in the state of boredom I am, I just did some perusing around and discovered that half of the rules I've been playing pool with are incorrect, and that there is no standard set.

There isn't even a standard ball set up!

I've always racked up like this (red being X, yellow being O)
X
O X
X B O
O X O X
X O X O O



X this is official EPA rules
O X
X B O
O X O X
X O O X O

(3 different sets of official rules available here http://www.arseweb.com/rupe/pool/uk_rules.html )

I shall post my rules, and correct me with your personal corrections

no two shots on black
push ball allowed
shoot from the D and only down the table
no relocation of cueball after a foul
only claim colours once somethings been potted
no break rules - if its a bad break its just unlucky
they're all apparently "incorrect"

I can help you here as I have the riley 8 ball pool rules to hand,

and I found out some time ago that some of the stuff we traditionally play in sheffield is actually just what we have always done in pubs.

If you go to other parts of the country their tables often vary, and so do their rules. In some placed there is no D and you place the cue ball anywhere in the first 3rd of the table.

...........R
.........Y..R ..................... R = Red
.......R..B..Y ..................... Y = Yellow
.....Y..R..Y..R .................... B = Black
...R..Y..R..Y..Y

That is the riley and as far as I am aware Sheffield method of racking the balls.

Whoever told you those rules aren't right is clearly a muppet... They look pretty accurate to me.

Originally posted by muddycoffee


...........R
.........Y..R ..................... R = Red
.......R..B..Y ..................... Y = Yellow
.....Y..R..Y..R .................... B = Black
...R..Y..R..Y..Y



Thats how i've always racked them.

The rules i used to play: (don't play much UK 8 ball now)

Break from anywhere behind the head string.
If the cue ball is potted shoot from the D.
One shot on the black

I also used to say that the 8 ball on the break wins as you can't get the bloody thing back without forking out for another game. (plus i seem to have a knack of getting the 8 in off the snap :D )

I've always found that everyone you play will have there own set of rules what they play to. The best thing to do is agree on everything before the game!

my ex used to play for various teams around sheffield's pubs.

There were different rules played to on different nights, and woe betide the person who forgot to "play Monday-night-rules on a monday night match!"

One of the nights (mondays I think) had a rule that "a snooker had to come off a cushion" or something.

bloonin' complicated!

I posted a link to the 3 official tournament rulings, check them out. I've never played pool like any of them.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I can help you here as I have the riley 8 ball pool rules to hand,

and I found out some time ago that some of the stuff we traditionally play in sheffield is actually just what we have always done in pubs.

If you go to other parts of the country their tables often vary, and so do their rules. In some placed there is no D and you place the cue ball anywhere in the first 3rd of the table.

...........R
.........Y..R ..................... R = Red
.......R..B..Y ..................... Y = Yellow
.....Y..R..Y..R .................... B = Black
...R..Y..R..Y..Y

That is the riley and as far as I am aware Sheffield method of racking the balls.

Iv just moved over from lancashire and in the league i play/used to play for we played BAPTO rules. Same racking up muddycoffe shows.

Other rules:

Breaker always nominates...weather he fouls or not.
2 shots dont carry.
2 shots on black
Delibirate fouls allowed
After a foul if you choose to move the white it can only be placed in the D
Free ball with 2 shots
Can shoot any direction that takes ya fancy
Touching ball;
Touching Yours: play away doesnt matter what you hit

Touching Theres: play away and have to hit yours

In a league match if you want the white after a foul, you have to ask the ref, if it goes down a pocket you have to ask the ref to grab it from the hole thing lol!!

they sound like very sensible rules.

there all ok by me except the deliberate foul one, to me it just seems a little bit like cheating.

I have (and opponents) made deliberate fouls in the past. sometimes its the only way to play a shot. I dont know.

It's easier than having to determine whether a foul is deliberate or not though.

i have sometimes, cos i had too, but iv played players who when iv had a pocket covered with my ball have just played theres onto mine and potted it. If your snookered and have to do something along those lines thats fair enough, Just deliberatly potting balls in your way is a bit poor. Most of the players in my league are good enough so not need to do it but some do it every match and its just frustating!

Do you play often?

I dont play very well at all. I very much like pool/snooker but am not very talented. Don't know how to get better other than to practise lots.

iv only played for a few years myself but its something i really enjoy playing.

Fancy meeting up for a few games some time? Only moved to sheffield today lol!

The 'one shot on the black' thing is nonsense. It just rewards bad players.

Many of these extra rules about black has to go into last bag / one shot allowed on black etc. Are purely to make the game last a little longer in my view, and as such are extremely selfish if there is someone waiting to play after you.