Each player is assigned one of the two corner pockets at the foot (rack end) of the table. The goal is to pocket any eight balls in your pocket first. This is the ‘chess‘ of pool games. Shooting skills are secondary behind knowledge.

Rack

Fifteen balls in a triangle in no particular order.

Break

A object ball or the cue ball must hit a rail after the cue hits the rack or it is a foul.

Valid Shot

Pocket any ball in your pocket to continue at the table.

Extra Balls

Balls pocketed in your opponent's pocket count for him unless the cue scratches or jump off the table. Balls pocketed in the side or head pockets are delayed, and are spotted at the end of the inning.

Spotting Balls

All balls pocketed on a foul shot and balls off table are spotted.

Penalty for Fouls

All balls pocketed on a foul shot are spotted. In addition, the fouler spots one of his previously pocketed balls or owes a ball to the table. Scratch or cue ball off table is ball-in-hand behind the headstring. For all other fouls opponent takes the table in position.

Three Foul Penalty

Three consecutive fouls is loss of game.

Cleared Table

If the table is cleared without the shooter having won, due to owed balls from earlier penalties or delayed balls pocketed, all of the owed and delayed balls are spotted and the shooter continues at the table.

Strategy

Never leave your opponent a direct shot at his pocket unless it is very difficult and a miss will lose the game. A good place to leave the cue ball is in the jaws of your opponent's pocket. Be careful not to leave an easy bank shot, as these are often the start of game-winning runs. On the break, shoot from your opponent's side to hit a little of the head ball and then the second ball to come off the end rail and to put the cue ball on the second diamond. This leaves the nearly-full rack between the cue ball and any balls. The best shots are both offensive and defensive.