FAQ RULES
8-Ball
Q: On the break, less than 4 object balls, hit a rail and I do not pocket a ball. What happens?
A: That is a foul break as, unless a ball or balls are pocketed, 4 or more object balls, not including the cue ball, must hit a rail. Your opponent has three choices. 1. To play the table as it stands. 2. To re-rack and break, or 3. To re-rack and ask you to break again.
Q: If I pocket a stripe off the break, can I go for a spot with my next shot?
A: Yes, the table is open, so you may hit any ball first, except the black, but you must nominate a pocket and the ball you intend to pocket in it. So, if you nominate a spot into the top right-hand pocket and you pocket it, you are now playing spots and continue your turn.
Q: I pocket the black ball off the break. What are my options?
A: Pocketing the black ball off the break in not a foul. As long as you have not otherwise scratched (fouled),the break is a legal one. You have the option of re-spotting the black and accepting the table in position, or re-racking and breaking again. If you pocketed the black ball, but also fouled, then the incoming player has the option of re-spotting the black ball and playing with cue ball in hand behind the head string, or re-breaking.
Q: Following the break I nominate to pocket a spot in the right middle pocket. I hit a stripe ball onto the spot ball I have nominated and then pocket the nominated ball in the nominated pocket. Is that a legal shot?
A: Yes. The table is still open, so you can hit any ball apart from the black, first and if you pocket the nominated ball in the nominated pocket you continue your turn.
Q: The table is open following the break and I nominate to pocket a stripe in the left centre pocket and do so, but also pocket a spot. Is that a foul?
A: No, as you have pocketed your nominated ball in the nominated pocket, you continue with your turn, it is irrelevant that you have also potted what is now your opponent’s ball.
Q: The table is open following the break and I nominate to pocket a spot in the bottom right hand pocket. I miss the nominated pocket but pocket the nominated ball in a different pocket. Whose shot is it next?
A: The table remains open and it is the turn of your opponent.
Q: During the course of the game I nominate to hit my stripe ball into a specific pocket. I hit my ball but miss the nominated pocket and pocket one of the balls of my opponent. Is this a foul?
A: No, but it is loss of turn as you failed to pocket your ball in the nominated pocket.
Q: My opponent hits my ball first then pockets one of his own balls. What happens next?
A: That is a ball in hand foul, because your opponent did not hit his ball before he hit yours, but his ball remains pocketed.
Q: During the course of the rack, before taking his shot, my opponent calls “safety” or “no pocket”, then pockets one of his balls. What happens then?
A: After a call of “safety” or “no pocket” play passes to you. If your opponent pockets a ball it remains pocketed. If he fouls then you have ball in hand.
Q: I have cleared the table and am on the black ball. I nominate a pocket for the black ball and hit it first but miss the pocket I have nominated and knock one of my opponent’s balls into a pocket. Is this a foul?
A: No, you hit the black ball first, it is only loss of turn.
Q: My opponent has cleared the table and is on the black ball. He nominates a pocket, pockets the black ball in the nominated pocket then hits one of my balls and pockets it. Does he lose the rack?
A: No, you lose the rack because your opponent pocketed the black ball in the nominated pocket. It is irrelevant that he also pocketed one of your balls.
Q: I have cleared the table and nominate a pocket for the black. I pot the ball in the chosen pocket, but the white ball is driven from the table or pocketed. What does that mean?
A: Loss of rack as you pocketed the black and then fouled with the white ball in the same shot.
Q: My opponent nominates a pocket for the black and pots it in the nominated pocket, but before the white comes to a rest he stops it, or otherwise interferes with it. Does he still win the rack?
A: He loses the rack because he has not legally potted the black until all the balls on the table have come to a rest and the white ball remains on the table.
Q: I have cleared the table and am on the black, which is very close to a ball belonging to my opponent, which is sitting over a pocket. I nominate that same pocket, hit the black ball first and it knocks in my opponent’s ball and then follows his ball into the pocket. The white ball remains on the table. Do I win the rack?
A: Yes, you have pocketed the black in the nominated pocket, it is irrelevant that you first potted a ball of your opponent.
Q: I have cleared the table and am on the black, which is very close to a ball of belonging to my opponent, which sitting over a pocket. I nominate that same pocket, hit the black ball first and it knocks in my opponent’s ball, the black remains on the table, but the white ball is also pocketed.
A: Ball in hand foul in favour of your opponent.
