Pool 8 UK is a game for two players played on a table with seven red balls
(reds), seven yellow balls (yellows), and one black ball (the
8-ball). Pool 8 UK is essentially the same as Pool 8, the form of
pool most people are familiar with. If you can play Pool 8, you’ll
have no trouble whatsoever with Pool 8 UK.
2. The object of the game
The object of the game is to use a cue stick and a white cue ball to hit
your set of balls, either reds or yellows, into the table pockets.
Players use their cue stick to hit the white cue ball. The white cue
ball should then contact a red or yellow ball and propel that ball
directly or indirectly (combination or bank shot) into one of the
table’s six pockets. The first player to shoot all of his set
of balls, either reds or yellows, into the pockets must then pocket
the black 8-ball to win the game.
3. Turns
Players alternate turns. If during a player's turn, he pockets one of his
balls without committing a foul, he continues playing (see below for
a list of fouls). If the player fails to pocket one of his balls,
pockets one of his opponent's balls by accident, or commits a foul,
it then becomes the opposing player's turn. If at any time, a player
accidentally pockets the white cue ball, (even if he pockets one of
his own balls during the shot) it becomes the other player's turn.
4. Start of the game
The game starts with all balls (except for the white cue ball) placed in
a triangle formation at one end of the table. The player that is
going to break the balls, places the white cue ball anywhere in the
semicircle or “D” at the lower part of the table. The
player then "breaks" the triangular formation of balls
using the white cue ball. If during the break, the player pockets a
ball, he must continue to pocket that ball set for the rest of the
game. For example, if he pockets a yellow, he must continue to play
yellows. If he sinks: A) no balls or B) both a red and a yellow ball
during the break, he must designate which set of balls he wishes to
pocket during the game.
5. If only black ball left
After a player has pocketed all balls of his set, he must then
pocket the black ball. Before shooting for the black ball, the game
will ask the player to first nominate which pocket he intends to
shoot the black ball into. After the player nominates a pocket, he
must then shoot the ball into that pocket. If the player pockets the
black ball into the pocket that he nominated, he wins and the game is
over. If the player pockets the black ball into a pocket other than
the nominated pocket, he loses and the game is over. If the player
does not pocket the black ball, it becomes the opposing player’s
turn.
6. Fauls
Foul are essentially illegal moves or actions that lead to penalties against
the player committing the fault.
When a player breaks the balls to start the game, at least two balls—not
including the white cue ball—must come in contact with the
cushions OR at least one ball must be pocketed. (The cushions are
the sides of the pool table.) If not, a fault has occurred and the
balls will be re-racked and the opposing player (the player that did
not break) will be given the opportunity to re-break the rack of
balls.
If the player that is breaking the balls pockets the white cue ball
during the break, regardless of how many other balls may have been
pocketed, it is a foul. It becomes the opposing player’s
turn.
If at any time during the game a player pockets the white cue ball, he loses
his turn. The white cue ball is removed from the pocket and given to
the opposing player. The opposing player can now put the white cue
ball anywhere within the semicircle and shoot for any ball. The
player is also awarded an extra shot.
If a player pockets one of the opposing player’s balls, it is a foul. The
player loses his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra
shot.
If a player pockets the black ball before he has pocketed all the balls of his
set (yellows or red), he instantly loses and the game ends.
If a player hits the white cue ball and the white cue ball does not subsequently
come in contact with any other ball on the table, a foul has been
committed. The player loses his turn and the opposing player is
awarded an extra shot.
If a player shoots and the cue ball FIRST comes into contact with one of the
opposing player’s balls, a foul is committed, even if the
player sunk one of his own balls during the shot. The player loses
his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot.
If a player shoots and the white cue ball FIRST comes into contact with the
black ball, a foul is committed unless the black ball is the
shooter’s last remaining ball on the table. The player loses
his turn and the opposing player is awarded an extra shot. This foul
does not apply if the cue ball first contacts a rail, then contacts
the black ball.
If, after pocketing all balls of his set, the player pockets the black ball
into a pocket other than the pocket he has nominated, he loses and
the game is over.
If a player pockets the last ball of his set and the black ball at the same
time, it is a foul and that player automatically loses the game.
