What is Blackball?
Also called English Eight-Ball or English pool.
It is a game similar to 8-ball, as usual for two players that is played on a table with seven red balls, seven yellow balls and one black ball (the 8-ball).
What is the objective of the game?
Like snooker, a cue is used, however, a Snooker cue is used.
Recall that a Snooker cue is designed shorter than a pool cue, has a size of 57 to 58 inches or 140 to 150 cm and has removable extensions to make the cue 6 inches or 15 cm longer.
The cue ball is also used to hit the triangle of balls at the start.
The cue ball must then contact a red or yellow ball and hit that ball directly or indirectly (a kick shot or bank shot) into one of the six pockets on the table.
The first player to sink all of his balls (red or yellow) into the pockets must pocket the black 8-ball to win the game.
Turns
Players alternate turns.
If during a player’s turn, he pockets one of his balls without committing a foul, he continues playing.
If the player does not pocket one of his balls, pockets one of his opponent’s balls by accident or commits a foul, it becomes the opposing player’s turn.
If at any time a player accidentally pockets the cue ball, it becomes the other player’s turn and by rule he has two shots.
Start of the game
The game starts with all the balls (except the cue ball) placed in the shape of a triangle, at the point the 8-ball is placed.
The player who is going to “break”, will make the break, place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen area.
If during the break, the player pockets a ball, he must continue to pocket that set of balls for the rest of the game (yellow or red).
Open table and choice of ball groups
The table is said to be “open” when the players’ ball groups have not been decided.
The table is open after the break and remains open until the shooter pockets balls from a single group on a normal legal shot.
This means that it is neither an opening shot nor a free shot.
The shooter is then assigned that group of balls to pocket and the opponent is assigned the other group.
Call “Snooker”
A player is said to be in snooker when the cue ball does not have a straight and direct trajectory to hit at least part of a legal cue ball.
Snooker must be declared by the referee to take effect or in a normal game with your opponent.
Fouls in Blackball
- When a player “breaks” to start play, at least two balls (not including the cue ball) must contact the rails or at least one ball must be pocketed. If not, a foul has occurred and the balls will be placed back in the triangle and the opposing player (the one who did not break) will have the opportunity to make the break again.
- If the breaker pockets the cue ball during the break, regardless of how many other balls have been pocketed, it is a foul and it is the opposing player’s turn and he receives an extra shot (2 shots).
- If at any time during the game a player pockets the cue ball, he loses his turn. The cue ball is removed from the pocket and given to the opposing player. The opposing player may now place the cue ball anywhere in the pocket and shoot at any ball (including the 8-ball). The player also gets an extra shot, i.e. he has two shots.
- After this situation, now if a player pockets only one of the opposing player’s balls, it is a foul. The player loses his turn and the opposing player gets an extra shot (2 shots).
- If a player pockets the black ball before he has pocketed all the balls of his set (yellow or red), he immediately loses the game.
- If a player hits the cue ball and it does not subsequently contact any of the player’s balls on the table, a foul has been committed. The player loses his turn and the opposing player receives an extra shot.
- If a player shoots and the cue ball FIRST contacts one of the opposing player’s balls, a foul is committed, even if the player pocketed one of his own balls during the shot. The player loses his turn and the opposing player gets an extra shot.
- If a player shoots and the cue ball contacts the black ball first, a foul is committed unless the black ball is the shooter’s last remaining ball on the table. The player loses his turn and the opposing player receives an extra shot.
- If a player pockets the last ball of his series and the black ball at the same time or shortly thereafter, he wins the game.
