Rules of the Games - Pool
POOL
Rules for two different but very common pool games have been attained to ensure
consistency when competitions are run.
Attached rules for the following games are included:
8 - Ball
Snooker
8-BALL
1. The Alberta 55 Plus Games and all sanctioned ALBERTA 55 PLUS events will follow
the world standardized rules for 8-Ball by the Billiards Congress of America. These
rules can be obtained by searching www.bca-pool.com or by contacting:
Billiards Congress of America
Headquarters Address
Billiard Congress of America
12303 Airport Way
Suite 160
Broomfield, CO 80021
Toll-Free Main Office: 866.852.0999
2. AGE GROUPS/EVENTS
Age groups, events and competition procedures for an Alberta 55 Plus Games are
specified in the current Activity Information Book.
3. General Overview:
Eight–Ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1
through 15. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 (solid
colors), while the other player has 9 through 15 (stripes). The player pocketing
either group first, and then legally pocketing the 8 – ball wins the game
Play will be in Singles - 2 players to a table.
Players are allowed to use their own cues.
For all 8-Ball events, each match should consist of the best of 5 games. If the
number of participants at a Zone playoff is too large, best of 3 games will suffice.
4. Table Size – 4’ X 8’:
a) Pool ball specifications – pocket billiards balls:
 Weight: 5 ½ to 6 oz.
*diameter: 2 ¼”
b) Pool cue specifications:
 Player may bring a maximum of 3 cue sticks to a match
 Width of tip: no minimum/14 mm maximum
 Length: 40 inches minimum/no maximum
 Weight: no minimum/25 oz. maximum
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
Cue tip may not be of a material that can scratch or damage the addressed ball
(must be composed of specially processed leather or other fibrous or pliable
material
5. Order Of Break:
a) Winner of the coin toss has the option to break.
b) The winner of each game has the option to break for the next game.
c) The following are common options that may be designated by tournament officials in
advance:
 Players alternate break
 Loser breaks
6. Racking The Balls:
a) The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-ball in the center
of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the foot spot, a stripe ball in one corner of
the rack and a solid ball in the other corner.
7. Call Shot:
a) In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated.
b) It is the opponent’s right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot.
c) Bank shots and combination shots are not considered obvious, and care should be taken
in calling both the object ball and the intended pocket.
d) When calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicate details such as the number of
cushions, banks, kisses, caroms, etc.
e) Any balls pocketed on a foul remain pocketed, regardless of whether they belong to
the shooter or the opponent.
f) The opening break is not a “called shot”.
g) Any player performing a break shot in 8-Ball may continue to shoot so long as any
object ball is legally pocketed on the break.
8. Legal Break Shot:
a) (Defined) To execute a legal break, the breaker (with the cue ball behind the head
string) must either (1) pocket a ball, or (2) drive at least four numbered balls to the
rail.
b) When the breaker fails to make a legal break, it is a foul, and the incoming player has
the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or (2) having the balls reracked and having the option of shooting the opening break or allowing the offending
player to re-break.
9. Scratch On A Legal Break:
a) If a player scratches on a legal break shot, (1) all balls pocketed remain pocketed
(Exception, the 8-ball: See rule 11.b), (2) it is a foul, (3) the table is open.
b) Please Note: The incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string and may
not shoot an object ball that is behind the head string, unless he first shoots the cue
ball past the head string and causes the cue ball to come back behind the head string
and hit the object ball.
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10. Object Balls Jumped Off Table On The Break:
a) If a player jumps an object ball off the table on the break shot, it is a foul and the
incoming player has the option of (1) accepting the table in position and shooting, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string and shooting.
11.8-Ball Pocketed On The Break:
a) If the 8-Ball is pocketed on the break, breaker may ask for a re-rack or have the 8-Ball
spotted and continue shooting.
b) If the breaker scratches while pocketing the 8-Ball on the break, the incoming player
has the option of a re-rack or having the 8-Ball spotted and begin shooting with ball in
hand behind the head string.
