8 BALL

The balls are racked as follows: a. in a triangle with the apex ball on the foot spot; b. the rows behind the apex are parallel to the foot string; c. the 8 ball is in the middle of the row of three balls; d. the remaining balls are placed at random, except that the ball at each rear corner of the rack must be of a different group from the other rear corner (the left/right orientation those two balls does not matter).

10 BALL

The balls are racked as follows: a. in a triangle shape with the 1-ball as the apex ball on the foot spot; b. the rows behind the apex are parallel to the foot string; c. the 10 ball is in the middle of the row of three balls; d. the 2 ball and 3 ball are placed on the ends of the last row (left/right orientation does not matter); e. the remaining balls are placed at random.

8 BALL

Begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string. The break is not a called shot, so you may not call a ball or a safety on the break. There’s no requirement for the cue ball to contact any particular ball first. You must legally pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact one or more cushions or it is an illegal break. If you legally pocket a ball, then you continue to shoot. If you don’t legally pocket a ball or you commit a foul, then your inning ends.

If you intend to break softly, then you must notify your opponent and allow them the opportunity to call a referee to watch your break. If you fail to notify your opponent, then you’ll receive a mandatory warning on the first offense. Second and subsequent offenses are fouls.

If your break is illegal, with or without a foul, your inning ends. Your opponent may: a. re-rack the balls and break; b. require you to re-rack the balls and break again. The game cannot continue until there’s a legal break. If your opponent’s break is illegal and there is also a foul, then the illegal break takes precedence and you must choose either option (a) or (b) above. 4. If you foul on a legal break and don’t pocket the 8 ball, then your inning ends and any other pocketed object balls remain pocketed. Your opponent receives ball in hand anywhere on the table.

In all cases on the break, jumped object balls other than the 8 ball are not returned to the table except in the case of a re-rack. If the 8 ball is jumped, then it is spotted.

10 BALL

You begin the break with ball in hand behind the head string. The break isn’t a called shot, and you may not call a ball on the break. The cue ball must contact the 1 ball before any other ball or cushion, or it’s a foul. You must either legally pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact one or more cushions, or it’s a foul.

If you legally pocket a ball, then you continue to shoot. Your inning ends if you don’t legally pocket a ball or if you foul.

If you legally pocket the 10 ball on the break, then it’s spotted and your inning continues. 4. Jumped object balls other than the 10 ball aren’t returned to the table. If the 10-ball is jumped, then it’s spotted.

If you intend to break softly, then you must notify your opponent and allow them the opportunity to call a referee to watch your break. If you fail to notify your opponent, then you’ll receive a mandatory warning on the first offense. Second and subsequent offenses are fouls.

8 BALL

Unlike other pool formats, pocketing the 8ball on the break in BCAPL is not a win. The 8 or 10ball must be pocketed on a called shot. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break and do not foul, you may: a. have the 8-ball spotted and accept the table in position; b. re-rack the balls and break again. If you pocket the 8-ball on the break and foul, your inning ends. Your opponent may: a. have the 8-ball spotted and take ball in hand anywhere on the table; b. re-rack the balls and break. 3. If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, and it is not noticed until after another shot has been taken, the game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking again.

10 BALL

Unlike 9 Ball, 10 Ball was designed to be a call shot game. As such, if you pocket the 10 on the break, it is spotted and your inning continues with the cue ball where it lays. There’s no ability to re-rack because rotational games include the option for a push-out shot to start racks. See the push-out topic below for more information.

In BCAPL 8 Ball, the table is always open on the shot after the break. It remains open until groups are established. When the table is open, all object balls except the 8 ball are legal object balls. For combination shots, a ball of one group may be contacted first to pocket a ball of the other group. The 8 ball may be part of such a combination if it isn’t the first ball contacted by the cue ball.

OPEN TABLE AFTER BREAK

Groups are established when the first object ball is legally pocketed on a shot after the break. You’re not obligated to accept any suit pocketed on the break itself. The table remains open. The player legally pocketing the first ball is assigned that group, and the opponent is assigned the other group. You may use one suited ball (e.g., “solids” or “low balls”), in combination, to sink another (e.g., “stripes” or “high balls”) to establish the latter. You cannot establish a group on a safety.

THE RARE INSTANCE

If all balls of either group are pocketed on the break or illegally pocketed before groups are established, either player may legally shoot the 8 ball during their inning. You win the game if you legally pocket the 8 ball on such a shot. Once they’re established, groups can never change for the remainder of that game. If a player shoots the wrong group and no foul is called before the next shot and the player continues to shoot at that group, or if at any time during the game it’s discovered by either player or a referee that the players are shooting the wrong groups, then the game will be replayed with the player who broke the game breaking again. If a game has ended, and the players realize they shot the wrong groups, the game isn’t replayed and the result stands.

In BCAPL 10 Ball, if there was no foul on the break, the player taking the first shot has the option for a push-out. On a push-out: a. you must notify your opponent before the shot and your opponent must acknowledge your intention; b. the cue ball isn’t required to contact the lowest numbered ball first (or any object ball at all); c. no ball is required to contact a cushion; d. all other rules and fouls still apply.

2. Any object balls except the 10 ball that are pocketed on a push-out remain pocketed. If the 10 ball is pocketed, then it’s spotted.

3. After a push-out without a foul, your opponent may: a. accept the table in position and shoot; b. require you to shoot again with the table in position. If you push-out and foul, your opponent receives ball in hand.