Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules,the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.

5.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME

5.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME

5.1 OBJECT OF THE GAME

Nine-Ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. On each shot, the

first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest numbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be

pocketed in order. If a player pockets any ball on a legal shot, he remains at the table for another shot,

and continues until missing, committing a foul, or winning the game by pocketing the 9-ball. After a miss,

the incoming player must shoot from the position left by the previous player, but after any foul the

incoming player may start with the cue ball anywhere on the table. Players are not required to call any

shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games.

5.2 RACKING THE BALLS

The object balls are racked in a diamond shape, with the 1-ball at the top of the diamond and on the foot

spot, the 9-ball in the center of the diamond, and the other balls in random order, racked as tightly as

possible. The game begins with cue ball in hand behind the head string.

5.3 ORDER OF BREAK

Winner of the lag has the option to break. In 9-Ball, the winner of each game breaks in the next, unless

otherwise specified by the tournament organizer. The following are common options that may be

designated by tournament officials in advance:

(a) Players alternate break.

(b) Loser breaks.

(c) Player trailing in game count breaks the next game.

5.4 LEGAL BREAK SHOT

The rules governing the break shot are the same as for other shots except:

1. The breaker must strike the1-ball first and either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered

balls to the rail.

2. If the cue ball is pocketed or driven off the table, or the requirements of the opening break are not

met, it is a foul, and the incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.

3. If on the break shot, the breaker causes an object ball to jump off the table, it is a foul and the

incoming player has cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. The object ball is not re-spotted

(exception: if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted).

5.5 CONTINUING PLAY

On the shot immediately following a legal break, the shooter may play a "push out." (See Rule 5.6). If the

breaker pockets one or more balls on a legal break, he continues to shoot until he misses, fouls, or wins

the game. If the player misses or fouls, the other player begins an inning and shoots until missing,

committing a foul, or winning. The game ends when the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal shot, or the game is

forfeited for a serious infraction of the rules.

5.6 PUSH OUT

The player who shoots the shot immediately after a legal break may play a push out in an attempt to

move the cue ball into a better position for the option that follows. On a push out, the cue ball is not

required to con-tact any object ball nor any rail, but all other foul rules still apply. The player must

announce the intention of playing a push out before the shot, or the shot is considered to be a normal

shot. Any ball pocketed on a push out does not count and remains pocketed except the 9-ball. Following

a legal push out, the incoming player is permitted to shoot from that position or to pass the shot back to

the player who pushed out. A push out is not considered to be a foul as long as no rule (except rules 5.8

and 5.9) is violated. An illegal push out is penalized according to the type of foul committed. After a player

scratches on the break shot, the incoming player cannot play a push out.

5.7 FOULS

When a player commits a foul, he must relinquish his run at the table and no balls pocketed on the foul

shot are re-spotted (exception: if a pocketed ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted). The incoming player is

awarded ball in hand; prior to his first shot he may place the cue ball anywhere on the table. If a player

commits several fouls on one shot, they are counted as only one foul.

5.8 BAD HIT

If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is

foul.

5.9 NO RAIL

If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or any numbered ball to a rail after the cue ball

contacts the object ball on is a foul.

5.10 IN HAND

When the cue ball is in hand, the player may place the cue ball anywhere on the bed of the table, except

in contact with an object ball. The player may continue to adjust the position of the cue ball until shooting.

5.11 OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE

An un-pocketed ball is considered to be driven off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the

table. It is a foul to drive an object ball off the table. The jumped object ball(s) is not re-spotted (exception:

if the object ball is the 9-ball, it is re-spotted) and play continues.

5.12 JUMP AND MASSÉ SHOT FOUL

If a match is not refereed, it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or massé

the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball, the impeding ball moves (regardless of whether it

was moved by a hand, cue stick follow-through or bridge).

5.13 THREE CONSECUTIVE FOULS

If a player fouls three consecutive times on three successive shots without making an intervening legal

shot, the game is lost. The three fouls must occur in one game. The warning must be given between the

second and third fouls. A player’s inning begins when it is legal to take a shot and ends at the end of a

shot on which he misses, fouls or wins, or when he fouls between shots.

5.14 STALEMATE

If the referee decides that neither player is attempting to win from the current position, he will announce

his decision, and each player will have three more turns at the table. Then, if the referee still feels that

there is no progress towards a conclusion, he will declare the rack a stalemate and the original breaker of

the rack will break again.

5.15 END OF GAME

On the opening break, the game is considered to have commenced once the cue ball has been struck by

the cue tip. The 1-ball must be legally contacted on the break shot. The game ends at the end of a legal

shot which pockets the 9-ball, or when a player forfeits the game as the result of a foul.