What are the Rules in Pool - English Pub Rules

The object of the game is to pot all the balls of a single colour and then pot the 8-ball.

When setting up for a break the centre point of the cue ball must be behind the baulk line. Once the break has been made and a ball has been potted the player must continue to play all the other balls of the same colour as the potted ball. If, however, 1 or more of each colour has been potted on the break the player can choose which colour they want to play. If no balls were potted on the break then the other player takes over and they can choose what colour to play.

There are several different types of fouls in standard, pub-rules pool. They are:

The stationary foul: The stationary foul typically results in the opponent being awarded two consecutive shots. A stationary foul is awarded when a player:

• Places the cue ball in front of the baulk line
  
  
• Does not hit a ball of his or her colour
  
  
• Hits an opponent's ball
  
  
• Pots one of their opponent's balls
  
  
• Does not keep at least 1 foot on the floor while shooting
  
  
• Pushes the cue ball with the cue
  
  
• Makes a double hit
  
  
• Does not play away from a touching ball, causing it to move when the cue ball is struck.
  
  
• Touches any ball with their body or clothing
  
  
• Or interferes with the opponent's shot.

The movable foul: If a moveable foul is called the opponent resets the cue ball behind the baulk line and plays. A movable foul happens when a player pots the cue ball or the player sends a ball off the table that does not return on its own.

The loss of frame foul: The loss of frame foul results in the opponent being awarded the game. Loss of frame fouls are awarded if a player pots the 8-ball before all the balls of their colour have been potted, or a player breaches the spirit of the game in a particularly egregious fashion.

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