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OBJECT
OF THE GAME
Nine-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine
and a cue ball. On each shot, the first ball the cue ball contacts must
be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed
in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at
the table for another shot, and continues until missing, committing a
foul, or wining the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss, the incoming
player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after
any foul the incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the
table. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one
of the players has won the required number of games.
RACKING
THE BALLS
The object
balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball at the top of the
diamond and on the foot spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond,
and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly possible. The game
begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string.
LEGAL
BREAK SHOT
The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:
- The breaker must
strike the I-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four
numbered balls to the rail.
- If the cue ball
is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening
break are not met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball
in hand anywhere on the table.
- If on the break
shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is
a foul and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on Diagram
21 the table. The object ball is not respotted (exception; if the
object ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted).
CONTINUING
PLAY
On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play
a "push out." (See "Push Out"). If the breaker
pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until
he misses, fouls, or wins the game. If the player misses or fouls, the
other player begins an inning and shoots until missing, committing a foul,
or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot,
or the game is forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.
PUSH
OUT
The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play
a push out in an attempt to move the cue ball into a better position for
the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not required to
contact any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules still apply.
The player must announce the intention of playing a push out before the
shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal shot. Any ball pocketed
on a push out does not count and remains pocketed except the 9-ball. Following
a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that
position or to pass the shot back to the player who pushed out. A push
out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule (except rules "Bad
Hit" and "No Rails") is violated.
An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed.
After a player scratches on the break shot, the incoming player cannot
play a push out.
FOULS
When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table
and no balls pocketed on the foul shot are respotted (exception; if
a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is respotted). The incoming player
is awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue
ball anywhere on the table. If a player commits several fouls on one shot,
they are counted as only one foul.
BAD
HIT
If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered
ball on the table, the shot is foul.
NO
RAIL
If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered
ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball on is a foul.
IN
HAND
When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere
on the bed of the table, except in contact with an object ball. The player
may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until shooting.
OBJECT
BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
An unpocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes
to rest other than on the bed of the table. It is a foul to drive an object
ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not respotted ( exception:
if the object ball is the 9-ball it is respotted) and play continues.
JUMP
AND MASSE SHOT FOUL
If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during
an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding
numbered ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it was moved
by a hand; cue stick follow-through or bridge).
THREE
CONSECUTIVE FOULS
If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots without
making an intervening legal shot, the game is lost. The three fouls must
occur in one game. The warning must be given between the second and third
fouls. A player's inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends
at the end of a shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when he fouls
between shots.
END
OF GAME
A game starts as soon as the cue ball crosses over the head string on
the opening break. The 1-ball must be legally contacted on the break shot.
The game ends at the end of a legal shot which pockets the 9-ball, or
when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul.
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