12. Open Table:
a) (Defined) The table is “open” when the choice of groups (stripes or solids) has not yet
been determined.
b) When the table is open, it is legal to hit a solid first to make a stripe or vice-versa.
c) Note: The table is always open immediately after the break shot.
d) When the table is open, it is legal to hit any solid or stripe first in the process of
pocketing the called stripe or solid.
e) However, when the table is open and the 8-Ball is the first ball contacted, it is a foul
and no stripe or solid may be scored in favor of the shooter.
f) The shooter loses his turn; the incoming player is awarded cue ball in hand; any balls
pocketed remain pocketed; and the incoming player addresses the balls with the tables
still open.
g) On an open table, all illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed.
13. Choice Of Group:
a) The choice of strips or solids is not determined on the break even if balls are made
from only one or both groups, because the table is always open immediately after the
break shot.
b) The choice of group is determined only when a player legally pockets a called object
ball after the break shot.
14. Legal Shot:
a) (Defined) On all shots (except on the break and when the table is open), the shooter
must hit one of his group of balls and (1) pocket a numbered ball, or (2) cause the cue
ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail.
b) Please Note: It is permissible for the shooter to bank the cue ball off a rail before
contacting the object ball; however, after contact with the contact ball, an object ball
must be pocketed, or the cue ball or any numbered ball must contact a rail.
c) Failure to meet these requirements is a foul.
15. “Safety” Shot:
a) For tactical reasons, a player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and also
discontinue a turn at the table by declaring “safety” in advance.
b) A safety shot is defined as a legal shot.
c) If the shooting player intends to play safe by pocketing an obvious object ball, then
prior to the shot, the shooter must declare a “safety” to the opponent.
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d) It is the shooter’s responsibility to make the opponent aware of the intended safety
shot.
e) If this is not done, and one of the shooter’s object balls is pocketed, the shooter will
be required to shoot again.
f) Any ball pocketed on a safety shot remains pocketed.
16. Scoring:
a) A player is entitled to continue shooting until failing to legally pocket a ball of this
group.
b) After a player has legally pocketed all of his group of balls, he shoots to pocket the 8Ball.
17. Foul Penalty:
a) Opposing player gets cue ball in hand.
b) This means that the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table (does not
have to be behind the headstring except on opening break).
c) This rule prevents a player from making intentional fouls, which would put an opponent
at a disadvantage.
d) With “cue ball in hand,” the player may use a hand or any part of a cue (including the
tip) to position the cue ball.
e) When placing the cue ball in position, any forward stroke motion contacting the cue
ball will be a foul, if not a legal shot.
18. Combination Shots:
a) Combination shots are allowed; however, the 8-Ball can’t be used as a first ball in the
combination unless it is the shooter’s only remaining legal object ball on the table.
b) Otherwise, should such contact occur on the 8-Ball, it is a foul.
19. Illegally Pocketed Balls:
a) An object ball is considered to be illegally pocketed when (1) that object ball is
pocketed on the same shot a foul is committed, or (2) the called ball did not go in the
designated pocket, or (3) a safety is called prior to the shot.
b) Illegally pocketed balls remain pocketed and are scored in favor of the shooter
controlling that specific group of balls, solids or stripes.
20. Object Balls Jumped Off The Table:
a) If any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul and a loss of turn, unless it is the
8-Ball, which is a loss of game.
b) Any jumped object balls are not re-spotted.
21. Jump And Masse Shot Foul:
a) While “cue ball fouls only” is the rule of play when a match is not presided over by a
referee, a player should be aware that it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an
attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered
ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it
was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).
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22. Playing The 8-Ball:
a) When the 8-Ball is the legal object ball, a scratch or foul is not loss of game if the 8Ball is not pocketed or jumped from the table.
b) Incoming player has cue ball in hand.
