Billiards Pool

Billiards Pool is a billiards game that’s played with 15 balls and a cue ball. You can choose between two game variations, 8-ball pool and straight pool. Use the cue stick to strike the white ball and knock the colored balls into the pockets. Don’t forget to save the black 8-ball for last!

How do you play Billiards Pool?
In this sports game, you can choose whether to play alone, with a friend, or practice against the computer. Use the cue stick to hit the white cue ball and make it strike the colored balls.

The aim is to hit the balls in such a way as to break the triangle made up of the colored balls (this is called ‘the break’ or ‘breaking’). You must then try to knock the balls into the pockets placed in the corners (4 pockets) and midway the long sides of the pool table (2 pockets).

Billiards Pool Rules: Playing 8-Ball or Straight Pool
The further rules of the game depend on which version you’ve selected:

How to play 8-Ball Pool
In this version of the game, a player will either play the solids (the balls numbered 1-7) or the stripes (the balls numbered 9-15). After the break, the first ball to be pocketed determines which set of balls the players will play. For example, if the first ball you pocket is a solid, you must then pocket the rest of the solids as well. Your opponent must play the stripes. 

You may only try your hand at the black 8-ball once you’ve pocketed all of your set of object balls (the solids or stripes). The first player to clear their set and pocket the 8-ball wins the game. 

Losing your turn
A player’s turn ends when they miss a shot. However, there are a number of illegal moves that will not only end the player’s turn, but will also award an extra turn to their opponent. These moves include:
- Hitting one of your opponents object balls before you hit your own
- Pocketing one of your opponents object balls
- When you scratch (which is when you accidentally pocket the cue ball)

Instant loss
There are two ways a player can accidentally lose the game instantly:
- Pocketing the 8-ball before clearing away your set of object balls
- Scratching while pocketing or attempting to pocket the 8-ball

Instant win
A player will instantly win the game if they manage to pocket the 8-ball during the break.

How to play Straight Pool
This version of pool is also played with 15 balls and one cue ball, but no distinction is made between solids or stripes. Players can pocket any ball, and the first player to pocket eight balls wins the game. The player will lose their turn if they either fail to pocket any balls or if they scratch.

When was Billiards Pool first published?
This game has been around since at least 2014. While it was first released as a Flash game, this is a more recent and updated HTML5 version of the same title.

Who made Billiards Pool?
This game was created by Axifer.