EIGHT BALL

The General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply except when contradicted by these specific rules.

1. OBJECT OF THE GAME: You must pocket all balls of either solids or stripes (balls numbered 1-7 or 9-15). After you have pocketed all your object balls (solids or stripes), you must then pocket the 8-ball to win the game. 

2. DETERMINING OBJECT BALL GROUP: The object ball group you will be assigned is not determined on the break. The first ball pocketed after the break determines your particular object ball group (solids or stripes).

3. LEGAL BREAK: You must pocket a ball or drive four balls to the rail to avoid a foul. 

4. LEGAL SHOT: You must hit one of his group of balls first and pocket a numbered ball, or cause the cue ball or any numbered ball to contact a rail.

5. CONTINUING PLAY: You may continue playing after every ball legally pocketed. If you fail to legally pocket a ball, play passes to your opponent. 

6. FOUL PENALTIES: Opponent gets ball-in-hand. 

7. SPECIAL FOUL PENALTIES: Pocketing the 8-ball while you still have object balls on the table causes you to lose instantly, except on the break, when the 8-ball is spotted on the table and play continues. Scratching or fouling while pocketing the 8-ball causes you to lose instantly.