When people say billiards they often picture a single game, but many different games are played on the table. In Turkey the favourites are 8-ball (on a pocket table) and three-ball and four-ball (carom games on a table without pockets). In this article we explain the billiards rules of four games in a way beginners can follow.
Basic terms
- Cue ball: the ball you strike with the cue (white, or white or yellow in carom).
- Cushion: the rubber rails around the edge of the table.
- Foul: an illegal shot; the turn passes to your opponent, who in some games may place the ball anywhere.
- Run: you keep shooting as long as you score; when you miss, it is your opponent's turn.
8-ball rules
8-ball is played on a six-pocket table with 15 object balls and a white cue ball.
| Ball | Group |
|---|---|
| 1 – 7 | Solids |
| 9 – 15 | Stripes |
| 8 | The black ball |
- The break: the balls are racked in a triangle and spread with the break shot.
- Choosing groups: after the break the table is "open"; the first legally potted ball decides each player's group (solids or stripes).
- Clear your group: each player tries to pot the seven balls of their own group first. On every shot you must hit a ball from your own group first.
- The black ball: the player who clears their group wins by potting the 8-ball.
Ways to lose the game: potting the 8-ball before clearing your group, or potting the cue ball along with the 8-ball.
Common fouls: potting the cue ball, hitting your opponent's ball first, hitting no ball at all. After a foul your opponent may place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
Three-ball carom: the free game
Three-ball is played on a table without pockets with three balls: two cue balls (white and yellow) and one red ball. Each player has their own cue ball.
- A point: your cue ball touches both other balls.
- You keep shooting while you score; the first to reach the agreed number of points wins.
The free game is the easiest form of carom and ideal for learning ball control.
How to play three-cushion
Three-cushion is the hardest and most prestigious carom game. The rule is one sentence:
Your cue ball must hit the cushions at least three times before it touches the second ball.
It does not matter in which order the cushions are hit or whether the first ball is touched before or after them; what matters is at least three cushions before contact with the second ball. That is why angles and spin are everything in three-cushion. Beginners usually start with matches to 10–15 points.
How to play four-ball
Four-ball is also played on a table without pockets, with two red balls in addition to the two cue balls. With an extra ball on the table, scoring is easier than in free three-ball: your cue ball must touch at least two of the other balls. It is a great game for learning to build runs and keep the balls together.
Spin: the secret of steering the ball
Striking the cue ball away from its centre changes how it moves after contact:
- Top spin (follow): strike the top of the ball; the cue ball keeps rolling forward after contact.
- Back spin (draw): strike the bottom of the ball; the cue ball comes back after contact.
- Side spin: strike the left or right side; the angle changes when the ball hits a cushion. It is the most used technique in three-cushion.
Tips for beginners
- Hit softly at first: a hard shot often costs you control.
- Think about the next shot: where the cue ball stops matters as much as potting the ball.
- Look at the contact point: when aiming, focus on the spot where the object ball should be hit, not on the cue.
- Practise: repeating the same shot again and again is the fastest way to learn the angles.
A free online billiards game: Nova Billiards
The easiest way to try these rules is our free Nova Billiards game. It opens straight in the browser with nothing to install:
- 8-ball, free three-ball, three-cushion and four-ball in one game
- Realistic physics with top, back and side spin
- Aiming guide and cushion reflections
- Play the computer (easy, medium, hard), a friend on the same device, or real opponents online
- A 60-level career and a practice mode
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the 8-ball goes in early? In 8-ball, potting the black before clearing your own group loses the game.
Which is harder, three-cushion or the free game? Three-cushion is much harder. Beginners are advised to learn ball control in the free game first.
Rules can vary slightly between clubs and tournaments; the most common versions are described here.
