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

F) THE BREAK
  1. The Object Balls are racked with the Eight-Ball on the spot. (Refers to diagram).
  2. In the absence of any competition/tournament rules to the contrary, a coin will be tossed to determine wich player will break. If a series of frames is to be played (A Match) the break of each subsequent frame will alternate.
  3. The first shot of a frame is called the "Break". To "Break", the Cue Ball is played at the triangle of Object Balls from Baulk. The frame is deemed to have commenced the instant the Cue Ball is played.
  4. (a):The Break will be deemed a "Fair Break" if:
    1. At least one Colour is potted, and/or:
    2. Four different Object Balls (at least) touch a cushion.
      (b) If the Break is not a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul, and:
      1. The opponent is awarded two visits.
      2. The balls are re-racked.
      3. The opponent re-starts the game and is under the same obligation to achieve a Fair Break.
      (c)(1) If the Cue Ball is potted on a Fair Break it is a Non-Standard Foul penalised by the turn passing to the opponent.
      (2) If the Break is not a Fair Break and the Cue Ball is potted, the penalty for failure to perform a Fair Break applies. {see (b) above}
  5. If the Eight-Ball is potted on any break, the balls are re-racked and the same player will break again. When the Eight-Ball is potted on the break, all other aspects of the shot are ignored. (Except if a Serious Foul or breech of the "Spirit of the Game" occurs).
G) LEGAL SHOT:
  1. On all shots, the player must:
    (a) Cause the Cue Ball's initial contact with a ball to be a ball "On", and then
    (b) Pot a ball "On", Or cause the Cue Ball or any Object Ball to contact a cushion.
  2. Failure to play a Legal Shot is a Standard Foul.
  3. Exceptions:
    (a) On the Break, the conditions of a Legal Shot do not apply. {see (F) - The Break}
    (b) When playing out of a Total Snooker, a player is only obliged to meet the conditions of (1)(a) above. {see (Q) - Total Snookers}
  4. Interpretations:
    (a) If the Cue Ball's initial contact is with an Object Ball that is touching a cushion, simply forcing the Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.
    (b) If the Cue Ball and an Object Ball are touching the same cushion, simply forcing the Cue Ball and/or that Object Ball into the same cushion does not constitute a Legal Shot.

 H) DECIDING COLOURS:
  1. General:
    (a) When Colours have not been decided the table is deemed to be "Open".
    When the table is open a player may play at either group of Colours.
    (b) Colours can never be decided on a Foul Shot.
    (c) Once Colours are decided, the player remains "On" that Coloured group for the duration of the frame. The opponent remains "On" the opposite Coulored group.
    (d) Playing a shot after neglecting to nominate a choice of Colours is a Standard Foul. Any balls potted on such a shot are left in the pocket and ignored for the purpose of deciding Colours.
  2. On the Break:
    (a) If no Colours are potted on the Break the table is "Open".
    (b) If one or more Colours are potted on the break the player then has the right and obligation to verbally advise the Referee of a choice of Colour before proceeding. Failure to do so is a Standard Foul. If a player is fouled under this rule the opponent faces an "Open" table.
    (c)(1)If the player nominates a Colour that was not potted on the Break, the player is on that Colour, no matter what happens next.
    (2) If a player nominates a Colour that was not potted on the Break, to be on that Colour, the player must pot a ball of that Colour on the next shot.
  3. After the Break:
    (a) If a player pots one or more balls of the same Colour, the player is then on that Colour.
    (b) If a player pots one or more balls of different Colours, the player then has a right and obligation to verbally advise the Referee of a choise of Colour before proceeding. Once a Colour is nominated in these circumstances, the player is on that Colour no matter what happens next. Failure to nominate is a Standard Foul. If a player is fouled under this rule, the opponent faces an "Open" table.
 I) TIME ALLOWED:
  1. A player has a maximum of 60 seconds to play a shot.
  2. The Referee will start timing all balls have come to rest from the previous shot.
  3. If the first 30 sconds elapse before a shot is played, the Referee will call "Thirty Seconds Remaining" as a warning to the player. The call must be made the instant the 30 seconds has expired. A Referee should not postpone the call because it appears that the player is about to play a shot.
  4. If a shot is not played within 60 seconds it is a Non-Standard Foul. The incoming player is awarded two visits from:
    (a) Where the Cue Ball lies, or if the player wishes,
    (b) From Baulk
  5. The Referee may decide to grant "Time Out", being a period when timing ceases:
    (a) At the request of the player. (For example, something is obstructing the player or the player needs to leave the playing area), and/or
    (b) Because the Referee deems that it is warranted. (For example, the Referee may call time out when making a close Foul Snooker decision or when searching for a piece of equipment requested by the player.)
 J) FOULS:
There are four types of fouls: Standard Fouls, Non-Standard Fouls, Serious Fouls and Loss of Frame Fouls. A player can only be penalised for one foul at a time. If two or more fouls are committed during a shot, the foul that carries the most severe penalty will apply.

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