8 Ball Billiard

8 Ball Billiards is a classic pool game that’s all about sinking your assigned balls—solids (1-7) or stripes (9-15)—before pocketing the black 8 ball to win. Played on a six-pocket table with a cue stick and 16 balls (15 numbered plus a white cue ball), it’s a two-player showdown rooted in early 20th-century American pool halls. You start with a break: rack the balls in a triangle, 8 ball in the center, and smash them from behind the head string—legal if you pocket a ball or send four to the rails. After the break, the table’s open until someone sinks a ball, claiming solids or stripes. From there, call your shots (ball and pocket, no need for fancy details), hit your group first, and keep going until you clear your set. Then, call the 8 ball’s pocket and sink it—nail it, you win; miss or foul, and your opponent gets a crack. The vibe’s simple but tense—think clean felt, clacking balls, and that moment of silence before the 8 drops. Fouls like scratching (cue ball in a pocket) or hitting the wrong ball first give your opponent ball-in-hand anywhere on the table, so precision matters. It’s chill enough for beginners—lots of balls to aim at early on—but the endgame’s a nail-biter. How many shots do you think you’d need to clear the table and drop that 8?