Official Rules of 8-Ball

8-ball is played with sixteen balls: the cue ball (white), seven solids (1–7), seven stripes (9–15), and the 8-ball. The table is 2:1 in proportion with six pockets. Standard regulation tables are 9-foot (WPA); 7-foot bar boxes are the norm in amateur leagues.

The rack

• Fifteen balls in a triangle, apex ball on the foot spot.
• The 8-ball sits in the exact center of the rack.
• One solid in one back corner; one stripe in the other. Remaining balls placed randomly.
• Rack should be tight — every ball touching its neighbors.

The breaker places the cue ball anywhere behind the head string (the line one quarter down the table from the head rail) and strikes the rack. A legal break requires either a ball pocketed OR at least four balls driven to a rail.

• Made ball on break: breaker continues shooting, table is still "open".
• 8-ball on break (WPA rule): re-spot the 8 and continue; local rules may award a win or loss.
• Scratch on break: incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string.

The table is "open" until a player legally pockets a called ball after the break. At that moment the group (solids or stripes) they pocketed becomes theirs; the opponent gets the other group. Merely hitting a solid first does not lock in solids — a ball must be legally pocketed on a called shot.

Every shot must satisfy all three of these conditions:

• Cue ball's first contact must be with one of your own group's balls (or the 8-ball once your group is cleared).
• After contact, a ball must be pocketed or any ball must reach a rail.
• The cue ball must not be pocketed (scratch) and must not leave the table.

A foul gives the incoming player ball-in-hand anywhere on the table (WPA standard). Older rules restrict ball-in-hand to behind the head string — always agree on the ruleset before the first break.

To win, you must legally pocket the 8-ball after clearing all your group's balls, in the pocket you called (verbally or by pointing). Shooting the 8-ball into the wrong pocket, scratching on the 8-ball, or pocketing it before your group is clear all lose the game.

Callable shots ("call your pocket") are the WPA standard for the 8-ball. Combinations, caroms, and kisses can be legal for group balls under casual rules, but the 8-ball almost always requires the pocket to be called.