Q: I have cleared the table and am on the black, which is very close to a ball of belonging to my opponent, which is sitting over a pocket. I nominate that same pocket, hit the black ball first and it knocks in my opponent’s ball, the black and white remain on the table.
A: No foul, but loss of turn.
9-Ball
Q: On the break I hit a ball other that the 1 ball. Is that a foul break?
A: Yes. Your opponent has the option to 1: play the table as it stands with cue ball in hand, 2: re-rack and break or 3: re-rack and ask you to break again.
Q: On the break, less than 4 object balls, hit a rail and I do not pocket a ball. What happens?
A: That is a foul break as unless a ball or balls are pocketed. Four or more object balls must hit a rail, this does not include the cue ball. Your opponent has three choices: 1: To play the table as it stands, with cue ball in hand. 2: To re-rack and break or 3: To re-rack and ask you to break again.
Q: On the break my opponent pockets a ball, or balls, but is snookered for the next shot, or otherwise leaves a shot they do not want to take. What are their options?
A: They may play a ‘push-out’ shot, following which you have the option to play the next shot or ask your opponent to play again.
Q: Is there such a thing as a ‘safety’ shot in 9-ball?
A: No. As stated in Rule 2.5, if the shooter legally pockets any ball on a shot, except a push-out, they continue at the table for the next shot.
Q: During the course of the game the 9-ball is pocketed on a foul shot, or is knocked from the table. What happens?
A: The 9-ball is re-spotted and the other player has cue ball in hand.
Q: A the end of the game I pot the 9-ball, but the cue ball is also pocketed, or leaves the table. What happens?
A: This is a foul and the 9-ball should be re-spotted and your opponent has ball in hand. In practice, most players concede the game.
10-Ball
Q: On the break I hit a ball other that the 1 ball. Is that a foul break?
A: Yes. Your opponent has the option to 1: play the table as it stands with cue ball in hand. 2: re-rack and break, or 3: re-rack and ask you to break again.
Q: On the break, less than 4 object balls, hit a rail and I do not pocket a ball. What happens?
A: That is a foul break as, unless a ball or balls are pocketed, 4 or more object balls must hit a rail, this does not include the cue ball. Your opponent has three choices: 1: To play the table as it stands, with cue ball in hand, 2: To re-rack and break, or 3: To re-rack and ask you to break again.
Q: On the break my opponent pots a ball, or balls, but is snookered for the next shot, or otherwise leaves a shot they do not want to take. What are their options?
A: They may play a ‘push-out’ shot, following which you have the option to play the next shot or ask your opponent to play again.
Q: I nominate to pocket the object ball, that being the lowest numbered ball on the table, or canon it onto another ball and specify which pocket the ball should go in. The shot is successful, but I also pocket another ball or balls. Is that a legal shot?
A: Yes, that is a legal shot, as long as the ball you nominated went into the pocket you nominated.
Q: I nominate a pocket for the object ball or to canon it onto another ball and specify which pocket that ball should go in. The ball nominated goes into a pocket other than the one nominated. Is that a foul?
A: No, it is not a foul, but you lose your turn and your opponent has the option to play the cue ball where it lies, or make you to play again. The ball remains pocketed, unless it is the 10-ball, in which case it is re-spotted.
Q: If I call a ‘safety’ shot, must I nominate a pocket?
A: Yes. Before each shot you must nominate a pocket.
Q: I call a ‘safety’ shot and pocket the object ball in the nominated pocket, or any other pocket. What happens?
A: The next shot passes to your opponent, who has the option to make you play again. If you had not pocketed the ball, the next shot would be your opponents, with no option to make you play again.
Q: I canon the object ball onto the 10-ball and pocket the 10-ball in a nominated pocket. Do I win the game?
A: In the Hua Hin Tuesday league you win the game.
But the official rule says: No. The 10-ball is re-spotted, because it is always the last ball on the table. However, because you pocketed a ball with a legal shot, your turn continues
Q: The 10-ball is the last remaining ball on the table and I pocket it in a pocket I have not nominated. What happens?
A: The 10-ball is re-spotted and your opponent has the option to play from where the cue ball lies, or make you play again.
Q: The 10-ball is the last remaining ball on the table and I pocket it in the nominated pocket, but the white ball is also pocketed, or I otherwise foul. What happens?
A: The 10-ball is re-spotted and your opponent has cue ball in hand. In practice, most players concede the game.