Eight-ball

Eight-ball is a highly popular discipline of pool played on a billiard table. Many people use the word "pool" to describe this specific game. It is a game of skill played with sixteen billiard balls and a cue stick.

The game is often considered synonymous with the sport of pool itself. It is currently the second most played professional pool game. Only nine-ball is played more frequently in professional settings. For several decades, it has also remained ahead of straight pool in popularity.

The game uses a specific set of sixteen balls. Seven of these are solid-colored balls numbered 1 through 7. Another seven are striped balls numbered 9 through 15. The final object ball is the black 8-ball. There is also a white cue ball used to strike the others. The object balls are organized into two groups, often called solids and stripes. Players must navigate these groups to reach the final goal of the game.

To begin, players set up the balls in a triangular rack. The base of this rack sits parallel to the foot spot. The apex ball, or the front ball, is placed on the foot spot. Ideally, all balls should be in contact with one another. This is achieved by pressing them toward the apex ball. The 8-ball must be placed in the center of the rack. Specifically, it sits in the middle of the third row. The two back corner balls must consist of one stripe and one solid ball.

The game starts with the break shot. A player uses the cue ball to scatter the racked balls. If the breaker fails to make a successful break, the opponent has choices. A successful break usually involves at least four balls hitting the cushions. After the break, the table is considered "open." This means either player may shoot at any ball. The game changes once a player legally pockets a called ball. That player is then assigned a specific group, or suit. The other player receives the remaining suit. These assignments stay fixed for the rest of the game.

Once a player has their group, they must pocket all seven balls. On every shot, they must hit one of their own balls first. If they hit an opponent's ball first, it is a foul. After all seven balls from a suit are cleared, the player targets the 8-ball. To win, the player must "call" a pocket. This means they must designate which pocket the 8-ball will enter. If the 8-ball goes into a different pocket, the player loses. If the 8-ball is knocked off the table, that player also loses. A player can even win by "running the table," which means they pocket every ball without the opponent shooting.

Eight-ball has a distinct history rooted in the United States. It emerged around 1900 as a development of pyramid pool. In pyramid pool, a player could win by pocketing any eight balls. Two major changes transformed it into eight-ball. First, the 8-ball had to be pocketed last to win. Second, each player was limited to half of the other object balls. By 1925, the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company created purpose-made ball sets. These sets helped spectators easily distinguish between the solids and the stripes.

Rules for the game can vary significantly depending on the setting. The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) provides standardized rules for professional play. However, many amateur leagues use different rulesets. The APA, VNEA, and BCAPL all have their own specific regulations. Even casual players often use informal "house rules" that change from venue to venue. In the United Kingdom, a popular variant is known as blackball. This version uses unnumbered, solid-colored balls, typically red and yellow. It also features different rules for handling fouls and racking.

The equipment used also depends on the level of play. A regulation American-style table has a playing surface of 9 feet by 4.5 feet. However, some leagues allow smaller seven-foot tables. Amateur championships often use these smaller tables to fit more players in a venue. Professional competitions generally require the full regulation size. The balls themselves are often color-coded for clarity. Some special sets even use pink and light tan colors. This makes the balls easier to see on television broadcasts.