In a friendly game, you can play with three or more teams. This is not recommended if some of you are much better at pool than others.
Try again if two of the balls touch each other, or if no one manages to hit the end without touching another side.
The rack goes in the usual place, with the closest point on top of the foot spot. If you can find a diamond-shaped 9-ball rack, use it. If you have to use a triangular 15-ball rack, just make the diamond shape as tightly packed as you can.
The break should pocket one ball, and/or send at least three balls to any rail (side). [1] X Research source If neither of these happens, set up the rack again and let the next player break instead.
This includes the break: if the person who broke pocketed a ball, they get to take another shot. Just like 8-ball, you can only hit the cue ball, usually a white ball with no numbers.
You can pocket any numbered ball without a penalty. For example, the cue ball can hit the 1-ball, then bounce off and knock the 7-ball into a pocket. This is a legal shot. You can even pocket the 9-ball this way to win the game.
If the 9-ball is knocked off or pocketed during a foul, “spot” it back to the foot spot, or as close behind the foot spot as possible. Other numbered balls that leave the table illegally stay out of play. Accidentally touching a non-moving ball is not a foul, but the other players get to decide whether to leave it in the new position or move it back.
If the shooter pocketed a ball on the break, he may announce a push out, since he’s about to take another shot. If he did not pocket a ball, the next player gets the option to push out instead.
If the push out pockets a 9-ball, “spot” it back to the foot spot. Any other numbered ball stays in the pocket. Other foul rules still apply.
If a foul occurred on the push out, follow the usual foul rules instead. The next player places the cue ball anywhere and takes a shot.
