is cleared.
c. You pocket the eight ball in an uncalled pocket.
d. You drive the eight ball off the table
(except on the break).
Now that you know it all, come on down
and give it a try. Not sure you do know it all?
Give one of these club coaches a call for a free
one-hour lesson on anything you want to
learn.
Gary Pelcher @ (760) 295-5444, Cal Roe @
(760) 295-0151, Kathy Thornton @ (760) 295-
5662, Charlie Payne @ (760) 295-0670, Janice
Pelcher @ (760) 295-5444 or John Mitchell @
(760) 295-1971. ~ Keith Bogost
Billiards
