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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 disturbed
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.
PLAYERS
2, or 2 teams.
BALLS
USED
Standard set of object balls numbered 1-15, plus the cue ball.
THE
RACK
Standard triangle rack with the apex ball on the foot spot, 1-ball on
the racker's right corner, 5-ball on left corner. Other balls are placed
at random and must touch their neighbors.
SCORING
Any ball legally pocketed counts one point for the shooter.
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 to 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.
RULES
OF PLAY
- 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.
- 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 on 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.)
- When the 14th ball
of a rack is pocketed, play stops momentarily with the 15th ball remaining
in position on the table; the 14 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.
- A player may call
a safety rather than an object ball (for defensive purposes).
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.
- 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 so 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.
- If the 15th (unpocketed)
ball of a rack and/or the cue ball interferes with the triangle being
lowered straight down into position for racking, 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.)
- 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 sitting, the player may designate which
of the equidistant balls is to be spotted.
ILLEGALLY
POCKETED BALLS
All spotted. No penalty.
OBJECT
BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
The stroke is a foul. Any jumped ball(s) is spotted after the balls come
to rest.
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" 2, "Rules
of Play" 5 or "Successive Foul Penalties"
(below) apply to the offender's foul and dictate alternate choices
or procedures.
PENALTIES
FOR FOULS
One point deducted for each foul. Note: penalties are more severe for
deliberate fouls ("Rules of Play" 5) and
third "Successive Fouls" (below). Incoming player accepts cue ball
in position unless foul was a jumped cue ball, pocket scratch, deliberate
foul ("Rules of Play" 5) or third successive
foul.
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.
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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