A friend asked me for a little help putting together a simple and reduced set of rules for the new pool table (see pink custom pool table). These rules are based around the popular 8-ball game, the USA style with slightly larger pockets and balls is the most common around Southeast Asia and Thailand. Things can get a little competitive around a pool table, so it's important to come up with a clear set of house guidelines to keep the game fun and disputes down. Without further ado, these are what I came up with, and then reduced as much as possible so it's just a couple of minutes read. All is my own work, apart from the humorous image of an artwork (link included).
The design follows the name and theme of the restaurant, 'Cowboy'.
I found a humorous image to underlay the rules and make something entertaining and fun for the bar/restaurant environment.
Cowboy pooling is a painting by Sabina Bonifazi
Perhaps others out there might need a set of rules for their own table, so I decided to publish them here, free to use.
COWBOY POOL RULES
1 RACK THE BALLS
- Place the yellow 1 ball at the top of the triangle. Alternate the rest at random, 8-ball goes on the center spot.
2 PERSON TO BREAK:
- Previous winner, or if no previous, coin toss.
3 BREAK SHOT:
- A legal Break is played from behind the top line of the table. At least 2 balls must hit rails, (any balls), OR black or cue ball is potted, it is a foul break, and a re-rack is permissible.
- Regardless which balls are potted on a break, table is still open.
4 PLAY TO POCKET YOUR OWN BALLS
- First player to purposely pocket a ball, sticks with that set; spots (1-7) or stripes (9-15). Player can aim at either set when table remains open.
5 FOULS
- ONE SHOT play anywhere on the table in any direction.
- It is a foul to hit an opponent’s ball before your own.
6 NO SKILL SHOTS
- Potting opponents’ ball is a foul.
- Not hitting at least one rail with any ball (cue ball included) on any shot.
7 BALL ON FLOOR
- Foul and ball is spotted to center foot spot or just below.
8 ONE FOOT ON THE FLOOR
- Player must shoot with at least one foot contacting the floor at all times, as long as there is a bridge available.
9 WINNER
- First to legally pot all their own object balls then the black 8-ball.
- When on the 8-ball only, player must nominate a pocket.
- Pocketing the 8-ball on non-nominated pocket is a loss.
- If the cue ball is also potted (scratched) when the 8-ball is potted, it is a loss.
- 8-ball must be a separate shot, potting your last object ball and the 8-ball in one shot is a loss.
- Any Other foul on the 8-ball (i.e., missed contact, cue-ball leaves table) is ball in hand to the other player.
End of rules - Hope you found them enlightening, perhaps inspirational to get out and play some of this excellent game!
Screenshot of the illustrator file with the work in progress.