Q&A for How to Play 9 Ball Pool

Yes, you win as long as the 9 ball is pocketed and your first strike was on the 1 ball. It doesn't matter how many balls you pocket along with 9.

It is a shot that balances both players' likelihoods of winning a game. If the breaking player makes a ball but doesn't have position for the lowest-numbered ball, or if the breaking player doesn't make any balls and the incoming player doesn't have position for the lowest-numbered ball, the player may elect to play a push-out shot by hitting the cue ball anywhere on the table. Contacting the lowest-numbered ball or a rail is optional, but standard cue ball rules (no scooping or double hits) still apply. The incoming player after the push-out shot has the option to either play the next shot or pass it back to the opponent.

Yes. As long as the cue ball touches the lowest number ball on the table first, it does not matter which ball you sink.

1 to 9.

Not necessarily. After a scratch or foul, the cue ball can be placed anywhere on the table that the next player desires. If that player then misses, you have a second chance in the game. This is continued until the 9-ball is pocketed.

This is treated in the same way as any other foul. The next player may place the cue ball anywhere on the table he or she chooses. Since this will certainly result in a very easy shot on the 9 ball, it almost always results in loss of game for the player who scratched on the 9 ball.

At least one object ball or the cue ball must contact a rail, or you must pocket an object ball, on every shot; otherwise, it is a foul. The only time the rule does not apply is on a “push out.”

No, the 8 ball is just another ball in the game and doesn't hold the value that it does in 8 ball. Only the 9 ball gets put back on the table after a foul.

Yes. You must call the pocket you are sending the nine ball to. The pocket must also be called if you are playing the nine ball with a combo.

It's just the rules of the game, friend.

No. Your turn ends, the 9 ball is spotted, and your opponent gets the ball in hand.

Although 9-ball is often played without calling pockets even to the professional level, friendly matches may call for call-pocket rules for fairness. Any numbered ball that is contacted legally (lowest-numbered ball hit first) but does not go into the called pocket remains sunk and does not need to be spotted on the foot spot (where the 1-ball goes when racking the balls). If the 9-ball is pocketed in an uncalled pocket, it is respotted on the foot spot. It is a loss of turn for the incoming player and play passes to his opponent; however, the opponent does not get to take ball-in-hand as there was no foul committed.

The 9-ball is put back to the foot spot and your opponent can place the cue ball anywhere on the table to shoot.

You don't have to call the pocket of every ball, unless you agree upon it amongst yourselves. However, you must call the pocket you are intending to sink the 9-ball into.

You do not have to. You can try and shoot a combination, which results in the 9 ball being pocketed and thereby granting you the win. A legal shot, however, is only when you hit the lowest number ball first.

As long as you hit it with the lowest numbered ball first. If you hit the nine ball by hitting the cue ball into the number two ball, for example, while the one ball was still on the table, then it would not count.

No. The 9-ball would be spotted at the foot and the other player would have a ball in hand.

No, you simply spot the 9 ball and next player gets "ball in hand" and may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. (Only the 9 ball is placed on the spot and not the 1 ball.)

You must hit your object ball first, using your object ball to hit the 9 ball such as a combo shot is legal.

Flip a coin or player's bank a ball down table and the ball returning closest to the rail wins the break.

You spot the 9 ball and next player gets "ball in hand" and may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.