Although there are number of different games that go under the category of pool games, when people talking about playing pool they usually refer to the 8-ball pool game. Therefore, if you want to learn how to play pool, familiarizing yourself with 8-ball rules would be the best way to start.

The object of 8-ball pool is pretty simple: your goal is to shoot either the striped balls or the solid colored balls into their pockets before your opponent does. Additionally, you should shoot the 8-ball to its pocket. But, if you want to step out a winner, and you should do it only after all your object balls have been pocketed.

If you were selected to break open the game, you get to be the first to shoot the balls. If, during the first shot, you have pocketed a striped ball, then the group of striped balls would be your object balls and your opponent's object balls will be the solid balls, and vice versa. What happens if you have pocketed two or more balls of different groups on your first break shot? In that case, you are allowed to choose a group of object balls of your choice.

Your turn continues and you go on shooting balls, until you fail to pocket an object ball or make a move that considered a foul. Then, you lose your turn and your opponent gets to try his or her luck on the pool table.

A shot can be declared as a foul if one of these situations takes place:

1. If you pocket your opponent's object ball

2. If you didn't hit any ball at all

3. If you pocket the cue ball instead of an object ball

Once you have pushed all your object balls into their pockets, you can try to pocket the 8-ball. However, you cannot just sink it into any pocket on the table; you must call the certain pocket in which you intend to sink the 8-ball. If you success in pocketing the 8-ball in the specific pocket, you win the game. If you sink the 8-ball into any other pocket, you lose.

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