The
game is played on a pocket
billiard table with six pockets
and with ten balls. In this
game the cue ball is struck
to hit one
or
more of the other nine balls,
which are distinctly
colored and numbered "1" through "9".
In nine ball, on all shots,
a player must cause the cue
ball to contact the lowest
numerical ball on the table
first before the cue ball strikes
any other ball, otherwise it
is considered as a foul.
In this game the object
balls are placed in the diamond
shape and 1 ball is positioned
in the front which is the
lowest. The placement of
the remaining balls is generally
considered to be random.
In league and tournament
play this placement of the
balls is expected to be precise;
if any ball in the rack does
not touch each adjacent ball,
or if the rack is not "straight",
or if the 1 ball is not resting
precisely on the foot spot,
the player may demand re-rack.
But, any ball can be made
during the game as long as
the lowest ball is contacted
in the starting.Players alternate
innings at the table, meaning
play continues by one player
until he or she misses, commits
a foul or pockets the nine
ball for the win.
One person is choosen to
break first (called The Break), & for
that the coin is tossed up
to decide the first player.
If the assigned player fails
to make a legal break, the
rack is re-arranged and the
opposite player may demand
the break.
