International 8 Ball Rules Chat

As International 8 Ball Rules have been around for a couple of years now I thought i'd just have a bit of a chat through my thoughts on them.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, have you tried them, do you like them, what do you like / don't like etc?
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I recently retired from being a Professional Pool Player and England International to focus on a commentating and broadcasting career. My aim for this channel is to pass on some of the things I learned along the way, some coaching tips, practice routines and drills, as well as some insights into my broadcasting career.
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[@andypowell7983]

Struggled with the change from old rules to world rules, took ages to get my head around them. But these have been easier to get my head round, although I've retired from pool now. But I could be persuaded to pick my cue up again 🤣🤣. Just some new eyes!!! 🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@SimonTWebb]

Big change from old rules but they are very simple. You only ever hit your ball. I agree WR can be hard to get your head around.

[@lightbreezy]

I’m starting to learn these rules tonight by playing them. Watched loads of matches online with the rule set and think it’s fantastic. With the Australian Eightball Federation’s Nationals and AGM in the next couple of weeks, I hope these rules will be adopted by Australia. There’s some great rule explaining videos out the, including yours.

[@SimonTWebb]

I hope Australia adopt them. I suspect they will now that the WEPF are using them. They are great. And imo very simple to learn and play.

[@lightbreezy]

I’m confident they will. All States voted for them except Victoria and NT abstained to instruct our delegates to vote for IR at the WEBF’s AGM.

[@trevorbagley1378]

​@SimonTWebb Hi Simon, I finally had a game off pool using these rules and most of this I enjoyed. My only issue with this rule is lose a turn. You can pot the opponents ball then lay a snooker on them. This in my opinion then hand the initiative to the player who laid the snooker. I always presumed these rules was to stop this kind of play and get on with the game. I'd have thought yes pot the opponents ball however you cannot then leave them in a snooker. This happened so many times, negative play!

[@drcolossus1]

Just started playing these rules in a local weekly comp, andthere's talk about introducing them into all our team and singles leagues which i will definitely be supporting. Like yourself i absolutely love them and can't wait to play them some more.

[@SimonTWebb]

Great to hear that you love them. FIngers crossed them come in your league.

[@markbee790]

love this rule set, i first got introduced to the different tactics through the app 8ball pool, which is similar though not exactly the same, been showing friends over the past year, gone from playing once or twice a year to twice a week, its brought a totally revitalised interest back to the game, thanks for explaining the rules, yeah first time people play them its a bit uncomfortable and leaves me doubting i know them correctly, but the new rules are going down a storm and fantastic to be doing a thing with mates again

[@SimonTWebb]

Thanks, that’s awesome to hear.

[@billbrown1255]

I can't wait for these rules to come into Australia next month. Some of my friends and terrified as they can't be boring, just keep blocking pockets and playing for snookers to get 2 shots

[@SimonTWebb]

I’m sure you will love these rules. And very exciting that they are now going to be playing around the world.

[@PaulCates]

Love this rule set.. but a question.. Legal break, pot a ball to get a second shot.. then declare yellows but I miss and as cue ball travels pots a red . As I understand it that means only loss of turn ? Not cue ball in hand as some have told me it was ?

[@SimonTWebb]

Yes. It’s just loss of turn and an open table for your opponent.

[@keithjeffries-b4o]

Hi Simon love these rules , can u please clarify one rule i have had trouble getting clear, Hitting a cushion after contact with cue ball or object ball. is the object ball any one of your colour set ? or must it be the ball u hit ? example when snookered u hit one of your colour set but another ball of yours hits a cushion , Thanks Keith

[@SimonTWebb]

Any ball hitting the cusion is fine.

[@ianhuber3085]

I love this rule set and the work you guys are doing.

[@SimonTWebb]

Thank you Ian.

[@philjackson5389]

I am having trouble understanding the rule of getting out of a snooker .does the ball i am trying to hit have to hit a cushion what if some of my other colours hit a cushion instead after the one i was trying to hit collides with others

[@SimonTWebb]

any ball can hit a cushion or be potted. it does not need to be the ball you are playing.

[@nathanstorey3215]

Can you finish the frame with a skill shot?

[@SimonTWebb]

You can’t pot your last ball and the black in the same shot. But you can pot the black and your opponents ball.

[@geraldpalmer4697]

Hi can a deliberate push shot be deemed as loss of frame.i'm hoping you can explain it to me as my said no it's non standard foul yet I believe deliberate is deliberate and should be los of frame???😮

[@SimonTWebb]

That’s a good question. And one I’d have to consult a ref for.

[@geraldpalmer4697]

Hi Simon I would love you to do a video that shows All aspects of a push shot and double hit because being a Australian player playing world rules this shot was allowed so it puts too much pressure on referees to call it hoping you get what I'm trying to say anyway cheers 🤠

[@DynastyHeroes]

So International rules you can pot your opponents ball as long as you hit your ball first and it’s not a foul? I play Blackball rules where you can pot your opponents ball aslong as you pot one of your own in the same shot.

[@niampatel9115]

Yeah but it’s loss of turn if you don’t do a full skill shot.

[@SimonTWebb]

That’s correct. It really does make the rule set and the tactics work. Lot of fun to play.

[@samnash9418]

Love this rule set been in our league for ages now maybe 7 years plus? People are always mythed about the tactical foul though. Haha

[@SimonTWebb]

That’s awesome to hear. IMO The loss of turn rule you mention makes the rule set.

[@tumuramyedenis8511]

Hello, I potted all my ball and remained with only black. Unfortunately black was covered by his balls in a risky position. I asked for caution and I hit a wrong angle. Is it a game down or my opponent goes for two shots?

[@SimonTWebb]

If you fouled trying to hit the black, then it is just cueball in hand anywhere on the table for your opponent. Standard visit from there.

[@gurdeepchumber2764]

I prefer this rule set as its attacking & you get on with the game,now I find if you're snookered though its incredibly harsh as you must hit the ball & a cushion too,ive lost soo many games when ive failed to get out of a snooker or not get White safe.

[@Zenilome57]

When cue ball and black are touching in the final moment after potting all object balls, do the touching ball rule count? I.e should one play away towards cushion or play together?

[@SimonTWebb]

Yes; you must always play away from a touching ball.

[@Zenilome57]

@@SimonTWebb thank you so much

[@johnpaine1358]

Hi Simon just started watching your videos and they great i play for a local pub team and we play pretty outdated rules 2 shots follow on and stuff but there's talk of changing them to bring them inline with world rules is it hard to get used to playing new rules

[@SimonTWebb]

I would advise you not to change to world rules as they are now being taken over by international 8 ball rules by international and national governing bodies. Taking over world rules completely

[@shaylogue5517]

Simon . One question . If a player plays a deliberate foul as in say purposely hitting his / her opponents ball , what is the penalty .

[@SimonTWebb]

Loss of frame. You have to play your colour sets if you purposely play your opponents then it’s loss of frame.

[@FilthyGinger4130]

I do like the international rule set for the most part. A few rules I'm not a huge fan of but I guess you'll get that in all rule sets.

[@SimonTWebb]

Yes. Always pros and cons will rule sets, but I can honestly say I don’t have any cons with these.

[@liamneil1665]

I've only just started playing International Rules and our local League is adopting these for the upcoming season in September. So far they seem great and favour an attacking player, which I am, so really looking forward to them. Please clarify; after the break, on an open table, can you play a yellow onto a red to become reds? If you pot both like a combination shot, does this now mean your yellows?

[@SimonTWebb]

THats awesome to hear that your league is going to these rules. As for your question, you can not play a yellow onto a red and go reds. you have to pot the colour you are going for. so if you aim for yellows, and pot a red and a yellow, you would be yellows.

[@liamneil1665]

@@SimonTWebb Thanks for clearing that up! Love your commentary also, you've taught me so much when choosing colours and looking at patterns differently. Thanks for your efforts, top job!

[@SimonTWebb]

@@liamneil1665 thanks. It’s a pleasure to do it. So glad you enjoy it.

[@paulturner8161]

Could you clarify what happens when a) The Black is the only ball potted of the break - Re-Rack or Black re-spotted? and b) The Black and one other ball is potted from the break - Black re-spotted and you continue with an open table or Black re-spotted and loss of turn? Or Re-Rack?? Many thanks Simon, hope you're good bud, Paul.

[@SimonTWebb]

If the black goes down off the break, it is Re spotted. If another ball goes down as well then the breaker continues with an open table, if just the black then it the opponents go.

[@captaindigi82]

Great rules. Only downfall is the discretion of a deliberate foul

[@SimonTWebb]

Not seen what you mean.

