The table at the back is level, the cloth is fast and the pockets are fair. Break, pick your group and run out — or leave the computer nothing to shoot at.
Eight-ball
The fifteen balls go into a triangle with the 8 at its heart. You break with the cue ball placed anywhere behind the head string. Nobody owns a group until a ball drops on a legal shot; from then on the shooter has solids (1–7) or stripes (9–15). Clear yours, then sink the 8 to take the game.
- Hit one of your own balls first, then a ball must drop or a ball must touch a cushion.
- Potting the 8 before your group is cleared, or with a foul, loses the game. The 8 potted on the break is spotted again.
- Fouls hand your opponent ball in hand anywhere on the cloth: sinking the cue ball, striking the wrong ball first, touching nothing, or no ball reaching a cushion after contact.
- A weak break, with nothing potted and fewer than four balls reaching a cushion, is a foul.
Nine-ball
In nine-ball the rack is a diamond of balls 1 to 9. The cue ball has to meet the lowest number on the table first; after that, whatever drops counts for you and keeps you shooting, combinations included. A legal 9 ends the game in your favour, even on the break. Three fouls in a row lose it.
Controls
Drag on the table to aim; the cue follows your finger and the arrow keys fine-tune it. Pull the cue back from the cue ball, or drag down the power meter, and let go to shoot. Tap the small cue-ball button to choose where the tip strikes: top for follow, bottom for draw, left and right for side spin. With ball in hand, drag the cue ball where you want it.
Strategy
Think two balls ahead. The pot you are playing matters less than where the cue ball stops for the next one. A slight angle on the next ball is better than a straight-in shot, because angle lets you move the cue ball with follow or draw.
Choose stun for control. Hitting the cue ball just below centre at medium power stops it dead on a straight shot. It is the simplest way to stay in the middle of the table.
Clear trouble early. If two of your balls are touching or one sits on a cushion, play to break them apart while you still have easier balls left to come back to.
Play safe when nothing is on. Rolling the cue ball behind a ball of your own colour, or sending the object ball to the far end, often wins more than a long pot. Against Hard and Expert, a missed pot usually means watching the computer clear the table.
Watch the guides. The aiming line shows the first ball the cue ball meets and the direction both will travel. On Easy and in two-player games the whole simulated path is drawn; switch it off in Settings when you want to judge it yourself.
FAQ
Do I have to call my pocket?
No. Any pocket counts, including for the 8 in eight-ball. Combination shots count in both games.
What is ball in hand?
After a foul, the other player may place the cue ball anywhere on the table before shooting. After the break in eight-ball and nine-ball you start with it behind the head string.
Why did I lose when I potted the 8?
In eight-ball the 8 must be your last ball. Potting it before your group is cleared, or on a shot that is also a foul, loses the game.
How does spin work here?
The cue ball slides first and then starts to roll. Top spin makes it follow the object ball forward, bottom spin draws it back, side spin changes how it comes off a cushion. The effect is strongest at medium and higher power.
What is the daily pool challenge?
Today’s date scatters six numbered balls around the cloth and sets the cue ball on the head spot. Clearing them takes a number of shots — fewer is better, and fouls count as extra shots. Every player sees this same layout until midnight.