Billiards Rules for Continous Play
(World Standardized Rules)
Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiard apply.
6.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME
14.1 Is a nomination game. The player must nominate a ball and a pocket. The
player is awarded one point for every correctly nominated and pocketed ball on a
legal stroke, and is allowed to continue a turn until failure to pocket a nominated
ball or commits a foul. The player can pocket the first 14 balls, but before
continuing a turn by shooting at the 15th (and last remaining) ball on the table, the
14 pocketed balls are racked as before, except with the apex space vacant. The
player then attempts to pocket the 15th ball in a manner so that the racked balls are
distributed and he can continue the run. The player who scores the predetermined
point total for a game (usually 150 in major tournament play or any agreed upon
total in casual play) prior to the opponent, wins the game.
6.2 PLAYERS - 2, or 2 teams
6.3 BALLS USED - Standard set of object balls numbered 1-15, plus the cue ball.
6.4 THE RACK - Standard triangle rack with the apex ball in the foot spot, 1-ball on the racker’s
right corner, 5-ball on the left corner. Other balls are placed at random and must
touch their neighbor.
6.5 SCORING - Any ball legally pocketed counts one point for the shooter.
6.6 OPENING BREAK - Starting player must either (1) designate a ball and a pocket into which that ball
will be pocketed and accomplish the shot, or (2) cause the cue ball to contact a
ball and then a cushion, plus cause two object balls to contact a cushion. Failure
to meet at least one of the above requirements is a breaking violation. Offender’s
score is assessed a 2-point penalty for each breaking violation. In addition, the
opponent has the choice of (1) accepting the table in position, or (2) having the
balls reracked and requiring the offending player repeat the opening break. That
choice continues until the opening break is not a breaking violation, or until the
opponent accepts the table in position. The three successive fouls rule does not
apply to breaking violations. If the starting player scratches on a legal opening
break, he is charged with a foul and assessed a one point penalty, which applies
toward the “Successive Fouls Penalties”. The incoming player is awarded cue
ball in hand behind the head string, with object balls in position.
6.7 RULES OF PLAY
1. A legally pocketed ball entitles a shooter to continue at the table until
he fails to legally pocket a called ball on a shot. A player may shoot
any ball, but before the shot, must designate the called ball and called
pocket. Details such as kisses, caroms, combinations or cushions (all
of which are legal) need not be indicated. Any additionally pocketed
ball(s) on a legal stroke is scored as one point for the shooter.
2. On all shots, a player must cause the cue ball to contact an object ball
And then (1) pocket a numbered ball, or (2) cause the cue ball or any
numbered ball to contact a cushion. Failure to meet these
requirements is a foul. When an object ball is not frozen to a cushion,
but is within a ball’s width of a cushion (referee to determine by
measurement if necessary), a player is permitted only two consecutive
legal safeties on that ball using only the near rail. If such safety play is
employed, that object ball is then considered frozen to the rail on the
player’s next inning. The General Rules of Pocket Billiards :Frozen
Balls” requirements apply if the player chooses to make the first cue
ball contact with that object ball in the third shot.
(NOTE: If a player has committed a foul on the shot immediately
before or the shot immediately after playing this ball, then he must
immediately meet the requirements of the “Frozen Ball” rule when
playing this object ball. Also, if he has committed two consecutive
fouls, he must immediately meet the requirements of the Frozen Ball
rule when playing this object ball. If such player fails to meet the
requirements of the Frozen Ball rule, he is considered to have
committed a third successive foul and the appropriate point penalty is
assessed as well as one point for each of the previous fouls. All 15
balls are then reracked and the player committing the infraction is
required to break, as at the beginning of the game.)
3. When the 14th ball of a rack is pocketed, play stops momentarily with
with the 15th ball remaining in position on the table; the 14th
pocketed balls are then racked (with the space at the foot spot vacant
in the triangle). Player then continues, normally pocketing the 15th
(or “break” ball) in such a manner as to have the cue ball carom into
the rack and spread the balls to facilitate the continuance of his run.
