nineball

Nineball is a discipline of pool played on a billiards table using nine balls numbered 1 through 9 and a cue ball. The objective is to legally pocket the 9-ball by first striking the lowest-numbered ball on the table, requiring precise position play and strategic safety.

The balls are racked in a diamond with the 1-ball at the apex, the 9-ball in the center, and the remaining balls filling the rack. The break is the first shot of a rack, and a player continues their turn as long as they legally pocket balls. On every shot, the cue ball must first contact the lowest-numbered ball on the table; any pocketed ball counts toward continuing the turn, and fouls typically pass the turn to the opponent.

A foul in nineball usually results in the opponent gaining ball-in-hand or other penalties depending on the governing rules. The rack ends when the 9-ball is legally potted, and potting the 9-ball on a legal shot wins the rack.

Governing bodies and prominence: Nineball is governed internationally by the World Pool-Billiard Association and widely regulated by national and regional bodies such as the Billiard Congress of America. It features prominently in professional circuits, including world championships, and is also popular in casual play and billiards halls worldwide.

Strategy and variation: Common tactics include optimizing the break to leave a favorable layout, planning run-outs that pocket balls in numerical order, and employing safeties to control the table. Some tournaments introduce rule variations such as call-shots or different foul consequences, but the core objective remains the same: legally pocket the 9-ball by hitting the 1-ball first.