Ninh explains the Rules of Straight Pool The object of the game is to score a predetermined
amount of points faster than your opponent.
Straight pool, sometimes referred to as 14.1 pool, continuous pool or rack pool is a game
that’s usually played between two people, and is a lesser known variety of pool due
to the popularity of 8 ball and 9 ball pool.
To score a point, you must use a cue to hit a white ball (known as a cue ball), into a
numbered ball and for that ball to go into a designated pocket on the table.
This is known as ‘potting’ or ‘sinking’ the ball.
The table is roughly 9ft by 4.5ft and the object balls are numbered 1 to 15.
There are markings on the table to denote the headstring, the position of the rack of
balls, the head spot, centre spot and this spot which is known as the apex.
To start any match, a lag is used to determine who breaks first.
Both players will hit a cue ball down the table to bounce off the end rail.
The person who can get the cueball closest to the front rail wins the first shot, which
is known as the break.
For a break to be legal, at least 2 balls have to hit the rails of the table and the
cue ball must not go into any pocket.
Straight pool is a call shot game.
This means that you have to announce which ball you intend to sink, and in which pocket.
If you sink the correct ball in the correct pocket, this scores 1 point, and you can continue
to sink another ball.
Sinking the wrong ball, or the right ball in the wrong pocket is a foul, and it’s
the end of your turn.
If you don’t intend to sink any ball, you must call a safety before you play your shot.
The idea is to legally sink as many balls as you can, but if you fail to sink any ball
(or foul) it is the end of your turn and your opponent will be given the chance to do the
same.
When 14 balls have been sunk, they are brought back onto the table, re racked and play continues.
This carries on until one player reaches the predetermined amount of points.
The game is typically played up to 100 points, with 125 points being the standard for world
competitions.
The first player to reach that score, wins.
Go on, tell me what you cannot do in Straight Pool?
Well, You cannot touch any of the balls with anything
except your cue.
You cannot sink the cue-ball, accidentally or otherwise.
You cannot hit any of the balls off the table.
You cannot hit the cueball twice in one stroke.
You cannot sink a ball into the wrong pocket.
You cannot cannot hit a ball you did not designate.
These infractions result in a foul (or a scratch), and you will have points deducted from your
overall score depending on the foul.
That’s basically the rules of straight pool in a nutshell, but there’s a few things
you’ll need to understand before playing or watching a game.
For example: Fouls
Earlier in the video, I mentioned things you cannot do.
These are known as standard fouls, and if you commit any of these, this results in a
1 point deduction from your score.
Unless the cue ball leaves the table somehow, the cue ball must then be played where it
lies following a foul.
If you foul on the break, this results in a two point deduction.
And, if you commit three standard fouls in a row, this results in you losing one point
for each foul, plus an additional 15 point penalty.
This is known as the three foul rule.
Spotting If a ball is sunk by way of a foul, or is
shot off the table – the ball needs to return to the table, but where do you put it?
In general, the ball is placed at the apex spot, but if there’s another ball there,
it’s placed anywhere along this line as close to the apex without touching another
ball.
Racking When 14 balls have been potted, they need
to come back onto the table.
Sometimes it’s not practical to do so, because balls are already in this racking area.
Understanding racking is the most confusing aspect of Straight Pool, but I’ll try and
explain as simply as I can.
If no balls are in this area, the 14 balls are re-racked, minus the top ball over the
apex.
If just the object ball is in this area, the object ball is moved to the head spot, (or
the centre spot if the cueball is in the way).
If just the cue ball is in this area, the cueball is given to the player in hand to
place anywhere behind the headstring, so long as the object ball is in front of this line.
If it’s behind, the ball is placed at the head spot, (or the centre spot if the object
ball is in the way).
If both cue ball and object ball are in this area, all 15 object balls are re-racked and
cue ball is given in hand.
Bank / Combination Shots It is legal to hit either the cueball or the
object ball off rails in order to complete the shot, so long as you announce it.
This is known as a bank shot.
It’s also legal to hit a ball to bounce a completely different ball into a pocket
so long as you make it clear and announce that this is what you intend to do.
This is known as a combination shot.
Straight pool is gaining more popularity worldwide, but it can be quite a long game.
Once you’ve played or watched a few games, the rules will become clear.
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enjoy Straight Pool.
Ninh Ly – www.ninh.co.uk - @NinhLyUK