RULES & GUIDES
Blackball Pub Rules
Blackball Pub Rules
The Only Rules That Matter After 3 Beers 🍻
The Goal (aka Why You're Here Instead of Therapy)
Pocket all your balls (reds/yellows/blues – solids/stripes), then pot the black into a pocket you actually remembered to call. First one to do it without crying wins.
The Break
Lag or coin toss for break or just shout "I'M BREAKING!" louder.
Cue ball from behind the baulk line.
- Fair break? At least pocket something useful or get two balls over the middle line.
- Black goes in on the break? You absolute legend – you win, you smug bastard.
- White goes in? No biggie, opponent's turn – pub gods are merciful sometimes.
- Shite break with nothing happening? Re-rack, opponent gets two shots to punish you.
Picking Colours – The Most Dramatic Moment of the Night
Table's open. Anything except black is fair game.
First legal pot decides your fate: reds or yellows.
Pot both colours at once? You get to choose – use your moment of power wisely.
After that, opponent's stuck with the leftovers.
Legal Shots
Hit your ball first or the black when you're on it.
Then either pot one of your balls or send something (anything) crashing into a cushion.
Fully snookered? Just graze your ball and call it a day – no one expects miracles after three beers.
The Magical "Two Visits" Rule (aka The Great Equaliser)
Foul? You lose your dignity and your turn.
Opponent gets two whole visits – and on the first one they get a free shot (hit whatever the hell ball they want).
They pot something on the freebie? They carry on like they didn't just cheat fate.
Still miss? Their second visit is normal. Life's unfair, get over it.
Classic Ways to Get a Foul (Pub Villain Starter Pack)
- 🎱 Pot the white (cue ball) – classic amateur hour
- 🎱 Hit opponent's ball first (unless it's free-shot time, then it's tactical genius)
- 🎱 No pot + no cushion strike = sad trombone
- 🎱 Jump the cue ball like you're in a movie (instant loss of cool points)
- 🎱 Push shot (if your tip stays glued longer than seems normal)
- 🎱 Touch a ball with anything except the cue tip (hand, sleeve, beer belly – all count)
Game Over Fouls (Don't Be That Guy)
- 💀 Pot the black too early (before your group is gone)
- 💀 Pot white + black together (the pool equivalent of a mic drop then tripping over the cord)
- 💀 Deliberately foul because you're salty (everyone will know, you’re just being a dick)
- 💀 Pot black without calling the pocket when you're on it (yes, you have to say it out loud like a big boy)
On the Black – The Final Boss
Cleared your group? Nominate the pocket for the black like you're announcing your Oscar speech.
Pot it clean? Nice.
Foul on the black? It gets respotted, opponent gets two visits to make you suffer.
Pot your last ball + black in one glorious shot? If it looked cool you get the victory.
Final Pub Wisdom
- Balls off the table? Spot 'em (white plays from baulk).
- Touching balls? Play away carefully or it's a foul and eternal shame.
- Stalemate? Re-rack and pray for better life choices.
- House rules beat everything – if the barman says "no jumping" after you've already done it, buy him a drink and apologise.
Remember: It's not about the winning… it's about the excuses you make while the table wins again. 🍺
Blackball Official Rules
Blackball is played in a sportsmanlike manner. The referee is the sole judge of fair and unfair play and may take any action necessary to ensure the rules are observed.
- Six-pocket rectangular table
- White cue ball
- Two groups of seven object balls
- Black ball (8-ball)
- Approved cues, rests and accessories
No other equipment is permitted unless ratified by the WPA.
Pot all balls in your group in any order and then legally pot the black ball to win the frame.
The opening break is decided by lag. A legal break requires a ball to be potted or at least two object balls to pass the centre-pocket line. An illegal break results in a free shot plus one visit.
The cue ball must be placed by hand within baulk. Touching another ball during placement is a foul.
The table remains open on the break, fouls, free shots, or when balls from both groups are potted. Groups are assigned once balls from a single group are potted legally.
A legal shot requires initial contact with an on ball, followed by either potting a ball or causing any ball to contact a cushion.
- Potting the cue ball
- Failing to strike an on ball first
- Failing to pot a ball or hit a cushion
- Jump shots or push strokes
- Touching balls illegally
After a foul, the opponent receives a free shot plus one visit. On a free shot, any ball may be struck first and the table remains open.
Multiple balls may be potted in a single shot provided initial contact is with an on ball. The black may be potted in combination to win the frame when legally on.
If the cue ball leaves the table it is played from baulk. Object balls are re-spotted. Balls returning to the table by their own means are not considered fouls.
- Illegal potting of the black
- Potting the black while own balls remain
- Deliberate fouls
- Deliberately distracting an opponent
Players have 60 seconds per shot. A 30-second warning is given. Failure to play within the time limit results in a foul.
Includes foul language, arguing, distracting opponents, slow play, or failure to respect the spirit of the game.
Snooker Rules
International (English) Snooker is played on a 6ft x 12ft table with fifteen reds, six colours and a white cue ball. Two players compete to score more points than their opponent.
- Red – 1
- Yellow – 2
- Green – 3
- Brown – 4
- Blue – 5
- Pink – 6
- Black – 7
Players score points by potting balls legally or receiving foul points from an opponent. The frame ends when all balls are potted, or when only the black remains and a score or foul occurs.
Players lag for the break. The opening player starts with cue ball in hand from the D and must strike a red first. Failure is a foul. After a foul, the opponent may accept the table or require the offender to replay.
While reds remain, players alternate between potting reds and colours. After potting a red, a colour is played. Colours are re-spotted until all reds are gone. Once reds are cleared, colours are potted in order: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black.
The cue ball must strike the correct ball first. It is not necessary for a ball to hit a cushion or be potted after contact. Failure to strike the ball on first is a foul.
Reds are never re-spotted. Colours are returned to their spots unless occupied, in which case the highest available spot is used. If all spots are occupied, the ball is placed as near as possible to its original spot.
A player is snookered when unable to hit any part of the ball on directly. After a foul where the cue ball is snookered, a free ball may be awarded. A referee may call a miss if a genuine attempt to hit the ball on is not made.
If the cue ball is touching another ball, the player must play away. A push stroke occurs when the cue remains in contact with the cue ball after forward motion begins and is a foul.
Jump shots are illegal. Intentionally causing the cue ball to leave the table to clear an obstacle is a foul.
Reds are not re-spotted if jumped off. Colours are re-spotted. Cue ball off table results in ball in hand from the D.
Common fouls include failing to hit the ball on, potting the cue ball, touching balls illegally, push strokes, jump shots, playing out of turn or with both feet off the floor.
Minimum foul is four points or the value of the ball on, whichever is higher. Serious fouls may incur penalties up to seven points.
The frame ends when all balls are legally potted. If scores are tied with only the black remaining, it is re-spotted and played for sudden death.