Billiards (Straight Pool)

Object of the Game:

A player wins by becoming the first to reach an agreed-upon score (such as 50, 100, 150, etc.).  Each legally-pocketed ball counts as one point.

Procedure:

Object balls are racked with the 15-ball at the front point, which is placed over the foot spot.  The 1-ball is set in the rear left corner of the rack, and the 5-ball at the right rear corner.  The high-numbered balls are placed inside the top of the triangle, the low balls are placed at the bottom of the triangle.

On the break, the player calls the number of the object ball as well as the pocket in which it will be played.  The shooter must use the cue ball to hit the called object ball into the designated pocket, or hit the called ball and another ball into a rail.

If shooter fails to do any of these, a foul occurs and the player loses 2 points.  The opponent may play the balls as they lie or ask for a new break.  This continues until a legal break is made.

A foul occurs if the cue ball is pocketed on a break shot.  The shooter loses 1 point and the opponent takes over from behind the head string.  The new shooter must play the balls as they lie.

Other fouls which result in the loss of a turn and point- hitting any balls which are moving, jumping the cue ball off the table, shooting with both feet off of the floor (one or both feet must be touching the ground while shooting).

A player may use a defensive move called a safety, in which the cue ball is hit to an area which makes scoring difficult for the opponent.  A safety shot ends a player's turn, and any balls pocketed on a safety shot are spotted on the foot spot.

After 14 balls have been pocketed, the 15th ball and the cue ball remain on the table as they lie.  The pocketed balls are re-racked with a space left at the front point.  The player who pocketed the 14th ball continues to play and may attempt to pocket the last object ball or shoot at the new rack of object balls.

A scratch occurs when the cue ball is pocketed.  A scratch results in a one-point deduction and ends a player's turn.  Three consecutive scratches by a player results in a 15-point penalty.