If the breaker fails to make a successful break-usually defined as at least four balls hitting cushions or an object ball being pocketed-then the opponent can opt either to play from the current position or to call for a re-rack and either re-break or have the original breaker repeat the break. If the 8 ball is pocketed on the break, then the breaker can choose either to re-spot the 8 ball and play from the current position or to re-rack and re-break; but if the cue ball is also pocketed on the break (colloquially referred to as a "scratch") then the opponent is the one who has the choice: either to re-spot the 8 ball and shoot with ball-in-hand behind the head string, accepting the current position, or to re-break or have the breaker re-break. In most leagues, it is the breaker's opponent who racks the balls, but in some, players break their own racks.

He gave me the name of a well-known man who has been buried for more than a quarter of a century, and showed me an ancient daguerreotype of that man in his prehistoric youth. For those with color blindness, certain color contrasts might improve visibility, making the game more accessible. You can also earn points by making contact with the balls during certain shots, as you will see. To start the game, the object balls are placed in a triangular rack. The game uses unnumbered, solid-colored object balls, typically red and yellow, with one black 8 ball. A standard set of snooker balls consists of 15 red balls, 6 colored balls, and a cue ball. Anytime the red ball is pocketed, it is automatically placed back on the billiards table. The order of the balls should be random, with the exceptions of the 8-ball, which must be placed in the center of the rack (i.e., the middle of the third row), and the two back corner balls, one of which must be a stripe and the other a solid. The two rule sets differ in some details regarding the penalties for fouls.

The rules of blackball differ from standard eight-ball in numerous ways, including the handling of fouls, which may give the opponent two shots, racking (the 8 ball, not the apex ball, goes on the spot), selection of which group of balls will be shot by which player, handling of frozen balls and snookers, and many other details. The balls in the rack are ideally placed so that they are all in contact with one another; this is accomplished by pressing the balls together toward the apex ball. The base of the rack is parallel to the end rail (the short end of the pool table) and positioned so the apex ball of the rack is located on the foot spot. One person is chosen by some predetermined method (e.g., coin toss, lag, or win or loss of previous game or match) to shoot first, using the cue ball to break the object-ball rack apart. Because of this, it is possible for a game to end with only one of the players having shot, which is known as "running the table" or a "denial"; conversely, it's also possible to win a game without taking a shot; such a scenario may occur if the opposing player illegally pockets the 8 ball on any shot other than the break (such as sinking the 8 ball in an uncalled pocket, knocking the 8 ball off the table, sinking the 8 ball when a player is not yet on the black ball, what is billiards or sinking both the 8 ball and the cue ball off a single shot).

Following a foul, the incoming player has ball-in-hand anywhere on the table, unless the foul occurred on the break shot, as noted previously. If the player pockets the 8 ball and commits a foul or pockets it into another pocket than the one designated, the player loses the game. The shooter shoots the black 8 ball without designating the pocket to opposite team members or the match referee in advance. A player (or team) continues to shoot until committing a foul or failing to legally pocket an object ball (whether intentionally or not); thereupon it is the turn of the opposing players. If an attempt is made to pocket a ball, and the ball hits the pocket, bounces out and lands on the ground, the ball is placed in the pocket and the game continues. We have been in the pool table business for over 15 years and last year in 2023 our pool tables and other cool products sold out fast! With standard American-style pool tables rare, Chinese players made do with playing eight-ball on small snooker tables. Before we get into details, it’s good to know exactly what you’re dealing with when it comes to pool tables. It's a chapel-of-ease for the devil to preach in-don't tell me not to be eloquent: I don't know what you mean, Mr. Caudle, and I shall be just as eloquent as I like.