Straight Pool Rules
The game is played with a cue ball (the white ball) and
fifteen object balls
numbered 1-15.
The object is to reach a set number of points (15 by default).
One point is scored for each ball
pocketed where no foul is made.
Opening break
The balls are racked in a triangle.
The game
begins with the cue ball in hand
behind the head string.
The cue ball may contact
any object ball
first.
Either a ball must be pocketed or the cue ball and at least two additional balls must touch a rail.
The failure to accomplish one of these two options results in a foul. Fouling on the
initial break
results in a special penalty of a loss of
2 points
.
Continuing play
The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to
legally pocket called balls
or wins the game by scoring the required number of points. When fourteen balls from a rack have been legally pocketed, the balls are re-racked.
Call shots (only in PRO mode)
Shots must be called in
PRO mode
of the game. The shooter may call "safety" in which case play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety is spotted.
Fouls
If the shooter commits a
standard foul
, a point is subtracted from his score, and play passes to his opponent.
Standard fouls are:
The
cue ball does not hit
an object ball.
The cue ball is
pocketed
.
When the cue ball is
in hand behind the head string
, and the first ball the cue ball contacts is also behind the head string, the shot is a foul unless the cue ball crosses the head string before that contact.
None of the balls
contacted the rail
.
The player fails to execute the shot
within 60 seconds
.
There is an additional
15 points penalty
for three consecutive fouls (except for breaking fouls), and the balls are re-racked.
Winning the game
A player
wins the game
by scoring the required number of points.
The player who
reaches -15 points
loses the game.