Pub Pool is a popular type of Eight Ball played mainly in the United Kingdom on a small pub sized table with rounded pockets. Pub World rules are used in professional tournament and leagues.

Rack

Fifteen balls in a triangle with the black ball in the middle and the yellow an red balls in a specific pattern.

Break

On the break, at least four balls must hit a cushion, or a ball must be potted. Failure to do so is a foul. If the black ball is potted the shooter re-breaks.

Ownership

If on the break no colours are potted play continues with and open table. If one ore more balls of both colours are potted the shooter must nominate their colour choice. If only one colour is made the shooter may nominate either colour but if they choose the colour they did not make, they must pot that colour to own it.

Valid Shot

If the table is open, the shooter may pot any ball except the black. If ownership has been assigned, the shooter must hit an owned ball first and pot an owned ball to continue at the table. Combinations are valid with any ball if the table is open. If ownership has been assigned, an owned ball must be hit first. It is a foul to strike a non-owned ball first. This includes the black ball unless all owned balls have been potted. Potting your opponent’s ball is a foul unless you have a free ball.

Two Visits

Two visits are awarded after a foul (your opponent misses his next turn). If partially snookered a free ball may be nominated and played, but not potted if the black. The incoming player may also move the cue ball to baulk if partially snookered.

Spotting Balls

All balls knocked off the table are spotted.

Ball To a Rail

Either the cue ball or an object ball must strike a rail after the cue ball contacts an object ball, or a ball must be potted, or it is a foul.

Penalty for Fouls

Scratching is or cue ball off the table is ball in hand in baulk. For all fouls, the opponent has two visits.

Three Foul Penalty

None.

Potting the Black Ball

Unlike the US Eight Ball variants, the black does not have to be called in Pub Pool.

Loss of Game

The game is lost if any of the following occur:

• the black ball is potted before all owed balls are potted

• potting the black ball on an illegal shot

Winning the Game

The game is won if The black ball is potted in after all owned balls have been potted.

Strategy

Determine if a running the table is possible. If not plan on playing safe at some point. Pub Pool is harder to run out than US Eight Ball so play safe more and put your balls into blocking positions. Play for Snookers so you can get free shots and break up clusters and blocking balls.

When you have a two visits look to use the first to clear up clusters or knock opponents balls that block yours out of the way. Trying to make a ball on the first visit is not always the best play.