(See 3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups).Д¦.5 Ball Driven off the Table ( See 3.7 Spotting Balls.)Д¦.11 Bad Play from Behind the Head String The following are standard fouls at eight ball:Д¦.2 Wrong Ball First The first ball contacted by the cue ball on each shot must belong to the shooter's group, except when the table is open. The cue ball is in hand, and the incoming player may place it anywhere on the playing surface. If the shooter commits a foul, play passes to his opponent. (c) pockets the eight ball in an uncalled pocket or (b) pockets the eight ball before his group is cleared (See 3.3 Break Shot and 1.4 Spotting Balls.) No other object ball is ever spotted. If the eight ball is pocketed or driven off the table on the break, it will be spotted or the balls will be re-racked. The shooter may call 'safety' in which case play passes to the opponent at the end of the shot and any object ball pocketed on the safety remains pocketed. The eight ball may be called only after the shot on which the shooter's group has been cleared from the table. On each shot except the break, shots must be called as explained in 1.6 Standard Call Shot. The shooter remains at the table as long as he continues to legally pocket called balls, or he wins the rack by pocketing the eight ball. When the table is 'open', any object ball may be struck first except the eight ball. If he fails to legally pocket his called ball, the table remains open and play passes to the other player. If the shooter legally pockets his called ball, the corresponding group becomes his, and his opponent is assigned the other group. (h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has the option ofД«efore groups are determined, the table is said to be 'open,' and before each shot, the shooter must call his intended ball. (2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string. (g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul such balls remain out of play (except the eight ball which is re-spotted) and the incoming player has the option of (1) re-spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string or (f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches ( see definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent has the option of (1) re-spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or If the eight ball is pocketed, the breaker has the option of (e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. (3) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again.

(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails, or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of (c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table remains open. (b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first. (a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string. The following rules apply to the break shot: The other balls are placed in the triangle without purposeful or intentional pattern. One from each group of seven will be on the two lower corners of the triangle. The fifteen object balls are racked as tightly as possible in a triangle, with the apex ball on the foot spot and the eight ball as the first ball that is directly below the apex ball. ( See 1.2 Lagging to Determine Order of Play.) The standard format is alternate break ( See Regulation 15, Subsequent Break Shots.) 3.2 Eight Ball Rack The player winning the lag has the option to determine who has to execute the first break shot. The shooter's group of seven balls (one through seven or nine through fifteen) must all be off the table before he attempts to pocket the eight ball to win. Eight ball is played with fifteen numbered object balls and the cue ball.

Billiards 8 ball