Cutthroat Pool Rules (3-Player)
Cutthroat is the classic three-player pool game — chaotic, social, and brutal. Instead of clearing your own balls, you spend the whole game trying to eliminate everyone else's. It's a party favourite, and on CueVerse it's the 1v1v1 format. Here's how it works, then play it free online.
Groups
All 15 balls are racked as normal. The three players own five balls each:
- Player 1: balls 1–5
- Player 2: balls 6–10
- Player 3: balls 11–15
Groups are often assigned after the break, based on which balls each player first pockets — but a fixed assignment works too.
Taking your turn
On your turn you try to pocket your opponents' balls. Legally pocket any opponent ball and you keep shooting. You never aim for your own group — sinking your own balls just helps your rivals.
Elimination & fouls
A player is knocked out once all five of their balls are gone. On a foul (scratch, no legal contact, etc.), each still-active opponent returns one of their pocketed balls to the table — so fouling revives the very players you're trying to eliminate.
Winning
Play continues until only one player has balls left standing — that player wins. Because everyone targets whoever's ahead, cutthroat stays tense right to the final ball.
Play cutthroat on CueVerse
Create a table, choose the 1v1v1 format, and invite two friends — or fill the seats from the lobby. Prefer a duel? Learn 8-ball or 9-ball first.