The Rules of 8 Ball Pool (Eight Ball Pool) - EXPLAINED!

Ninh explains the Rules of 8 Ball Pool - a popular cue sports table game from the USA.
This is a beginner's explanation of Eight Ball Pool Rules.
Watch this short video tutorial guide on how to play 8 Ball under World Pool Rules.
Learn about sinking, loss of frame, solids spots and stripes, blackball, eight ball and more!

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Also discuss on Reddit!

Video: Copyright IPA, WPBSA (I do not own any video footage – I claim FAIR USE).
Images: Google
Music: ‘Mammagamma’ by The Alan Parsons Project
Narrated, Directed and Produced by Ninh Ly

[dirtsteve]

I'm only watching this so I could prove to my buddy that I won, thank you for the clarification

[Liteg]

Damn, seems I've played by different rules all my life. What's strange about that is that the rules I've played by seems to be universally agreed upon everywhere I've played (within my country).

[zsoltszakaly]

@1:05 It is not according to the WPA rules that you must continue with the same kind after you pocket a ball at the opening. The opening shot is not a call shot, i.e. the table remains "open".

[thomasheal]

Great example for eightball and great choice of video of Chinese 8 Ball between Gareth Potts and Shi Hanqing. Great video.

[chasemiller]

Thank you for the insight. I was playing at the sports bar and a fellow was arguing about typical house rules.... I texted him your article...

[carlstarr]

Perfect presentation. Ta for taking the time to show us. I will refer to your vid whenever anyone has any issues with the rules of the game.

[tomwatson]

Good video and well explained and edited!, I wanted to know how to play 9 ball and your other video was just as helpful and not stretched out for no reason. Respect for the information pal

[miccomillchrisreyes]

Again very detailed in explaining everything. I love it

[shanicooper]

thank you for a clear and simple video, trully a great video

[Matt-hwtt]

Thanks for the vid! One more that I didn't know as a beginner -- the "No Rail after Contact" rule (6.3):

If no ball is pocketed on a shot, the cue ball must contact an object ball, and after that contact at least one ball (cue ball or any object ball) must be driven to a rail, or the shot is a foul.

Note that *_any_* ball hitting a rail after contact counts. It can be your ball, your opponent's ball, the 🎱, or even the cue ball, whatever.

This rule is important for safeties -- which could make the game really defensive and difficult. One or both players could just love-tap their ball in the far end of the table. Driving to a rail forces the table-state to change at least a little, which keeps the game alive. (These are WPA "World Pool Rules", also used by BCA in NA.)

[ThePolerbearproducts]

I loved playing this as a kid. Although it would mostly be myself and I’d try to sink all the balls before the 8 ball. Fun times

[HealthyCriticism]

Most people watching this are probably just trying to prove their friends that they are wrong lol

[Zyugo]

Reminds me of the first time I played pool months ago. I had fun playing the game. Wish I could play more often.

[alfierodriguez]

Great video. I’m heading to play in my first team, game setting and this came up perfectly. Thank you

[smoothbeak]

The one thing that I had always done differently (how I was taught) was that it's okay to sink the opponents ball so long as you don't hit their ball first. So if you hit your ball, then their ball is sunk that's alright (in the rules I knew). Here they say that if you sink an opponents ball in any way it's a foul, which is probably a good rule really haha

[MrGrombie]

I come from playing 8 ball. Just watched this to see if there was anything I could pick up. The blackball variant sounds fun. All you have to do is basically play the same game and change the ball in hand. I might have to try that out.

[thomasheal]

Blackball is great to watch especially the IPA Tour on the stream is brilliant to watch. Top class video.

[theuniversegalaxynba]

It's amazing how so many how to videos on pool always explains the basic rules that everyone knows, but then the ones that everyone does not know they do not explain the details then.

[deekayngugi]

Thanks for the video, had a hard time trying to explain to my friends

[marcusmccoy]

Thank for the rules I've lost alot if self respect not knowing your info was and is life changing..Thank You