There are a number of different pool games, with varying official rules. The most popular pool game is eight-ball, played with fifteen balls and a cue ball. There are also nine-ball (played with ten balls), straight pool (played with fourteen balls), and one-pocket (played with sixteen balls).
In eight-ball, the object of the game is to pocket all of the balls in your assigned group (solids or stripes), and then legally pocket the 8-ball to win. To start the game, the cue ball is placed anywhere on the table; usually it is placed in the middle of one of the long sides. Then, each player takes turns shooting at the cue ball, trying to hit other balls into pockets. After all of the solids or stripes have been pocketed, players can then start pocketing balls from either group. The player who sinks the 8-ball wins!
Nine-ball is similar to eight-ball, except that only nine balls are used instead of fifteen. Also, in nine-ball you must always hit the lowest numbered ball first; if you don’t do this, it’s a foul. The player who pockets all nine balls wins!
Straight pool is another popular variation of pool. In this game, there are fourteenballs instead of fifteen; however, only thirteenof these are used during play. Just like in eight- and nine- ball, each player tries to sink as manyballs as possible during their turn; however, there are no “solids” or “stripes” groups – any combinationof sinkingballsis legal! When a player runs out of legal shots (i.e., they can no longer reach any moreballs without sinkingthecue ball first), their opponent can award them up to three additional shots called “cushionshots” based on how difficult it would be for that sameplayer to make those same shots again under normal conditions . The winner is determinedby whoever has sunkthe mostballs when oneor both players runoutoftimeorlegalcushion shots– whichever happens first!
One Pocketis similar insome ways tobotheightandnine - ball: therearefifteen totalballs(including acue)andeachplayerisassignedone specific pocketinto whichtheymusttrytoput asmanyof their opponent'sballsas possible .However ,unlikeotherpoolgames ,inOnePocketit doesn't matterwhat orderyoupockettheballs–onlythatyoudoit inthecorrectpocket ! Thismeans thatplayershavetocontinually keep trackoftheir own scoring progressas wellas their opponents',whichcanget pretty confusing–but also makesfora very interestinggame !Thewinneristhewiththemostpoints after agamespecifiedbybothplayershasbeenreached(usually25or50) ,with apoint being awardedforeach successful shotinto an opponent's target Pocket