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Rules

Official WPA rules, in plain words. Every rule links to its number, so you can always check the source.

  • 11 rules

    8-ball

    Fifteen object balls and the cue ball. One player takes the solids (1–7), the other the stripes (9–15). Clear your group, then legally pocket the 8 to win. Shots are called.

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  • 9 rules

    9-ball

    Nine object balls, played in numerical order: you must always hit the lowest-numbered ball first. Legally pocket the 9 — on any shot, even a combination — and you win the rack. Shots are not called.

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  • 11 rules

    10-ball

    Ten object balls, played in numerical order, and every shot is called. Win the rack by legally pocketing the 10 on a called shot when it's the last object ball on the table.

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  • 12 rules

    Straight pool

    Fifteen balls, any of which you can call. Every legally pocketed called ball scores a point, and the first player to the agreed score wins. When 14 balls are down, they're re-racked and the same player keeps shooting.

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  • 37 rules

    General rules & fouls

    These rules apply to every game unless that game's own rules say otherwise: how play starts, how equipment may be used, what counts as pocketed, and which actions are fouls.

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