Agree before
you break.
A game definition, a rulebook, and good manners are different kinds of authority. Establish the arrangement first.
The game, briefly.
Eight-ball
Clear your assigned solids or stripes, then legally finish with the 8. Break handling, calls, fouls, and winning conditions belong to the chosen rules.
Nine-ball
Contact the lowest-numbered ball first. Winning and match scoring depend on the format; APA league scoring and a simple WPA race of racks are different arrangements.
Nine-ball rules, fouls & game flow →WPA reference card.
Effective 2026-10-21 · reviewed 2026-10-26In eight-ball, legally pocketing the 8 on the break offers spotting or rebreak options. It is not an automatic win. Ordinary standard fouls generally give the incoming player cue-ball in hand anywhere; break provisions differ.
Use sections 4.3, 4.6, 4.8, and 4.9 for the actual break, call-shot, loss, and foul provisions. This short card does not replace them.
Read our eight-ball guide →The official rulebook and dated reference are in the research library.
APA reference.
Check the official manual’s game rules, scoring, coaching procedures, and your local bylaws. No APA affiliation or local format is assumed here.
In APA handicapped nine-ball, balls 1–8 count one point each and the 9 counts two. The rack ends on the 9, while the match is a race to the player’s required points. Push-outs are not part of that format.
Read the on-site APA format comparison →Official format and coaching references remain available in the research library.
Before-you-break card.
- Game and scoring
- Who breaks and who racks
- Calls and declared safeties
- Scratch and ball-in-hand placement
- The 8 or 9 on the break
- Coaching, time-outs, and phone use
- Jump/massé and venue restrictions
- Observer or referee for close hits
A local answer stays unconfirmed until you establish it with the organizer. Store the source and date in your private notebook.
Table Manners.
Give the shooter room. Ask before advice in practice; obey coaching rules during a match. Ask before handling another person’s cue. Keep drinks off the cloth. Arrange an observer before a close hit, and let staff settle a heated dispute.
Read the etiquette chapter →A note to yourself.
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