Content

• To step
• Warnings
• Necessities

There are some variations of 8 ball pool, but they all start the same way. Place the 15 numbered balls inside the triangle and then pop them open. Placing the balls correctly in the triangle is the first step to playing this popular game.

To step

1. Find the foot point on the pool table. Most pool tables have a white dot in a black circle at each end of the table, about halfway between the corners and the side holes. The foot point is the point furthest from where the player is standing on the opening shot.
2. Place the triangle with the vertex on the base.
3. Place any ball except the one numbered 8 inside the triangle at the apex. You can choose from the seven full or half-full balls. Players like to choose the number 1 ball, but the official rules do not require it.
   • You may have to place the number 9 ball on top when playing another variation or 10-Ball.
4. Place a full ball on one of the farthest corners and a half ball on the other corner. This makes it equally likely that a full or half-full ball will go into a hole from the first punch. When this happens, the player usually chooses to continue playing with these balls.
5. Now fill in the space between the corners with the other full and half-full balls. The balls should not be placed in any particular order, although most players choose to alternate them so that it is equally likely that a full or half-full ball will be pocketed by the opening shot. The usual choice is to place a full ball next to a half full ball at the base of the triangle (as shown in the picture).
6. Place the number 8 ball at the apex of the inner triangle of balls. This is done to reduce the risk of this ball being pocketed by the opening shot, which would result in an automatic victory for the other player (the shot must be valid).
7. Make sure the balls are close together. This is usually done by pushing the triangle slightly forward and then pulling it backward while pushing the balls to the top of the triangle with your fingers. Make sure you place the triangle back in the correct position, so with the top point flat on the foot point.
   • If the table has flaws that prevent you from placing the apex of the triangle exactly above the base point, you may move it a few millimeters according to the official rules.

Warnings

• The numbered balls must be close together so that at least four of them touch the tires after being knocked apart or so that any ball other than the number 8 ball can be pocketed. If not, the shot is invalid and the other player may either accept the table and continue playing or force the player to take the shot again. If the number 8 ball is pocketed, according to official rules the player who punches automatically loses, while under alternative rules the other player may either replace the number 8 ball and accept the table as it is or make a new shot. may demand.

Necessities

• A regulatory pool table
• 15 numbered balls
• Triangle