Note: A combination shot can never be used to legally pocket the 8-Ball, except when
the 8-Ball is the first ball contacted in the shot sequence.
23. Loss Of Game:
a) A player loses the game by committing any of the following infractions:
Fouls when pocketing the 8-Ball (exception: see 8-Ball Pocketed On The Break).
Pockets the 8-Ball on the same stroke as the last of his group of balls.
Jumps the 8-Ball off the table at any time.
Pockets the 8-Ball in a pocket other than the one designated.
Pockets the 8-Ball when it is not the legal object ball.
Note: All infractions must be called before another shot is taken, or else it will be deemed
that no infraction occurred.
24. Stalemated Game:
a) If, after 3 consecutive turns at the table by each player (6 turns total), the referee
judges that attempting to pocket or move an object ball will result in loss of game, the
balls will be re-racked with the original breaker of the stalemated game breaking
again. The stalemate rule may be applied regardless of the number of balls on the
table. Please Note: Three consecutive fouls by one player in 8-Ball is not a loss of
game.
25. Tie Breaker Information
If two-way tie exists at end of round robin, extra single game to be played.
 If three-way tie exists at end of round robin, players will toss coins until one
person has the “odd” coin and receives a “bye” in the playoff game. The other
two players play an extra single game, with the winner of this game going on to
play an additional game against the player who received the “bye”. Winner of
this game receives the higher standing.
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SNOOKER
The Snooker Table:
a) The rules of snooker state that a regulation full-sized table should have a
playing surface of 5 feet 9 ½ inches x 11 feet 8 ½ inches.
b) The height of the table from the floor to the top of the cushion rail officially
must be between 2 feet 9 ½ inches and 2 feet 10 ½ inches.
c) The bed of the table is covered with green napped billiard cloth on which the
spots for the various balls and the baulk line are marked out.
d) The baulk line, 29 inches from the face of the baulk cushion (also known as the
bottom cushion), is the line on which the spots for the yellow, green and brown
balls are placed – these three balls are sometimes referred to collectively as the
baulk colors.
e) From the yellow spot to the green spot is described a semicircle (radius 11 ½
inches) known as the D.
f) The blue spot is positioned midway between the two center pockets.
g) The pink spot is positioned midway between the blue spot and the face of the
top cushion.
h) And finally, the black spot is positioned 12 ¼ inches away from the face of the
top cushion in a straight line with the pink, blue and brown spots.
2.
The Snooker Balls:
a) A set of snooker balls consists of: fifteen reds; one yellow, one green, one
brown, one blue, one pink, one black (known collectively as the colors or
colored balls); and one white ball (known as the cue-ball).
b) Regulation size balls for full-sized tables measure 2 1/16 inches in diameter.
3. The Rules Of Playing Snooker:
a) At the start of each frame – a frame is the snooker term for one game or a rack
– the colored balls are placed on their respective spots, with the red balls
placed in a triangle with the apex red ball as near as possible to the pink ball
without actually touching it.
b) The basic idea of snooker is that players play alternatively to pocket balls
(referred to in the game of snooker as to pot or potting balls) to build-up a
frame winning score.
c) And when there is no opportunity to pocket a ball, make it as difficult as
possible for your opponent to achieve this aim by playing defensive or what is
referred to in the game of snooker as a safety shot.
d) To build-up a score, a player must first attempt to pocket any of the red balls
(worth one point each) into any of the six pockets on the table.
e) Having pocketed a red ball, the player is then free to select and pocket any
colored ball into any pocket to add to their score – if more than one red ball is
pocketed in the same stroke a player scores accordingly, but is free to select
and pocket only one colored ball.
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4. Scoring:
a) Both players are responsible to determine the point count of each player’s
break.
b) Each colored ball is worth the following points: Yellow (2 points), Green (3
points), Brown (4 points), Blue (5 points), Pink (6 points), & Black (7 points).
