How does straight pool (14.1 continuous) work?
A · Advanced · Other games · 6 of 8In straight pool every legally pocketed called ball scores a point, and the first player to the agreed score wins. When fourteen balls of a rack are down, they are re-racked and the shooter carries on, using the fifteenth ball to break them open. Fouls cost a point, a bad opening break two and three fouls in a row a further fifteen.
How it works
- Scoring: one point for each legally pocketed called ball, plus one for each other ball pocketed on that shot.
- Calls: every shot; a safety may be called, and a ball pocketed on it is spotted.
- The opening break: if no called ball drops, the cue ball and two object balls must reach a cushion after the cue ball hits the rack.
- Breaking foul: minus two points; the opponent may accept the table or make the breaker break again.
- Re-racking: after fourteen balls are pocketed, they are racked without the apex ball and the shooter continues.
- Interfering balls: special rules move the fifteenth ball or the cue ball if either lies in the rack area.
- Standard fouls: minus one point; the cue ball stays where it is, except after a scratch, when it is in hand above the head string.
- Spotting: balls driven off the table are spotted, as are balls pocketed on fouls, on safeties or without a called ball dropping.
- Three fouls: minus one for the third, then minus fifteen more and a full re-rack with an opening break.
- Negative scores: possible.
The glossary has the call shot, the rack, the break shot, the safety, the standard fouls and the scratch.
Tricky cases
A player pots the called ball and two others on one shot. How many points?
Three. Each extra ball on a legal called shot counts a point.
The fifteenth ball sits in the rack area when it is time to re-rack. What happens?
It is moved to the head spot, or the centre spot if the cue ball blocks the head spot.
Can a player's score go below zero?
Yes. Fouls are taken off the score, so it can be negative.
Does a breaking foul count towards three fouls in a row?
No. Only standard fouls count towards three.
Why the rule exists
Re-racking fourteen balls and leaving one on the table lets a strong player keep a run going rack after rack. The heavy three-foul penalty stops endless safety fouls.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Straight pool | Points per ball; fouls subtract | WPA 7 |
| Special racking | A table of where the balls go | WPA 7.8, Table 1 |
| 9-ball | One point per rack | WPA 2.14, 5 |
From the rule book
World Pool-Billiard Association, Rules of Play (effective 15 September 2025), 14.1 Continuous Pool 7 (introduction) and 7.1 to 7.12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WPA Rules of Play, revised from time to time.