Billiards
You break. We keep the race.
In 8-ball or 9-ball, Matchito counts the racks and knows whose break it is.
Score a gameOne rack, one tap.
Tap the color of the player who won the rack. Matchito gives the break to the other one. Try it!
- Race to 5 racks
- The break alternates
- 8-ball or 9-ball
- Pick billiards, and name the two players.
- After each rack, tap the color of the player who won it.
- At 5 racks, the match ends. In between, Matchito shows who breaks next.
The rules, in short.
What the World Pool-Billiard Association’s rules say, and nothing more.
- Race
The match
You count racks. The match is played to the number of racks set by the event.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 2.10 - Lag
Who breaks
Both players send a ball to the far cushion at the same time. Whoever ends closer to the head cushion on the way back chooses who breaks. After that, the break alternates.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 1.2 and 1.3 - 7
8-ball
Each player has a group of 7 balls, 1 to 7 or 9 to 15, and calls their shots. They must pocket them all before the 8.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4 and 4.6 - 8
Losing at 8-ball
You lose the rack if you pocket the 8 on a foul, before clearing your group or in an uncalled pocket, or if you knock it off the table. The break is an exception.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4.8 - 9
9-ball
The balls are played in order, lowest to highest. Legally pocketing the 9 wins the rack.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 5 and 5.5 - 3
Three fouls
In 9-ball, 3 fouls in a row in the same rack lose it. The referee warns a player who is on two. 8-ball doesn’t have this rule.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 3.13 and 5.8 - Open
The open table
In 8-ball, after the break, the table is open: you call your ball, and if you pocket it legally, its group becomes yours. If not, the table stays open and play passes to your opponent.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4.3 and 4.4
The rack, in one press.
One press per rack won, on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. ⏯ undoes the last rack.
The questions people ask.
How do you play billiards?
In 8-ball, each player pockets their group of 7 balls, then the 8. In 9-ball, you play the balls in order and the 9 wins. The match is won on a number of racks.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 2.10, 4 and 5How many balls are used in 8-ball and 9-ball?
In 8-ball, 15 numbered balls and the cue ball. In 9-ball, 9 balls, 1 to 9, and the cue ball.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4 and 5What happens if you pocket the 8 on the break?
It’s not a foul. The breaker chooses: respot the 8 and play the table as it lies, or re-break.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4.3Who breaks in billiards?
The winner of the lag chooses who breaks the first rack. After that, the break alternates from one rack to the next.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 1.2 and 1.3What happens after a foul?
The opponent comes to the table with ball in hand: they place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4.9 and 5.7What is a legal break in 8-ball?
If no ball is pocketed, at least four balls must reach a cushion. If not, your opponent chooses: accept the table as it lies, re-rack and break, or have you break again.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 4.3 (d)What if the cue ball goes in on the break?
It’s a foul. Your opponent chooses: accept the table as it lies, or take the cue ball in hand behind the head string.
WPA, Rules of Play, in force from October 21, 2026, 3.1 and 4.3 (h)