{{ THESE ARE THE OFFICIAL 8 BALL POOL RULES }}

P) SNOOKERS
  1. Definition: A player is Snookered when it is impossible to play the finest cut possible on both sides of any of that player's own Colour by way of a "Straight-Line" shot. Snookering an opponent is not a foul.
  2. A player can not be Snookered by a ball of the player's own Colour. This is, if one of the player's own Coloured group is an obstructing ball, it will be ignored for the purposes of determining a Snooker.
  3. A player cannot be Snookered on an Object Ball if the Cue Ball is touching that Object Ball.
  4. A player cannot be Snookered by the straight sections of the cushions. If a straight section of a cushion is preventing the finest possible cut on the side of an Object Ball, that section of cushion will be deemed not to exist for the purpose of determining a Snooker on that Object Ball.
  5. If an Object Ball is partly obscured by curve section of a cushion (Jaw), this in itself does not constitute a Snooker.
Q) TOTAL SNOOKERS:
  1. Definition: A player is in a Total Snooker when it is impossible to play any part of any of the player's own Colour by way of a "Straight- Line " shot. Leaving an opponent in a Total Snooker is not a foul.
  2. If a player believes that a Total Snooker exists, the player's obligations under the "Legal Shot" rule are relaxed as follows: The player need only cause the Cue Ball's initial contact to be with a ball "On". The requirement to pot a ball and/or cause a ball to strike a cushion is waived.
 R) FOUL SNOOKERS:
  1. Definition: When an opponent plays a foul shot and this results in the incoming player being Snookered, the incoming player is deemed to be Foul Snookered.
  2. If a player believes that a Foul Snooker exists, the player must ask the Referee for a ruling.
  3. If the Referee rules that a Foul Snooker exists, the player initially has the following options:
    (a) Play the Cue Ball from where it lies. {see (4)(a) below} OR
    (b) Ask the Referee to remove the Cue Ball so as to allow the player to play from Baulk. {see (4)(b) below}.
  4. (a)(1) If the player chooses to play the Cue Ball from where it lies, the player may, if the player wishes, nominate the Eight-Ball {but see (5) below} or any one of the opponent's Colour. The player can nominate a particular ball by verbal description or it's position or by pointing at it. The Referee may ask for further information if any doubt exists as to whish ball has been nominated.
    (2) Once nominated, a ball is deemed to "become one" of the player's Colour for the first shot of the first visit. The player may then play any of the player's own Colour or the nominated ball. If any of the player's Colour and/or the nominated ball are potted, the player continues with the first visit.
    (b) If the player chooses to play the Cue Ball from Baulk, a Foul Snooker may no longer exist. In this case the procedure under the heading (E) Playing from Baulk (2)(d)(2) and (2)(e) should be followed. If the Referee decides that a Foul Snooker does still exist, the player may nominate a ball and follow the procedure in (4)(a) above.
  5. If the Eight-Ball is nominated it may be played, but potting it will mean loss of frame.
  6. If a player is "On" the Eight-Ball and Foul Snookered: The player may play a nominated ball or the Eight-Ball and pot either or both of these balls, directly or indirectly, in any pocket or pockets. Assuming the Player does not commit a Foul:
    (1) If neither the Eight-Ball or the nominated ball is potted, the player's first visit is complete.
    (2) If the nominated ball is potted and the Eight-Ball is not, the player continues with the first visit.
    (3) If the nominated ball and the Eight-Ball is potted, the player wins the frame.
    (4) If the Eight-Ball is potted and the nominated ball is not, the player wins the frame.
    (5) If a Foul Snooker exists and the Cue Ball is touching an opponent's ball or balls the player may, but is not obligated to, nominate one of those touching balls.
 S) FOUL JAW SNOOKER:
If an opponent fouls and the Cue Ball comes to rest on or near a Jaw (curved part of a cushion), and the jaw is preventing the player from playing the finest cut possible on both sides on any of the player's own Colour by way of a "Straight-Line" shot, the player is deemed to be Foul Snookered and all the rules pertaining to Foul Snookers will apply.

 T) TOUCHING BALLS:
  1. General: If the Cue Ball is touching an Object Ball, the player is obliged to "Play Away" from that Object Ball at an angle of more than 9O degrees. (That is, play the shot without causing the Cue Ball to make any initial further contact with that Object Ball). If, when playing away from a touching ball, the touching ball rocks or moves without being contacted further, but simply bacause the Cue Ball is no longer there, no penalty will apply.
  2. When Colours have been decided:
    (a) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the player's own Colour: The instant a player plays away from a touching Object Ball of the player's own Colour, the player is deemed to have played that ball. Therefore the player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (b) Playing away from a touching Object Ball of the opponent's own Colour: The player must play away from the touching ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (c)(1) Playing away from a touching Eight-Ball when "On", Playing away from a touching Eight-Ball when not "On" the Eight-Ball. The Eight-Ball: The player must play away from the touching Eight-Ball and then need only cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (d) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls:
    (1) If any of the touching Object Balls are the player's Colour, the player will be deemed to have played away, if the player plays away from any one of the touching balls of the player's Colour. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching balls. The player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to fulfil the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (2) If none of the touching Object Balls are of the player's Coloured Group, the player must play away from all the touching balls and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (3) When Colours have yet to be decided:
    (a) Playing away from a touching Coloured Ball:
    The instant the player plays away from the touching Coloured Ball the player is deemed to have played that ball. Therefore, the player needs to then only pot a ball or cause a ball to strike a cushion to fulfil all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (b) Playing away from a touching Eight-Ball:
    The player must play away from a touching Eight-Ball and then meet all the requirements of a Legal Shot.
    (c) Playing away from two or more touching Object Balls: If the player plays away from any of the touching Coloured Balls the player is deemed to have played that ball. That is, the player may play into any of the other touching Object Balls. The player needs to then only pot a ball or cause any ball to strike a cushion to meet the requirements of a Legal Shot.

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