The Ten

9. TEN

Ten is a reported game played with ten dice, numbered from one to ten, and a white playing ball. The balls are played in ascending order of numbers, and the lowest numbered ball must be hit by the cue ball for a legal hit to occur. If the number ten ball is sunk in a valid shootout, it will be re-set on the table and the player continues play. Only one ball may be declared on each shot, except in a shootout when no ball need be declared. (See 9.5 Reported shoves and ball dives).

 

9.1 Determining the shootout

The player who wins the tempo chooses who shoots first. (See 1.2 Determining the Order of Play.) The standard format is to alternate the shootout, but see Rule 16, Subsequent Shootouts.

 

9.2 Building balls on ten

The edged balls are arranged as close together as possible to form a triangle, with the one at the tip of the triangle and the back point and the ten in the middle of the triangle. The other balls are placed in the triangle completely randomly. (See Directive 4 Building/Knocking Balls).

 

9.3 Valid Shootout

The following rules apply to the shootout:

a) The cue ball (white) starts in the hand behind the line of scrimmage; and

b) If no ball is sunk, at least four balls played must reach one or more boundaries or the push is considered a foul (See Directive 18, Initial Shootout Requirements).

 

9.4 Second Push - Push Out

If there is no foul in the shootout, the player at the table may choose to play "push out" as the next push. He must announce his intention to the referee and then rules 6.2 Wrong ball first and 6.3 After hitting the ball without touching the rim do not apply to this push. If there is no foul on the push out, the player on the line decides who plays next. A ball number ten sunk during a push out is set back on the table without penalty.

 

9.5 Reported shoves and diving balls

Whenever a player attempts to sink a ball (except in a shootout), he must announce the shove if they are not obvious; for each shove, the intended ball and pocket must be marked. The details of the shove, such as hitting boundaries or colliding with or sinking other balls, are irrelevant.

In order for a reported push to count, the referee must be satisfied that the intended push has been made, so if there is any possibility of confusion, e.g. shoves against the rim, combinations and similar pushes, the player at the table should mark the ball and pocket. If the referee or the opponent is unsure of the shove to be played, they may ask for an announcement.

 

9.6 Security

At any time after the shootout, a player at the table may declare a "safety", which allows him to hit a legal edge ball, not sink any balls, and end his stay at the table. However, if a player at the table sinks a valid edge ball, the player on the turn has the option of either playing the shove from the position that was created or handing the game back to his opponent. (See 9.7 Incorrectly Sunk Balls, which also applies in the surety).

 

9.7 Improperly sunk balls

If a player misses his intended ball and pocket and either sinks the announced ball into the wrong pocket or sinks another ball, his stay at the table is over and the player on the turn has the options of accepting the situation as is or handing the game back to his opponent.

 

9.8 Continuing the game

If a player validly sinks a declared/marked ball during a push (except for a push out, see 2.4 Second Push Out), all other balls that have been sunk remain in the pockets (except for the ten; see 9.9 Setting the Balls Back on the Table), and remain at the table for the next push. If the player announces and legally sinks ball ten before ball ten becomes the last remaining ball on the table, the ten is re-set and the player continues to play. If a player fails to sink a declared ball or fouls, play passes to the opponent, and if no foul has occurred, the player coming to the table must play the white ball from the spot where the previous player left it.

 

9.9 Setting the balls back on the table

If ball number ten is sunk with a foul or push out, or accidentally falls into the wrong pocket or flies off the table, it is set back on the table (See 1.4 Setting the balls back on the table). No other ball is ever set back on the table.

 

 

9.10 Standard fouls

If a player at the table commits a standard foul, play passes to his opponent. The game ball (white) is in hand and the player coming to the table may place it anywhere on the board. (See 1.5 White in hand)

Below are the standard fouls in the ten:

6.1 White in the pocket or stamped from the table

6.2 Wrong ball first. The first ball played that White hits on each shot must be the lowest numbered ball still on the table.

6.3 After contact without a boundary

6.4 Without feet on the ground

6.5 A ball knocked off the table. The only ball that is returned to the table is ball number ten.

6.6 Player touches the ball

6.7 Double Hit / Sleeping Ball

6.8 Pushed push (space)

6.9 Balls still in motion

6.10 Poor placement of white

6.12 Tágo on the table

6.13 Playing out of turn

6.15 Stalling

6.16 Foul with a sluice

 

 

9.11 Serious fouls

6.14 Three consecutive fouls is a forfeit of the game in progress. For 6.17 Unsportsmanlike conduct, the referee will select the appropriate penalty according to the nature of the infraction.

 

9.12 Pat

If there is a stalemate, the player who was shooting shoots again. (see 1.12 Pat)