How to Play Octagon Bumper Pool

Bumper pool is a popular variation of billiards that involves a rectangular or octagonal pool table with 12 or 14 bumpers situated on the table. These bumpers are knobs that stick up from the table and obstruct the path of what would otherwise be a straight shot. The rules for bumper pool are the same regardless of whether it is played on an octagonal or rectangular table. Octagonal tables are particularly popular, however, because they are more compact than their rectangular counterparts.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 red balls
  • 4 white balls
  • 1 red marked ball
  • 1 white marked ball
  • 2 cue sticks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the balls on their designated spots on the bumper pool table. There are five designated spots on each side of the table --- place the red balls on one side and the white balls on the other. Place the marked balls on the spot in front of each of the pockets.

    • 2

      Attempt to shoot your marked ball into your pocket. Your pocket is the one located on your opponent's side of the table. Both players attempt to do this simultaneously. If both shots are sunk, both players continue shooting with their other balls from the spot from where they shot your marked ball until one or both players misses her shot. If both players sink all their balls without missing, the game ends in a draw.

    • 3

      Determine whose turn it is. If one player sunk her shot and the other didn't, it is the first player's turn. If no player sunk her shot, the player whose marked ball is closest to her pocket takes her turn next.

    • 4

      Shoot the marked ball into your pocket if it is your turn. Continue shooting until you fail to shoot a ball into your pocket. It is now your opponent's turn; she will keep shooting until she fails to shoot a ball into her pocket.

    • 5

      Alternate turns until one player has sunk all five of her balls. This player is the winner.