Nine

2. NINE

Nine is played with nine playing balls numbered from one to nine and a white playing ball.

The balls are played in ascending order of numbers. The player who sinks ball number nine with a valid push wins the game.

2.1 Determination of the shootout

The player who wins the tempo chooses who shoots in the first game. (See 1.2 Playing for order of play - tempo). The standard format is an alternating shootout, but see also Directive 16, following shootouts) 

2.2 Building balls to nine

The playing balls are set as close together as possible in the shape of a diamond, ball number one being on the top tip of the diamond and on the back point, and ball number nine being in the middle of the diamond. The other balls will be assembled into a diamond without any deliberate placement. 

2.3 Valid Shootout

The following rules apply to the shootout:

a) White starts in the hand behind the shooting line.

b) If no balls fall into the pocket, at least four balls played must reach one or more boundaries or the push is a foul.

c) In addition, and only if the "three-ball rule" is used, if no ball falls into the pocket, three balls must cross the line of the shootout, otherwise the shootout is considered a "weak dry break" (see Guideline 18, Three-Ball Rule). 

2.4 Second Push - Push Out

If there is no foul in the shootout, the player on the jib may choose to play a push out as his next jib. 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 next player chooses who plays next. 

2.5 Continuing the game

If a player legitimately sinks any ball during a push (except for a push out - see 2.4, Second Push of the Game - Push Out), he remains at the table for the next push. If he or she legally sinks ball number nine on any push (except the push out), he or she wins the game. If a player fails to sink the ball in the pocket or commits a foul, the game passes to the next player, and if there is no foul, the player coming to the table must play the cue ball from the position left by the previous player. 

2.6 Setting the balls back on the table

If ball number nine is fouled or pushed out, or knocked off the table, it is set on the table again. (See 1.4 Setting balls back on the table.) No other ball is set back on the table. 

2.7 Standard fouls

If a player at the table commits a standard foul, play passes to his opponent. The cue ball is in the hand and the player coming to the table may place it anywhere on the board.

Below are the standard fouls in the nine:

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 nine.
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

2.8 Serious fouls

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

2.9 Pat

If a stalemate occurs, the player who originally shot will shoot again (See 1.12 Pat)