Please note: Once a red ball has been pocketed the colored ball only needs to
be nominated by a player if there is reasonable doubt to which colored ball the
player is aiming for.
c) Once a colored ball has been pocketed, unlike a red ball, which stays in the
pocket, it is returned to its respective spot on the table.
d) A player can then attempt to pocket another red ball and continue the
sequence to build-up their score.
e) However, if the pocketed colored ball’s spot on the table is occupied or
obstructed by another ball, the colored ball must then be placed on the vacated
spot of the highest valued ball and left there till such a time it is pocketed,
then returning it to its spot – assuming that its spot has since been vacated.
f) In the event of all the spots being occupied, the colored ball is then to be
placed as near to its own spot in a direct line toward the face of the top cushion
(the cushion nearest to the black spot).
5. Spotting:
a) The player not shooting will spot the ball.
b) If there is any difficulty in spotting the ball, consult the referee.
c) Once the final red ball has been pocketed, a player again has the option of
playing to pocket a colored ball.
d) If the colored ball is pocketed, as usual it is re-placed on the table, then a
player must try to pocket the colored balls in strict order, into any pocket, in
ascending numerical value from the yellow ball to the black ball – only this
time, when each colored ball has been pocketed, it stays in the pocket.
e) The accumulation of points with a series of successful pocketed balls in snooker
is called a break.
f) The highest break you can achieve in a frame of snooker, that is managing to
successfully pocket all 15 red balls alternatively with 15 black balls and all of
the colored balls in order, is officially recognized as 147 and is known as a
maximum break.
g) At one time in a frame, a player may find that there are not enough points
available on the table to overtake their opponent’s score to win the frame
(referred to as needing a snooker or snookers).
h) So this is the time when the player needs to employ a tactic to try and force
their opponent to commit a foul stroke, in order to gain the extra points for
their score.
i) A foul stroke in snooker can be committed in several ways and carries a
minimum penalty of 4 points going to the non-offending player.
j) The value of the penalty depends on which ball the offense was committed on;
foul strokes committed on the colored balls, which are worth more than 4
points, are given away in accordance to their respective value.
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k) In the event of a foul stroke having been committed on more than one ball, only
the points of the highest valued ball involved are given away.
l) The term to snooker means to position the cue-ball behind another ball, thus
blocking a clear path to the target-ball (s) (in snooker the target-ball (s) are
referred to as the ball or balls on).
m) This may happen unintentionally or by design by a player to try and gain those
extra points to win the frame, as it forces a player to strike the cue-ball on a
less direct path to the target-ball (s) with either a masse shot (usually referred
to in snooker as a swerve shot) or by playing off a cushion.
n) This position is known as a snooker or being snookered, and failure to hit the
target-ball (s) is a foul stroke – this tactic can also be deployed throughout a
frame as a defensive safety shot.
Foul strokes can be committed with the following rule infringements:
a) Failing to hit a ball.
b) Pocketing the cue-ball: If the cue-ball is pocketed, the non-offending player is
allowed to place the cue-ball anywhere within the area known as the D and play
from then on.
c) Pocketing the wrong balls (s): This includes pocketing a colored ball when a red
ball is the target-ball; pocketing a colored ball other than the target-colored
ball; and pocketing a red ball when a colored ball is the target-ball.
d) Playing a push-shot (a legal shot in pool): A push-shot is committed when the
tip of the snooker clue is still in contact with the cue-ball when the cue-ball
makes contact with another ball.
e) This can happen when the cue-ball is very close to the target-ball or when the
cue-ball is touching another ball (known as a touching-ball).
f) A touching-ball must be announced by either a player or referee, and as moving
a ball which the cue-ball is touching will inevitably be a push-shot, it must be
played away from – if the/a target is touching the cue-ball, playing directly
away from it is deemed a legal shot and not a foul stroke.
g) If there is any doubt, please consult the referee prior to making the shot.
