Balls pocketed on the break, or as the result of a foul while the table is still open, are not used to assign the suits. The table is "open" at the start of the game, meaning that either player may shoot at any ball. In order to win the game, the player first designates which pocket the 8 ball will be pocketed into and then successfully pockets the 8 ball into that pocket. Once a player reaches exactly 31 points, what is billiards he/she must announce the win for it to be official. A version of the game, played on a pocket billiards table known as artistic pool began in the 1970s, with official competitions starting in 1993. These events are run and organised by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA). FSN New York broadcast of 2006 World Cup of Pool, third quarter-final. The order of the balls should be random, with the exceptions of the 8-ball, which must be placed in the center of the rack (i.e., the middle of the third row), and the two back corner balls, one of which must be a stripe and the other a solid. The balls in the rack are ideally placed so that they are all in contact with one another; this is accomplished by pressing the balls together toward the apex ball.

One person is chosen by some predetermined method (e.g., coin toss, lag, or win or loss of previous game or match) to shoot first, using the cue ball to break the object-ball rack apart. The game of eight-ball arose around 1900 in the United States as a development of pyramid pool, which allows any eight of the fifteen object balls to be pocketed to win. The number of balls used in pool range from one to fifteen depending on the game type. Rule Book: Snooker, Devil's Pool, Billiards, American Pool, Eight Ball, Fifteen Ball, Continuous and Rotation Pool. The rules, as officially codified in the Billiard Congress of America's rule book, were periodically revised in the years following. 78 (September 8, 2009). "Magic Ball Rack Introduction (Perfect Rack Everytime)". September 1, 1916. p. Some leagues and tournaments using the World Standardized Rules may allow smaller sizes, down to 7 by 3.5 ft (2.1 by 1.1 m).

American-style eight-ball rules are played around the world by professionals and in many amateur leagues. BCA Rules Committee (November 1992). Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book. 2014. These are also the rules of the English Pool Association and other national WEPF affiliates. It is made up of small, compressed wood fibers that are sealed into a flat piece for use as pool table playing surfaces. The wood board of the playing surface is nowhere near as heavy as that of a slate table. The regulation size of the table's playing surface is 9 by 4.5 ft (2.7 by 1.4 m), though exact dimensions may vary slightly by manufacturer. If you don’t feel like getting down on all fours to check the table, you may be able to feel inside a pocket. Your friends or family members may not want to venture into the cold garage to play a game of pool with you.

If the 8 ball is pocketed on the break, then the breaker can choose either to re-spot the 8 ball and play from the current position or to re-rack and re-break; but if the cue ball is also pocketed on the break (colloquially referred to as a "scratch") then the opponent is the one who has the choice: either to re-spot the 8 ball and shoot with ball-in-hand behind the head string, accepting the current position, or to re-break or have the breaker re-break. Practice English first without object balls, and then with object balls. Once you get used to using a marked cue ball, you can then imagine the same markings on a regular cue ball, allowing you greater control during gameplay. If the breaker fails to make a successful break-usually defined as at least four balls hitting cushions or an object ball being pocketed-then the opponent can opt either to play from the current position or to call for a re-rack and either re-break or have the original breaker repeat the break. These are used for amateur and professional play. It is popular in amateur and professional competition in the UK, Ireland, Australia and some other countries. It is the second most played professional pool game, after nine-ball, and for the last several decades ahead of straight pool.