8-Ball is the king of all the pool games, pursued globally by millions of players worldwide.
This game appears to be simple but, looks can be deceptive and so can this game. It may seem very simple to play but requires a more of strategy, clever shot placing and immaculate control of the cue ball than a simple rotation game such as 9-Ball.
The main objective of this game is to pocket numbered 1 to 7 (“lows" or “solids") or 9 to 15 (“highs" or “stripes") before firing the 8-Ball into the pocket on the cue shot.
You have to call your own pocket. If the ball lands into your chosen pocket by any means, you retain your turn.
To start, make an open break. If you manage to pocket a ball, your turn continues otherwise your opponent gets a turn.
A fair way of playing is to have an open table despite what you have pocketed on the break i.e. even if you pocket three solids and no stripes; you still have to take a call shot to secure solids.
“Play clean" by hitting one of the object balls. On failing to strike a ball from your set first (or failure to drive at least one ball into a pocket or the rail after striking one ball cleanly) gives the ball-in-hand advantage to your opponent.
Ball-in-hand encourages speed play with the advantage being given even in the case of a cue scratch. Another way is not to put the ball back on the table which has been pocketed illegally. A player can actually push his opponent’s ball into the pockets!
BCA rules state that a scratch on the 8-ball doesn’t result in the loss of a game if the 8-ball is pocketed on the same shot to end the long defensive plays.
Pocketing the 8-ball in any of the pockets other than the one called or on any stroke before the completion of your set results in immediate loss.
In figure 1, we can see the player having cleared all the “stripes" from the tables is poised for the win by pocketing the 8-Ball but, the 2 and 7 ball stand in his way. The player should have cleared these balls long ago or pocketed the 8-Ball elsewhere by playing the cue ball to another spot.
These balls should have had been considered from the beginning by both players. Novices ignore this and thus land in a soup.
Figure 2 is illustrating the key ball principle. The 8-Ball is sitting pretty on pocket A, but which ball will be played the last?
4-Ball looks like the logical choice. With the cue ball, we can roll the 4-Ball into any of the three pockets, and then pocket 8-Ball for the win.
The 1-Ball will have to be cleared before 4-Ball to pave the path for the 8-Ball. But the 4-Ball is saved for the last, as it is the key to victory.