Section 3
9-Ball
9-Ball is played with a cue ball and nine object balls numbered 1 through 9. You shoot the balls in ascending numerical order, continuing to shoot as long as any ball is legally pocketed. The 9-ball is the game-winning ball — pocket it on any legal shot to win.
9-Ball Rack
The balls are racked as follows:
- a.In a diamond shape with the 1-ball as the apex ball on the foot spot.
- b.The rows behind the apex are parallel to the foot string.
- c.The 9-ball is in the middle of the rack.
- d.The remaining balls are placed at random.
Break Requirements
You begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string. The cue ball must contact the 1-ball before any other ball or cushion, or it is a foul. You must either legally pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact one or more cushions, or it is a foul.
Jumped object balls other than the 9-ball are not returned to the table. If the 9-ball is jumped, it is spotted.
If you legally pocket a ball, you continue to shoot. Your inning ends if you do not pocket a ball or if you foul. If you legally pocket the 9-ball on the break, you win the game. If you foul on the break and pocket the 9-ball, it is spotted.
Push-Out After the Break
If there was no foul on the break, the player taking the first shot after the break has the option to shoot a push-out. On a push-out:
- a.You must notify your opponent before the shot and your opponent must acknowledge your intention.
- b.The cue ball does not have to contact the lowest numbered ball first, or any object ball at all.
- c.No ball has to contact a cushion.
- d.All other rules and fouls still apply.
Any object balls except the 9-ball that are pocketed on a push-out remain pocketed. If the 9-ball is pocketed it is spotted.
After a push-out without a foul, your opponent may: (a) accept the table in position and shoot, or (b) require you to shoot again with the table in position. If you push-out and foul, your opponent receives ball in hand.
The push-out must be verbally declared before the shot. Once your opponent accepts or declines, play proceeds normally — they must hit the lowest-numbered ball first on their next shot.
Continuing Play
After the break (and push-out, if one occurs), play continues as follows:
- a.The lowest numbered ball on the table must be the first object ball contacted by the cue ball, or it is a foul.
- b.If you legally pocket any ball, your inning must continue.
- c.The 9-ball is spotted if it is illegally pocketed or if it is jumped.
- d.Other jumped object balls and illegally pocketed balls are not returned to the table.
When it is your inning, you must continue to shoot as long as you legally pocket a ball on each shot. Your inning ends if you do not legally pocket a ball. The game is won by the player who legally pockets the 9-ball.
Three Successive Fouls
You lose the game if you commit three successive fouls in one game. See Rule 1-22 (Successive Fouls) in the General Rules for procedures, including the requirement that your opponent warn you before your third shot that you are on two fouls.
Stalemate
If a referee judges that the game is not progressing because the position of the table has not significantly changed through three consecutive innings by each player, the referee will declare a stalemate and the game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking again.
See Also