How do you play pool? Learn the rules and how to play 8-ball with this illustrated guide

You'll find a pool table in many a bar and basement, but are you brave enough to pick up the cue stick?

Knowing how to hold your own in a game of pool is great for social situations with friends who want a little competition. According to the History Channel, the game of eight ball was invented shortly after 1900 and popularized after the 1961 film “The Hustler.” Billiards, a similar game on a pocketless table, gained traction much earlier. Pockets were added to add an obstacle to the game and pool was born. 

How to play pool

You can play pool with more than two people, but there can only be two teams. Split up and take turns if you have three or more players. 

Before you begin, learn the lingo. The "cue stick" is the long stick used to hit the balls (this action is called a "stroke"). The white ball you hit is called the "cue ball." You'll use the cue ball to drive other balls (striped for one team, solid for the other) into the pockets.

Make sure to rub the cue stick with cue chalk to create friction, preventing it from prematurely sliding off the ball. 

The pose

If you've never used a cue stick before, it can feel pretty foreign to hold. The most basic position is called an "open bridge" – with your hands on either end of the stick, cradle the tip of the cue stick between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand, which should rest on the table. You can also try a "closed bridge" with the cue between your thumb and index finger.

It's a good idea to take a few practice strokes before you strike the cue ball to familiarize yourself with the stance and perfect your angle.

Sometimes the cue ball lands close to the rail, making it hard to hit using the typical stance. In this case, you can angle the cue stick vertically and hit the ball at a steeper diagonal. Some bars or household tables may have a mechanical bridge to aid with tricky shots.

Rules for penalties

Players face penalties when they scratch, which is a foul in pool. Here's what constitutes a scratch:

• The cue ball bounces off the table
• The cue ball goes into a pocket
• The cue ball doesn't hit anything after a stroke
• The cue ball hits a ball but it doesn't bounce off any sides of the table (also called the rail)
• A "push shot" is also a foul – this is where your cue stick remains against the cue ball, pushing it into the ball instead of striking it

You'll have to decide on a few house rules for penalties. There are two different ways to do this in pool – it's your preference.

The setup

Leaving the white cue ball to the side, organize the other 15 balls with the triangle rack. There should be a marker on the table telling you where to place the rack, otherwise, make sure the tip of the triangle is on the foot spot.

Make sure there is a solid ball in one bottom corner of the triangle and a striped one in the other. The other balls should be arranged randomly or alternating striped and solid balls. The black eight ball should always be in the center of the rack. Make sure to remove the wooden triangle before you play.

The break

Decide who will go first – that player will be the one to “break” the triangle formation. To break, place the cue ball on the head spot and shoot it toward the triangle to spread out the balls as much as possible. You can break straight on or try from an angle. 

According to the American Poolplayers Association, a break is only "legal" if at least four balls hit the rails or a ball is pocketed. If not, it is the other player’s turn. 

One team will play as stripes and the other will play as solids – for example, if a player sinks a striped ball first, they'll aim for striped balls the whole game. If you get both a striped and solid ball in the pocket, you can choose one type. 

The play

For the remainder of the game, one team plays stripes and the other is solid. Players continue hitting the cue ball off other balls to try and get their balls into pockets until only the eight ball remains. 

Keep this in mind as you play: if you accidentally hit the other player's ball into a pocket, it counts in their favor.

Winning the game

Once you’ve pocketed all your balls, it’s time to go for the eight ball. Call a pocket you want to get the eight ball in. But aim for this pocket and this pocket alone – if you hit it into a different one, you lose the game. If you miss, the next player takes their turn as usual.

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