What are the basic rules of pool?
B · Beginner · The general rules · 1 of 6Pool is played on a cloth-covered table with six pockets. Players take turns to strike a white cue ball at numbered object balls to drive them into pockets. Which balls may be hit, and what wins, depends on the game: 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, straight pool and others each have their own rules on top of a shared general section.
How it works
- The table: flat, covered in cloth, bounded by rubber cushions, with six pockets.
- The cue ball: one white ball, used by both players.
- Object balls: numbered, from one up to the number used in the game.
- A turn: an inning lasts while the player keeps pocketing legally; a miss or a foul passes play.
- The games: the WPA's official disciplines are 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, straight pool (14.1) and blackball; one-pocket and bank pool are also covered.
- General rules: apply to every game unless that game's rules say otherwise.
- A rack and a match: a rack is one set-up of balls; a match is played to the score needed to win, sometimes in sets.
- Responsibility: each player must know the rules and schedules of the competition.
The glossary has the discipline, the eight-ball, the nine-ball, the rack, the inning and the break shot.
Tricky cases
Is "pool" the same as "billiards"?
Pool is one of the cue sports. The WPA calls it pool billiards. English billiards and snooker are separate games with their own rules.
Does every game need shots to be called?
No. 8-ball, 10-ball and straight pool require calls; 9-ball and blackball do not.
Can a game's own rules override the general rules?
Yes. The general rules apply except where a game's rules contradict them.
Are heyball and pyramid in these rules?
They are listed, but their chapters are under review and point to the WPA website.
Why the rule exists
A shared general section means fouls, ball in hand and spotting work the same way across games. Each game then needs to set out only what is different.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 8-ball | Groups of seven, then the 8-ball; called shots | WPA 4 |
| 9-ball | Lowest ball first; the 9-ball wins | WPA 5 |
| Straight pool | Points per ball, to a set score | WPA 7 |
| Snooker | Reds and colours on a larger table | WPBSA Snooker 3.1 |
From the rule book
World Pool-Billiard Association, Rules of Play (effective 15 September 2025), General Section 1 (introduction and 1.1) and Definitions 2.4, 2.5, 2.8, 2.10, 2.12, 2.14 and 2.18. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WPA Rules of Play, revised from time to time.