The game is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball (the white ball).
The aim is to pocket the 9-ball with a legal shot. On each shot the first ball the cue
ball contacts must be the lowest-numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed in order.
- The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the one ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order.
- The game begins with the cue ball in hand behind the head string.
A player is entitled to
continue shooting until he fails to legally pocket a ball.
It is no foul if he fails but then the opposing player is
next.
A player has to complete one shot in 60 seconds, otherwise a foul is called, and incoming player gets cue ball in hand.
If the 9-ball is pocketed by a foul shot then the 9-ball is respotted.
- Bad hit - If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest-numbered ball on the table.
- No rail - If no object ball is pocketed and neither the cue ball, nor any numbered ball hits the rail.
- Scratch - The cue ball is pocketed.
- Timeout - The shot is not completed in 60 seconds.
After a foul shot the incoming player has the cue ball in hand; he can place it anywhere on the table (not necessarily behind the head string).
5. Losing the gameIf a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots without making an intervening legal shot he loses the game.