h) Striking the cue-ball whilst it is still moving.
i) Striking the cue-ball with both feet off the floor – a foot must maintain contact
with the floor during a shot.
j) Striking the cue-ball with anything other than the tip of a billiard cue, which
must be of at least three feet in length.
k) Moving any ball, in any fashion, including long sleeves.
l) Jumping the cue-ball over another ball unintentionally or by design (a legal shot
in pool).
m) Playing out of turn.
n) In some situations after a foul stroke, the offending player may gain an
advantage over their opponent – for example, the cue-ball could come to rest in
a snooker or other safe position.
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o) To counter this situation, after any foul stroke committed the offending player
can be requested by their opponent to continue at the table.
p) However, if the non-offending player is snookered on the target-ball (s), that is
the player cannot be judged to be able to strike the cue-ball to hit both sides of
the object-ball (though you cannot be snookered on a red ball by a red ball),
the player is allowed to nominate any ball on the table as their target-ball
(known as a free-ball).
q) If the free-ball is the pocketed, it will score only in accordance as the original
target-ball – in theory, before any red balls have been pocketed, if a player is
awarded a free-ball there is a possible break of 155 on, though this is not
recognized as the maximum break total.
r) Other rules to take note of as regard to the free-ball are: it is permissible to
pocket a target-ball using a free-ball in a combination shot (referred to in
snooker as a plant, but its much more common use is for pocketing red balls in
a combination); and also a player may not snooker their opponent behind a
free-ball, except that is when only the colored balls pink and black remain on
the table.
s) Also, if a player is deemed by the referee to have not come close enough to
making contact with the target-ball (s) from a snooker, then the referee will
give the option to their opponent to have the cue-ball, and any other balls if
necessary, replaced in their original positions.
t) The shot is known as a miss and will be called along with a foul stroke by the
referee (a miss however will not be called if any player requires a snooker or
snookers at that moment in the frame), and the player must then attempt the
shot again until contact is made with the target-ball (s), or the referee deems
the player has made an exceptional attempt at making contact with the targetball (s) – in calling a miss, the referee will usually take into consideration the
size of the target balls such as a cluster of reds, and the pace at which the cueball was struck.
u) And when a player is not snookered and fails to hit the target-ball (s), a foul
stroke and a miss will automatically be called by the referee.
v) Three misses of this kind will result in the automatic forfeiture of the frame –
this section of rules however is much more stringently enforced in professional
and top amateur level snooker
7. The Start of a Frame:
a) The break-off is the opening shot played in a frame of snooker.
b) The player that has the break-off is allowed to place the cue-ball anywhere
within the area known as the D, and play for the red balls.
c) As it is extremely difficult to pocket a red ball from this spot, it is usual
practice for a player to try and return the cue-ball back to the baulk area
(preferably to the baulk cushion or behind one of the baulk colored balls) as a
safety shot.
8. The End of a Frame:
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a) A frame is technically still alive until only the black ball remains with the cueball on the table.
b) Once this situation has been reached, the player who is more than 7 points (the
value of the black ball) behind has lost the frame.
c) Of course, some frames are closely fought and a player may need to pocket the
final black ball to win.
d) This is known as a black ball game, and the player who pockets the black ball
or whose opponent commits a foul stroke on it wins the frame.
e) If the scores are level once the final black ball has been pocketed at the end of
a frame, the black ball is replaced on its spot and the players spin a coin to
decide who will place the cue-ball in the area known as the D, and play from
then on.
f) The normal rules of a black ball game are then contested
9. Tie Breaker Information
If a two-way tie exists at the end of round robin play, and extra single game is to
be played.
If a three-way tie exists at the end of round robin play, players will toss coins until
one person has the “odd” coin and receives a “bye” in the playoff game. The other
two players play an extra single game, with the winner of this game going on to
play an additional game against the player who received the “bye”. Winner of this
game receives the higher standing.
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