How to Play Different Pool Games

There are many different pool, or billiards, games. Eight ball is undoubtedly the most recognizable pool game where to win the game a player must make all of his balls plus the eight ball into the table's pockets. However, lesser known games like nine ball or the party game "Screw Your Neighbor" can be just as much, if not more fun.

Things You'll Need

  • Pool table
  • Rack of pool balls
  • Pool cues
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Instructions

  1. Nine Ball

    • 1

      Rack the balls in correct order before beginning the game. The correct way to rack for nine ball is, the one ball in front, the two and three balls in the second row, the four, nine and five balls in the third row, the six and seven balls in the fourth row, and finally the eight ball opposite the one.

    • 2

      Line up the one ball with the second dot on the table to position it for the break. Usually there is a circular mark on the table, but if there is not just make sure the rack is centered with the one ball and second dot lined up.

    • 3

      Shoot the break by hitting the cue ball from behind the second dot on the opposite side of the table. If the shooter makes a ball in on the break, he continues to shoot until he misses.

    • 4

      Make the balls in order from one to nine. If a ball is made out of order, it is the next player's turn.

    • 5

      The game is won by being the player who successfully makes the nine ball into the pocket.

    Screw Your Neighbor

    • 6

      Place the numbers one,two and three in a hat and allow the three players to pick so that each gets only one. The number one means that player's ball will be one through five. The number two means that player's balls will be six through 10 and the number three player's balls will be 11 through 15.

    • 7

      Allow the player who picked number one to goes first and shoot the break. The object of the game is to make the other two player's balls in the pockets while leaving your balls on the table.

    • 8

      Allow player one to continue to shoot until he does not make one of the other player's ball in the pocket. Alternate turns after every missed shot.

    • 9

      Take one ball out of the pocket for each player who is not the shooter and place it in the center of the table, if the shooter scratches during the turn. This happens when the shooter knocks the cue ball into one of the pockets.

    • 10

      Win the game by being the only player with balls left on the table.