Rules of 9-Ball Pool Game

If you gained enough experience playing 8-ball pool, and you are up to try out a new and more exciting pool game, check out this guide to 9-ball rules. 9-ball and 8-ball pool both belong to the family of pocket billiard games and both of the pool games rules are based on the standardized rules of pocket billiards as set by the Billiard Congress of America.

Mastering 9-ball pool takes more technique and practice, but learning how to play the game is not complicated at all. If you already know how to play 8-ball and/or you are familiar with the general rules of pocket billiards, learning to play 9-ball pool will not be a difficult task for you.

Here's how to play 9-ball:

Unlike 8-ball, 9-balls is played with only 9 balls numbered 1 through 9, in addition to the cue ball. The object of 9-ball is to pocket the 9-ball. As opposed to 8-ball, the 9-ball may be sunk into any of the pockets on the table.

On the break shot, the breaker has to strike the 1-ball and then to pocket a ball or cause at least four balls to hit the rail. If the breaker fails in completing a legal break shot, it is a foul. When it is a foul, the same as in 8-ball, the turn of the player ends and moves to the opponent.

In 9-ball pool, the players have to shoot the lowest numbered ball on the table. If a player hits, for example, the 6-ball while 4-ball has not been pocketed yet, it is a foul. However, is not necessary for the balls to be pocketed in order.

The 9-ball pool game ends with the player who legally pockets the 9-ball. In addition, the game can end when a player makes three fouls in a row. In addition to the situations mentioned above, pocketing a ball that has not hit the rail is also a foul.