9 ball pool rules

How to play 9 ball pool

The game consists of nine numbered balls from the number 1 to 9 and a white ball, which is the cue ball. The goal is to pocket the 9 ball through a legal shot.

In each shot the white ball must hit first the lower numbered ball on the table. As long as this happens, the balls can be pocketed in any order.

If one of the players pocket a ball through a legal shot, he will keep playing until he misses a shot, does a foul or end up winning the game pocketing the 9 ball.

If one of the player misses, the next player must do his shot from the cue ball’s current position. If that next player starts his turn due to a foul, he can put the cue ball anywhere on the table, being free to shoot from any place.

Match start and initial shot

The numbered balls are initially placed in a diamond shape, with the 9 ball in the middle.

To start the shot, the cue ball is placed behind the head string. After the first shot, in case the 9 ball is pocketed, the match is restarted.

In case no other ball is pocketed, if atleast 4 balls to not hit the rails, it’s considered a foul.

Fouls

If a player commits a foul, not only he loses his turn, the opponent will have the possibility to put the cue ball wherever he wants.

It’s considered a foul when:

• The white cue ball is pocketed.
• The white cue ball does not hit any other ball.
• No ball is pocketed and none hits a rail (not counting the cue ball).
• The first ball hit by the cue ball is not the lower numbered of the ones present on the pool table.
• In the breaking turn (match start), at least 4 balls do not hit a rail.

Winning the match

Wins the match the player that manages to pocket the 9 ball through a legal shot different than the breaking shot.

Losing the match

Loses the match the player that pockets the 9 ball through an illegal shot different than the breaking shot.

Web and apps

The Casual Arena’s online pool games are available to play through web browser and through iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android apps. Every player connects to the same online platform, compete for the same ranking and can interact and chat, but the web players cannot play against the mobile and tablet players because the physics of both engines are different.

The players that use a web browser can play against other players that also do it. The Android, iPhone and iPad players can play against other players on Android, iPhone and iPad. In particular, Android and iOS players can play against each other.

This restriction only affects the pool games. The rest of the Casual Arena games can be played against anyone, no matter the platform.

9 ball pool rooms

In Casual Arena’s pool games there are 5 rooms: Passport, Tourist, Priority, Business and Luxury, which count with different bet values. Every room is accessible after a certain level by all players. Click on the following link to play 9 ball pool online.

Prizes, chips and points

This is the points distribution according to the result and room: