Yahoo! Pool 8 Ball Rules
Yahoo! Games has based the rules for this game on the current World Standardized 8-ball Rules, although some rules have been slightly modified to accommodate the online environment. However, the basic rule set is enforced.
Object of the game
The object of the game is for one player to pocket their set of object balls, 1-7 (solids) or 9-15 (stripes), and then to legally pocket the 8-ball.
The Break
If you create a table and start to play Yahoo! will randomly chose who will break the game and if you break first your opponent will next game, it is not important who won or lose first game. You or your opponent must have a legal break for continue game with strike the rack with the cue ball.If the player makes an illegal break, the turn rotates to his/her opponent. Any balls pocketed on the break remain pocketed.
- If you break and pot a ball other than 8 ball or cue ball your turn will continue.
- If you don't pocket any ball on the break it is your opponents turn now.
- Regardless of whether a ball is pocketed or not on the break, the table is still considered open
- If you pot 8 ball only at break ( no other balls potted) you will win the game but if any other ball potted beside 8 ball you will lose that game
- If you pot a solid and a stripe during break Yahoo! asks you if you want solids or stripes this is normal like real pool but the bad part is Yahoo! gives ball in hand to you after you chose your ball type. This is not a real pool rule and using this ball in hand is not fair anyway it is up to you to use it or not, i personally never use it.
Fouls
- Break; Once solids and stripes have been assigned, it's considered a foul to strike the other player's ball before your own. If this happens, the player's turn is over and any balls pocketed remain pocketed. The next player also gains ball in hand.
- If you pot cue ball which called scratch
- If you hit your opponent ball first( if you have solids and when shooting if cue ball touches stripes first)
- If you hit 8 ball when you have coloured ball on table
Ball In Hand
Ball in hand means the player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table and shoot in any direction. When a player commits an illegal, most of the time it is a foul and the opposing player would get ball in hand. When a player is granted ball in hand after an illegal break, the ball may only be placed behind the head string and only shot forward.
If an object ball is illegally pocketed the ball remains in the pocket.
Playing the 8-Ball
When the 8-ball is the legal shot for a player, a scratch or foul does NOT result in a loss of game if the 8-ball is not pocketed. However, the next player would have ball in hand. Remember, when playing the 8-ball you must chose a pocket. If cue ball goes to pocket after a successful 8 ball pot you will lose that game.It is not a loss of game if you scratch or foul when playing the 8-ball as long as the 8-ball is not pocketed.
Turns
- A player's turn can span one or many shots.
- A player's turn continues as long as he/she legally pockets legal object balls.
- A player's turn ends when he/she takes a shot that is illegal and deemed a foul, fails to pocket a legal object ball, or pockets a ball of his/her opponent's group.
- If a player pockets a ball from his/her opponent's group, the player's opponent would only gain ball in hand if the ball had been pocketed illegally. It is not illegal's his/her ball on your turn if the cue ball strikes a legal object ball first. It just ends the turn.
Loss of Game
- Foul when pocketing the 8-Ball.
- Pocketing the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one he/she designated.
- Pocketing the 8-Ball when it is not the legal object ball.
- Pocketing the 8-ball on the same shot as the last of his/her group of balls.
After the break while table is still open if you pot the 8 ball early the game will not counted and you will not lose any rating
