Billiard Rules

There are a variety of different types of variations of the game of billiard, and each player's establishment may also have variations in billiard rules. There are some general guidelines that you can use in order to understand the games of billiards and pool including those called nine ball, cutthroat, and eight ball.

Eightball is probably the most popular game and many people understand it easily and quickly. It has to do with the numbers on the balls, and most novice players will call it stripes and solids. You'll need to be a bit careful as to the terminology that you use any time you are playing pool, or billiards. The game is actually called high and low, or eightball. The eight ball is centered in the rack with the other balls alternating around the outside. The main object, is to your particular high balls, or low balls, also, either known as the stripes or the solids, before your opponent and then shoot the eight ball in. Make sure that all players understand the basic rules of the game before you begin to play, otherwise, with the variations available it can become confusing and frustrating.

You'll often see those with a little bit more experience playing a game called nine ball. The balls are racked in a diamond configuration, with the nine ball center. The idea with this particular pool or billiards game is to shoot the balls in consecutive order from lowest to the highest numbered ball. You'll find that the rules do vary again, in this game according to which establishment you're playing in any need to understand them before you begin.

You probably also have heard a game called cutthroat when you're talking about billiards or pool. This is where three players get to play all the same time. It's a fun game and doesn't leave anyone out, and can allow more players to play more frequently. You're going to separate the balls out into the 11 through 15 numbers, 6 through 10 numbers, and a 1 to 5 numbers. The whole point with this game is to shoot everyone else's balls into the pockets leaving yours on the table. The player with a ball left on the table is the winner in this particular game.

Anyway you look at it there are many variations to these three games of pool and billiards. Families can have a good time as well as friends as long as all the rules are stated at the beginning of the game. Remember to be flexible and try different variations of the games, make sure that you understand the rules before you begin to play, and then enjoy your game of billiard or pool, whether it's cutthroat, nine ball, or eightball.