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Object of the game
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The object of the pool game is to shoot all your object balls in the table pockets. Balls 1-7 are called solids and balls 9-16 are called stripes. Only then are you allowed to pocket the 8-ball in order to win.
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Breaking the rack
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The player, who initially breaks the rack, will be randomly determined by our system. Afterwards, the turn to break will rotate regardless of who the winner in the previous game was. A legal break can be performed using the cue ball only. In case the break is illegal, the turn passes to the next pool player while all the pocketed balls remain in the appropriate pockets.
In case the breaking player successfully pockets the balls (except the cue and the 8-ball, of course), the next turn is his or hers as well. If he or she fails to do so, the turn passes to the opponent. In any case, the choice between solids and stripes will remain open at the beginning of each turn.
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Choosing between solids and stripes
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The determination of choice between solids and stripes is not made upon break, but rather upon the first pocketing. If the player pocketed a solid and a striped on the same shot, he or she needs to make a choice of the ball category for the next shot. When the choice is still open and the 8-ball is hit, this is considered a foul. In such case, the turn is passed to the player with the ball in hand. All the pocketed balls from the foul turn will still remain in their pockets - thus, the choice will stay open. Pocketing the 8-ball upon an illegal turn will always result in an automatic loss.
As soon as the choice of the ball category is made, hitting the other player's ball first will result in losing your turn. Just like before, all the balls, which were pocketed during the turn, will remain in their pockets and the player, to whom the turn is passed, gets the ball in hand.
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What is considered legal?
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A shot will be considered legal when:
- The player, to whom the turn belongs, hits one or more balls in his or her category first, prior to hitting a ball in his or her opponent's category or hitting the 8-ball.
- The cue ball touches the rail before hitting the ball in the proper category.
A shot will be considered illegal when:
- The cue ball is pocketed. This is also known as a scratch.
- The 8-ball is the first to be hit by the cue ball, unless there is no other option.
- A ball in your opponent's category is the first to be hit by the cue ball.
- Neither a rail nor a ball in your category (or any other legal location) is hit by the cue ball.
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The consequences of performing an illegal shot
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In most cases, when an illegal shot is performed, it is considered a foul. Therefore, the turn is passed on to the other player. That player will also receive the ball in hand - meaning that he or she can put it on any desired location and aim their shot anywhere. In case the ball is in hand of a player, who performed an illegal break, that player is restricted to exclusively putting it behind the head string and aiming forward. In any case, when a ball from the opposing category is pocketed illegally, it will stay pocketed.
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Getting to the 8-ball shot
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After all the object balls are pocketed and the only one remaining is the 8-ball, neither can a scratch nor a foul lead to a loss - however, the opponent will get the ball in hand. A pocket must be assigned upon this stage.
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Turn definition
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A player can get many consecutive shots within his or her turn. As long as that player maintains legal hits and pockets his type of balls, as described above, he or she maintains the turn. In case an illegal shot or no shot is performed, the turn is passed on to the opponent. Should a player pocket a ball in his or her opponent's category, it will remain pocketed and the ball in hand is passed to the opponent. Pocketing a ball within the opposing category after pocketing a ball within the proper category ends the turn, but is not considered a foul.
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Automatic loss
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An automatic loss of the game is issued when:
- A foul of any kind is committed upon pocketing the 8-ball.
- The 8-ball is shot to a pocket, which was not designated by the appropriate player.
- The 8-ball is pocketed when there are still other balls on the table.
- The 8-ball is pocketed together with the last ball of the appropriate category.
The mere scratching or committing a foul upon the turn of playing the 8-ball will not result in losing the game.
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Commissions when playing pool for real money
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The commission is taken from the stake sum plus 0.5% for each additional point in a game over 1 (the winner pays both).
Up to $20:
base commission: 4.9%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 9.9%
Example: Diane and Julia play a match up to 3 points with a stake of $10. Diane wins the series 3-1.The commission for 3 games is a base commission of 4.9%+2*0.5%=5.9% The commission from each player is
$10*5.9%=$0.59 (the winner pays both their commissions). $8.82 will be added to Diane's balance and $10 will be deducted from Julia's balance.
$20 up to $100:
base commission (for 1 point): 4.4%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 8.9%
$100 and over:
base commission (for 1 point): 3.9%, every point: +0.5%, max commission: 7.9%
Play89™ encourages matches between players with a similar rating level, therefore:
A maximum of $5 commission when the ratings of both players are over 1650.
Decrease of 50% in commissions if the ratings of both players are over 1700.
Increase of 25% in commissions if the rating of one of the players is less than 1620.
And:
Increase of 50% in commissions when the rating difference is 100 to 199.
Increase of 100% in commissions when the rating difference is 200 or more.
Increase of 150% in commissions when the rating difference is 250 or more.
Increase of 200% in commissions when the rating difference is 300 or more.
The following applies only when the last 4 rules apply as well:
-Increased commission will not be applied if both players have a rating higher than 1650 or less than 1550.
-A rating lower than 1400 is considered as 1400 and displayed as 1400*.
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Restricted activities
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- You may not play if you are a resident of the following US states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Vermont or any other state or territory, in which you are prohibited by law to participate in this game or win any promotional prizes.
- You may not open more than one account per person, computer and/or address. Each individual account is for the sole and exclusive use of the registered account holder and therefore, cannot be used by any other party.
- You may not use any software or hardware to assist play. The site will monitor any attempt to use such restricted aids, and shall immediately terminate your account upon discovery of such use.
- You may not consult with or help other players while they are playing, by using the chat feature, or in any other way.
- You may not intentionally lose games or try to otherwise manipulate your rating or achieve a competitive advantage.
- You may not deliberately transfer money between accounts.
- You may not harass other participants, or post objectionable material, such as using any offensive and/or racial language and/or sending rapid messages in an attempt to break your opponent's concentration and therefore, ruin his or her playing ability. The solicitation of sexual content of any kind will result in immediate blocking of all access to Play89™'s services.
- You may not send any "spam" e-mails or messages, including (without limitation): (i) any unsolicited email to a recipient (ii) repeatedly posting messages, which are irrelevant to the discussion (iii) solicitation of any goods or services.
- You may not disconnect on purpose while in a game or allow the global timer to run out.
THE SITE WILL MONITOR ANY PERFORMANCE OF ANY OF THE RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE AND IN ANY EVENT THE COMPANY DEEMS, AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT SUCH RESTRICTED ACTIVITY WAS PERFORMED IT MAY IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE YOUR ACCOUNT, WHETHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY, WITHOUT NOTICE AND THE BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT MAY BE FORECLOSED BY THE COMPANY AND USED TO FINANCE THE COMPANY'S COSTS OF MONITORING, PREVENTING, AND DEALING WITH ENFORCEMENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES.
Upon termination of your account, your membership in the site will be canceled. You will be prohibited from any future membership and you will not be permitted to participate in any games.
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