PBL Rules

1. Rack

• Fifteen object balls are racked in a triangle with the 8-ball in the center.
• Remaining balls are random. Rack tight with the apex ball on the foot spot.

2. The Break

• The break is not a called shot. No ball or pocket may be called on the break.
• Cue ball starts in the kitchen.
• Legal break: at least one object ball pocketed or at least four object balls contact a rail.
• Any object ball legally pocketed allows the breaker to continue. The table remains open.
• 8-ball on break without scratch: 8 spots; breaker continues.
• 8-ball on break with scratch: 8 spots; incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.
• Break scratch without the 8: incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.
• Illegal break: opponent has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.
• The 8-ball on the break is neither a win nor a loss.

3. Open Table & Groups

• The table is open after the break regardless of balls pocketed.
• Groups are established only when a player legally pockets a called ball in the called pocket after the break.
• While open, any stripe or solid may be contacted first; the 8-ball may not be contacted first.

4. Call Ball & Pocket

• After the break, call the ball and pocket. The route does not matter.
• Banks, kicks, combinations, caroms and rails do not have to be called.
• Called ball in called pocket: shooter continues.
• Unintended balls stay down, but do not continue the turn unless the called ball was also made correctly.
• No slop wins on the 8-ball.

5. Legal Shot

• After groups are established, the shooter must contact their group first.
• After legal contact, a ball must be pocketed or the cue ball/object ball must contact a rail.
• After clearing the group, the 8-ball becomes the legal object ball.

6. Fouls

• PBL 8-Ball uses cue-ball fouls only.
• Fouls include scratch, cue ball off table, wrong first contact, no ball/rail after legal contact, illegal 8-ball first contact, double-hit/push, or shooting while balls are moving.
• Penalty after the break: cue-ball-in-hand anywhere. Opening-break scratches remain cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.

7. Moved Object Balls

• Immediately notify the opponent if an object ball is accidentally moved.
• The opponent chooses to leave it or restore it. The shooter may not restore it without approval.
• Properly reported accidental movement is not automatically a foul. Intentionally moving a ball without notification is a foul.
• Interference with a moving ball, or a moving ball crossing the path previously occupied by the moved ball, is a foul.

8. Pocketed Balls

• Legally pocketed balls and unintended pocketed balls remain down.
• The shooter continues only when the called ball is legally pocketed in the called pocket, except on the opening break.

9. The 8-Ball

• After clearing the group, call the pocket for the 8-ball.
• Legal 8 in the called pocket wins.
• Loss: 8 made early, 8 in wrong pocket, 8 knocked off table, or scratch while pocketing the 8.

10. No Three-Foul Rule

There is no three-consecutive-foul loss rule in PBL 8-Ball.

1. Rack

• Nine balls in a diamond. 1-ball on the foot spot; 9-ball in the center; others random. Rack tight.

2. The Break

• Cue ball starts in the kitchen and the breaker must contact the 1-ball first.
• Legal break: one object ball pocketed or at least four object balls contact a rail.
• Any legally pocketed object ball allows the breaker to continue.
• Scratch on break: incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.
• Illegal break: incoming player chooses cue-ball-in-hand anywhere or rerack and take the break.

3. 9-Ball on the Break

• A 9-ball pocketed on a legal break wins the game.
• If the 9 is pocketed with a cue-ball scratch, the 9 spots and the incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.

4. Order of Play

• The lowest-numbered ball remaining must be contacted first.
• The lowest ball does not have to be the pocketed ball.
• Combinations, caroms, banks and kicks are allowed.
• No ball or pocket has to be called. If the lowest ball is contacted first and the shot is otherwise legal, any legally pocketed ball counts.

5. Winning

• Legally pocketing the 9-ball wins. The 9 and pocket do not have to be called.
• The route does not matter; combinations, caroms, banks and kicks are legal if the lowest-numbered ball is contacted first and no foul occurs.

6. Legal Shot & Fouls

• Contact the lowest-numbered ball first, then pocket a ball or drive the cue ball/object ball to a rail.
• Fouls include scratch, cue ball off table, wrong first contact, no pocket/rail after legal contact, double-hit/push, or shooting while balls are moving.
• Penalty: incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere, including after an opening-break scratch.

7. Push Out

• Immediately after a legal break, the player taking the first shot may declare PUSH OUT.
• No lowest-ball contact or rail is required. If the 9 is made, it spots.
• The opponent then accepts the table or gives the shot back.
• A scratch on a push out is a foul: cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.

8. Moved Object Balls

• PBL 9-Ball uses cue-ball fouls only. Accidental movement must be reported immediately.
• The opponent chooses to leave or restore the moved ball.
• Intentional movement without notification is a foul.
• Interference with a moving ball, or a moving ball crossing the moved ball's former path, is a foul and results in cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.

9. Balls Off Table

• An object ball off the table is a foul. It remains down except the 9-ball, which spots.
• Incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.

10. No Three-Foul Rule

There is no three-consecutive-foul loss rule in PBL 9-Ball.

1. Rack

• Balls 1-10 are racked in a triangle. The 1-ball is on the foot spot, the 2 and 3 are on the rear corners, and the 10-ball is in the center. Others are random. Rack tight.

