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"Effective July 1,
2000"
Except when clearly contradicted by these
additional rules, the General
Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
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 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.
2. PLAYERS
2, or 2 teams.
3. BALLS USED
Standard set of object balls numbered 1-15, plus the cue ball.
4. THE RACK
Standard triangle rack with the apex ball on the foot spot, 1-ball on
the racket's right corner, 5-ball on left corner. Other balls are placed
at random and must touch their neighbors.
5. SCORING
Any ball legally pocketed counts one point for the shooter.
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 re-racked 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.
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 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 re-racked 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
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.
| 15th ball lies /Cue ball lies |
In the Rack |
Not in the Rack and not on the
Head Spot* |
On The Head Spot* |
| In The Rack |
15th ball: foot spotCue Ball: in
kitchen |
15th ball: head spotCue Ball: in
position |
15th ball: center spotCue Ball: in
position |
| Pocketed |
15th ball: foot spotCue Ball: in
kitchen |
15th ball: foot spotCue Ball: in
position |
15th ball: foot spotCue Ball: in
position |
| Behind Head String, But
not on Head Spot |
15th ball: in position Cue Ball:
head spot |
. |
. |
| Not behind Head String, and not
in the Rack |
15th ball: in positionCue Ball: in
kitchen |
. |
. |
| On Head Spot |
15th ball: in positionCue Ball:
center spot |
. |
*on spot means to interfere with
spotting a ball on the head spot |
4. 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.
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 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
re-racked and requiring the offending player to shoot under the
requirements of the opening break.
6. If the 15th (un-pocketed) 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.)
7. When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string (as
after a scratch) and all the 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.
8. ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS
All spotted. No penalty.
9. OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
The stroke is a foul. Any jumped ball(s) is spotted after the balls come
to rest.
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 6.7.2, 6.7.5 or 6.12 (below) apply to the
offender’s foul and dictate alternate choices or procedures.
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.
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. “The incoming player has the choice
of 1). accepting the balls in position, or 2). having all 15 balls
re-racked and requiring the offending player to shoot under the
requirements of the opening break. 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.
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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