How to play 8-ball pool
- Choose to play the computer (Easy, Medium or Hard) or a friend taking turns on the same screen. Against the computer, pick who breaks: you, the computer, or each in turn.
- Aim by clicking or dragging on the table: the line shows where the cue ball goes and the circle where it meets the first ball. Set the power, then press Shoot or Space.
- After the break, the first ball you pocket decides your group: solids (1 to 7) or stripes (9 to 15). Pocket all of yours, then the 8 ball to win.
- Keep shooting while you pocket your own balls. Miss and it’s the other player’s turn; foul and they get ball in hand, free to place the cue ball anywhere.
Tips for 8-ball pool
On the break, hit the front ball full with plenty of power to spread the rack. While the table is still open, pick the group with more easy shots and fewer balls stuck in clusters.
To send a ball into a pocket, aim the cue ball at the spot right behind it, on the line from the pocket through the ball; the circle on the aiming line shows that spot. Softer shots leave the cue ball closer to where it was, which makes your next pot easier to plan. When nothing is on, a gentle shot that leaves the cue ball behind other balls can be better than a long chance.
About 8-ball pool
8-ball is the most popular pool game in bars and homes around the world, usually played on a 7, 8 or 9-foot table. This version draws a 9-foot table with balls a little larger than true scale, so shots are easy to see on a phone, where the table stands upright to use the screen. Ball movement follows simple physics: balls roll, slow down, bounce off each other and the cushions, and drop when they reach a pocket.