Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
TYPE OF GAME
Eight Ball (often called stripes and solids) is a unique game,
and is doubtless the most commonly played pocket billiard game in the
United States. This is a variation on that game in which special rules
apply to the 1-ball and the 15-ball. The 1-ball and the 15-ball are
termed "special balls" in this game.
PLAYERS
Two (or two teams).
BALLS USED
The standard set of object-balls numbered 1-15, plus a cue-ball.
THE RACK
Standard triangle rack with the apex on the foot spot and the 8-ball in
the center of the triangle. One ball from each group is put on the two
rear corners. The 1-ball is placed immediately behind the 8-ball (right
of center), and the 15-ball is placed immediately behind the 8-ball
(left of center). The other balls may be placed at random.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
To legally pocket all the balls of the player's group (see below for how
the player's group is determined), and then the 8-ball.
SCORING
Group balls have no point value. The player legally pocketing the
8-ball wins the game.
OPENING BREAK
The starting player must make an open break or pocket a ball.
If he fails to do so it is an illegal break and his opponent has
the choice of either:
Any balls which fall from a legal opening break count as legally pocketed balls if there were no fouls.
Should a player foul on the opening break, their opponent has cue-ball in hand behind the head string.
If the 8-ball is pocketed on a legal opening break shot, the breaker
wins the game.
DETERMINATION OF GROUPS
The table remains open until a player legally pockets one or more balls.
The player who first legally pockets a ball from a group is assigned
that group, his opponent then has the other group.
If balls a sunk from more than one group, on the first legal counting,
then the group from which the most balls were sunk becomes the shooter's
group. If a player pockets an equal number of balls from both groups
the table remains open.
RULES OF PLAY
Combination shots involving balls of both groups are legal when the
table is open. After groups have been determined, the player must cause
the cue-ball's first contact to be with a ball of his own group.
Failure to do so is a foul. A foul shot is not a legal shot.
When shooting the player must make the cue-ball contact an object-ball (of his group if groups have been determined), and then either:
A player may shoot at any ball that he chooses, but before he shoots he must call the ball and the pocket. He need not call any detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal). A legally pocketed ball entitles the shooter to continue.
The player with the "solids" must legally pocket the 1-ball in the left side-pocket for it to stay down. The ball can be pocketed in any other pocket, and will count as a legal shot if it was correctly called, but it will immediately be spotted if it didn't go down in the left side-pocket on a legal shot. The 15-ball is played similarly except that it must be legally snk in the right side-pocketed in order to stay down.
If a player's opponent pocket's the player's special ball (the 1-ball, or the 15-ball depending on the player's group) then it will stay down. It does not matter if the stroke was legal or not.
After all the balls of his group are pocketed, the player shoots to
pocket the 8-ball (he is said to be "on the 8-ball").
LOSS OF GAME
A player will loose the game for:
If the 8-ball was illegally pocketed the shooter looses the game.
JUMPED OBJECT BALLS
Jumped balls will be spotted if they belong to the shooter. If the
jumped balls belong to the shooter's opponent the will count as
pocketed. If the jumped ball is the 8-ball the shooter looses the game.
CUE-BALL AFTER JUMP, SCRATCH OR FOUL
Other than after opening break, incoming player has cue ball in hand
anywhere on the table.