[@MrStewieP]

Can you directly pot your opponents ball without hitting your ball first? Never played it but could easily get used to it I guess.

[@SimonTWebb]

No, you have to hit your ball first. It’s a simple game in that sense. What ever happens, you always have to hit your ball first.

[@lightbreezy]

Here’s a scenario I was given last night. If you are reds and the white ball is touching ball with a yellow, you play away from the yellow and play your red. Is that loss of frame because you played the yellow first as it was touching ball or will common sense be applied? Is there a rule for this? Thanks in advance.

[@SimonTWebb]

You are only deemed to have played the yellow if you are yellows. So no it is not loss of frame.

[@lightbreezy]

Thanks, I’ll pass that on.

[@johncrawford4382]

Hi Simon while playing black ball my opponent was on the black over the pocket I had one yellow left i potted the black then my yellow black going in first then followed by the yellow is that game to me or game to my mate

[@SimonTWebb]

In Blackball rules you would win the frame as long as long as you hit the yellow first.

[@slayer5097]

What's IPA rules then?? The world's that Clint I just won?? Is that the same what you're talking about. I know Ultimate pool has golden break which IPA doesn't have. I've just started playing a few blackball tournaments and just love it, I come from snooker and we always looked down on pool.

[@SimonTWebb]

The IPA use blackball. The golden break is a tournament rule. And not part of the rules themselves.

[@murraywells5254]

This is the first time I’ve had a look at these rules. My first thought is that these rules will heavily favour the big potters and us old blokes who don’t pot so well and sometimes rely on making life tough for our opponent to stay in a frame are going to have to take up lawn bowls or knitting. I hope I’m wrong but that’s how it’s sounding to me at the moment.

[@SimonTWebb]

There can still be plenty of tactical play in this rule set.

[@SimonTWebb]

But imo the tactical play is more fun and can’t end in a stalemate

[@murraywells1919]

@@SimonTWebb fair enough

[@EVil-ob8in]

Still a big advantage from laying a good snooker. Ball in hand is better than 2 shots from a bad position. Everyone saying it’s attacking but I think tactical players can still compete. Put those knitting needles away 😂

[@stevejones3180]

Much prefer international rules and I have to play both depending on which league I’m in 👍

[@SimonTWebb]

Great to hear that Steve.

[@MatthewMarsh-br6si]

be nice to do a full rules on it by a referee

[@cmh9019]

I too was sceptical when I first learned of these rules, and didn't understand why a couple of the rules were even in there. But although I've never played them myself, I've grown to really understand and like them just from watching them being played by UP (and their early days as Supreme rules). Just need to get down and play a few frames myself now

[@SimonTWebb]

The rules are simple, but people Coming from other rule sets can be skeptical, but I really believe that most will love them if they give them a try.

[@MrSegopa]

I am kinder fond of playing Blackball than the 8 ball rules which seem to be more tactical than Blackball... I adore both me too but 8ball here in 🇿🇦 is kinder being amended to suit the place preferably than Blackball.

[@SimonTWebb]

Thanks Leon. interesting to hear what is played in SA.

[@beatrix-01]

​@@SimonTWebb theres 2 leagues thats being played in South Africa. 8 Ball which is played on International 8 ball rules and Black Ball. A lot of players actually play in both leagues. I personally prefer the 8 ball rules. Once I learned how to play them, I fell in love with it. So much better.

[@stevetayloruk]

I’ve never played these rules competitively, only in casual games. But I do prefer to play and watch them. The one thing I like, is that I promotes aggressive style of pool, more attacking. An example of this is the taking on a skill shot. In blackball rules, if the skill shot doesn’t come off, it’s a foul. Whereas in international rules, it’s just loss of turn.

[@SimonTWebb]

Hi Steve. Agreed, it promotes attacking pool, that doesn’t mean always going for clearances, but sometimes attacking safety play.

[@bbqqueef2165]

Silly rules, much prefer blackball rules

[@SimonTWebb]

Why do you think they are silly? By far the best rules I’ve played. And I was a pro at blackball rules.

[@ldride3711]

The rules are awful its made half the teams leave our league.

[@SimonTWebb]

What is it that you dislike about the rules? For me the best I’ve played by a long long way.

[@MaximilianBerkmann]

I'm wondering the same. I don't play in a league (yet) but those rules are more straightforward, better and more fun than the English rules that now EPA doesn't even recommend.