2. The Break

• The break is not a called shot. Cue ball starts in the kitchen and the breaker must contact the 1-ball first.
• Legal break: one object ball pocketed or at least four object balls contact a rail.
• All balls made on the break stay down except the 10-ball, which immediately spots.
• The 10-ball on the break does not win.
• Break scratch: incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.

3. After the Break & Push Out

• The player taking the first shot after a legal break may shoot normally or declare PUSH OUT.
• On a push out, lowest-ball contact and a rail are not required. The 10-ball spots if pocketed.
• After the push out, the opponent accepts the table or gives the shot back.
• Scratch on a push out: cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.

4. Order of Play

• The lowest-numbered ball remaining must be contacted first on every normal shot.
• The lowest ball does not have to be the pocketed ball.
• Combinations, caroms, banks and kicks are legal.

5. Call Ball & Pocket — No Luck

• The intended ball and pocket must be called. The route does not matter.
• The shooter continues only when the called ball is legally pocketed in the called pocket.
• There are no lucky or slop shots in PBL 10-Ball.

6. Accidentally Pocketed Balls

• Uncalled balls or balls made in unintended pockets remain down, except the 10-ball.
• If the called ball is not made correctly, the shooter's turn ends.
• If the called ball is made correctly, the shooter continues even if additional balls fall; those additional balls stay down except the 10.
• An illegally or accidentally pocketed 10-ball spots.

7. Winning

• The 10-ball may be legally pocketed at any point if the lowest-numbered ball is contacted first, the 10-ball and pocket are called, and no foul occurs.
• A legal combination, carom, bank or kick on the called 10-ball wins.

8. Fouls

• Normal shot: contact the lowest-numbered ball first, then pocket a ball or drive the cue ball/object ball to a rail.
• Fouls include scratch, cue ball off table, wrong first contact, no pocket/rail, double-hit/push, or shooting while balls are moving.
• Penalty after the break: cue-ball-in-hand anywhere. Opening-break scratch: cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.

9. Moved Object Balls

• PBL 10-Ball uses cue-ball fouls only. Accidental movement must be reported immediately.
• The opponent chooses whether the ball stays or is restored.
• Intentional movement without notification is a foul.
• Interference with a moving ball, or a moving ball crossing the moved ball's former path, is a foul.

10. Balls Off Table / Three Fouls

• An object ball off the table is a foul and remains down except the 10-ball, which spots. Incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand anywhere.
• There is no three-consecutive-foul loss rule in PBL 10-Ball.

1. Object & Rack

• Each player is assigned one foot-end corner pocket. First player to legally score 8 balls wins a standard game.
• All 15 balls are racked tightly in a triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot; balls may be random.

2. Opening Break

• Cue ball begins in the kitchen. The breaker must make a legal One Pocket break.
• The cue ball must contact an object ball and at least one object ball must then contact a rail.
• If any object ball is pocketed on the break, the game is reracked and the same player breaks again.
• No points are awarded for balls made on the break.

3. Legal Shot & Scoring

• Any object ball may be contacted first. After contact, a ball must be pocketed or the cue ball/object ball must contact a rail.
• Balls and pockets do not have to be called.
• Each ball legally pocketed in the shooter's pocket scores one point; multiple scoring balls count.
• A ball made in the opponent's pocket scores for the opponent. Neutral-pocket balls are spotted.

4. Fouls & Owed Balls

• Each foul carries a one-ball penalty.
• If the player has a positive score, one point is deducted and a previously scored ball is spotted.
• If the player is at zero, the score becomes -1. Additional unpaid fouls may move the score further negative.
• Negative scores are balls owed and must be satisfied before accumulating a positive score.

5. Negative-Ball Cancellation

• PBL uses negative-ball cancellation. Equal negative amounts owed by both players cancel each other.
• Example: Player 1 is -1. Player 2 fouls while at 0. Instead of Player 2 becoming -1, the two owed balls cancel and both return to 0.
• If Player 1 is -2 and Player 2 fouls from 0, one owed ball cancels from each side: Player 1 becomes -1 and Player 2 remains 0.
• Cancellation applies only to negative/owed balls and does not erase positive points.

6. Cue-Ball Scratch

• A scratch carries the normal one-ball penalty.
• Incoming player has cue-ball-in-hand in the kitchen.

7. Spotting / Balls Off Table

• Spot balls on the long string beginning at the foot spot; if occupied, place them directly behind it toward the foot rail as close as possible without touching.
• Neutral-pocket balls, owed-ball payments and balls knocked off the table are spotted.
• Knocking an object ball off the table is also a foul with the normal one-ball penalty.

8. Moved Object Balls

• PBL One Pocket uses cue-ball fouls only. Accidental movement must be reported immediately.
• The opponent chooses whether the ball stays or is restored.
• Intentional movement without notification is a foul.
• Interference with a moving ball, or a moving ball crossing the moved ball's former path, is a foul.

9. Intentional Fouls

• Strategic intentional fouls are permitted and carry the standard one-ball foul penalty.
• A strategic foul does not permit moving balls by hand, equipment, or any method outside a legitimate pool shot.

10. Winning

• First player to legally reach 8 balls wins a standard game.
• The winning ball must be legally pocketed in the player's assigned pocket.
• Outstanding foul penalties and owed balls must be accounted for before a player can win.