However, player is not compelled to shoot the 15th ball; he may shoot
any ball he desires. See Diagram 22 if the 15th ball is pocketed on the
same stroke as the 14th ball.
4. A player may call a safety rather than an object ball (for defensive
pur-poses). Safety play is legal, but must comply with all
Applicable rules. The player’s inning ends when a safety is played,
and pocketed balls are not scored. Any object ball pocketed on a
called safety is spotted.
DIAGRAM 22

5. A player may not catch, touch or in any way interfere with a ball
as it travels toward a pocket or the rack area on a shot (to include
catching a ball as it enters a pocket by having a hand in the
pocket).
Doing do is a special “deliberate foul” and is penalized one point for
the foul and an additional 15 point penalty, for a total of 16 points.
The incoming player then has choice of (1) accepting the table in
position with the cue ball in hand behind the head string; or (2) having
all 15 balls reracked and requiring the offending player to shoot under
the requirements of the opening break.
6. If the 15th (unpocketed) ball of a rack and/or the cue ball interferes
with the triangle being lowered straight down into position for
tracking, refer to the diagram, which indicates the proper manner of
relocating balls. (The gray boxes are those situations in which there is
no interference, both balls remain in position).
7. When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string (as after
A scratch) and all object balls are behind the head string, the object
ball nearest the head string may be spotted upon request. If two or
more balls are an equal distance from the head string, the player may
designate which of the equidistant balls is to be spotted.
6.8 - ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS - All spotted. No penalty.
6.9 - OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE - The stroke is a foul. Any jumped ball(s) is spotted after the balls come to rest.
6.10 - CUE BALL AFTER JUMPING OFF TABLE/SCRATCH
Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string; unless the provision
of Rule of Play 6.72, 6.75 or 6.12 (below) apply to the offender’s foul and dictate
alternate choices or procedures.
6.11 - PENALTIES FOR FOULS
One point deducted for each foul. Note: penalties are more severe for deliberate
fouls (Rule of Play 6.7.5) and third “Successive Fouls” (6.12 below). Incoming
player accepts cue ball in position unless foul was a jumped cue ball, pocket
scratch, deliberate foul (Rule of Play 6.7.5) or third successive foul.
6.12 - SUCCESSIVE FOUL PENALTIES
When a player commits a foul, penalization is one point (or more as appropriate)
and a notation is made and posted by the scorer that the player is “on a foul”. The
player remains “on a foul” until the next shot attempt, at which time the foul may
be removed by successfully pocketing a called ball, or completing a legal safety.
If failing to meet these requirements on the next turn at the table, the player is
penalized one point. The notation is changed to “on two fouls”. If he fails to
meet the requirements of successfully pocketing a called ball or completing a
legal safety on the third consecutive turn at the table, penalization is one point and
an additional penalty of 15 points is assessed (a total of 18 points for three
consecutive fouls equals-18 points). The commission of a third successive foul
automatically clears the offender’s record of fouls.
All balls are then reracked and the player committing the infraction is
required to break as at the beginning of the game. Rules for the opening
break apply.
It should be emphasized that successive fouls must be committed in
successive turns (or playing attempts), not merely in successive innings.
For Example, if a player ends inning six with a foul, steps to the table for
inning seven and fouls (he is “on two fouls”), and then starts inning eight
with a legally pocketed ball before scratching on his second shot attempt
of the inning, he has not committed three successive fouls, even though
there were fouls in three successive innings. As soon as he legally
pocketed the ball to start inning eight, he cleared the two fouls. He is, of
Course, “on one foul” when he plays the first stroke attempt of inning
nine.
6.13 - SCORING NOTE
The deduction of penalty points can result in negative scores. A running score
can read “minus one”, “minus two”, “minus 15,” etc. (A player can win a game
with a score of 150 while the opponent has scored but two fouls. The final score
would read 150 to –2).
If a player fouls on a shot that has not pocketed a ball, the point penalty is
deducted from his score at the end of the previous inning. If a player
fouls and pockets a ball on the same shot, that ball is spotted (not scored)
and the point penalty is deducted from his score at the end of the
previous inning.
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