How to Play 8-Ball Pool
8-ball is the world's most popular pool game — easy to learn, a lifetime to master. Here's everything a beginner needs to sit down and play a proper game, then you can try it free online at CueVerse.
1. The rack
All 15 object balls form a triangle at the foot of the table. The rules that matter:
- The 8-ball goes in the centre of the triangle.
- The two back corners hold one solid and one stripe.
- The apex ball sits on the foot spot.
2. The break
The breaking player places the cue ball anywhere behind the head string (the "kitchen") and strikes the rack. A legal break must either pot a ball or drive at least four object balls to the cushions. Pot a ball on the break and you keep shooting.
3. Open table — choose your group
Right after the break the table is open: neither player owns solids or stripes yet. The group is decided by the first ball you legally pot on a subsequent shot. Sink a stripe? Stripes are yours; your opponent gets solids.
4. Taking your turn
Keep shooting as long as you legally pot one of your balls each shot. Your turn ends when you:
- Fail to pot one of your own group balls, or
- Commit a foul.
5. Common fouls
- Potting the cue ball (a scratch).
- Hitting the opponent's ball (or the 8) first.
- Failing to hit any ball, or driving no ball to a rail.
- Knocking the cue ball off the table.
After most fouls your opponent gets ball in hand — they can place the cue ball anywhere on the table. That's a big advantage, so play safe when you can't pot.
6. Winning (and losing) on the 8
Once your whole group is off the table, the 8-ball is your target. Sink it legally and the game is yours. But beware — you lose instantly if you:
- Pot the 8 before clearing your group,
- Pot the 8 and scratch the cue ball on the same shot, or
- Knock the 8 off the table.
House modes on CueVerse
Once you've got the basics, CueVerse adds classic variations: Call Every Pocket, Single/Double/Triple Bank 8, Last Pocket, and 4 Pockets. You can also play 2v2 teams or 1v1v1 cutthroat.