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Chinese 8 Ball Pool – A Fun Twist in the Original 8 Ball Pool Game

The 8 Ball Pool game in itself is an entertaining game that keeps gamers hooked for long hours. Any 8 ball pool player would agree that new twists and tweaks in a pool game could increase entertainment. If you are up for a twist in the original 8 ball pool game, you should know all about the Chinese 8 ball pool variant and the fun it brings to the table. 

Before you learn this fun version of the 8 ball pool, here’s a brief about the 8 ball pool game to differentiate between the Chinese 8 ball pool and the original 8 ball pool game.

Also Read: How to differentiate between Pool, Snooker, and Billiards?

What is 8 Ball Pool?

8 ball pool is a type of cue sport played on a billiards table with six pockets. The game is played between two teams or two individual players using 7 solid object balls, 7 striped balls, one black 8 ball, and one cue ball. 

At the start of the game, all the object balls are arranged in a triangular rack, with the base of the triangle parallel to the end rail of the table. The two players in the game are either assigned striped balls or solid balls each. To win the game, each player attempts to pot their object balls. The players have to pot the black 8 ball to finish the game after all the assigned balls have been potted. The first player to pot all the assigned balls along with the 8 ball wins the game.

You can also play 8 ball pool game online and play free games or join cash games against real players online to win real cash prizes. The online 8 ball pool games are challenging, fun, and offer a realistic experience.

What is the Chinese 8 Ball Pool? 

Chinese 8 ball pool is a variant of the famous 8 ball pool game. Chinese 8 ball is also called the backward eight ball as it reverses the 8 ball pool gameplay. The game is played between two players or two teams, similar to the original game. Essentially, the Chinese 8 ball pool game is played in reverse to the original game. In this game, the only time you can hit the cue ball directly with a cue stick is during the break shot. In the subsequent shots, the players must hit an object ball towards the cue ball such that the cue ball goes on to hit and pot another object ball. The other rules of the game remain the same. 

Doesn’t it sound like a fun twist? The popularity of the Chinese 8 ball pool is game is growing significantly. The game is widely televised and offers growing prize funds. Keep scrolling to read the rules of this fun 8 ball pool variant and learn how to play the game.

How is Chinese 8 Ball Pool different from 8 Ball Pool?

While the two games are pretty similar as the objective is to pot the assigned object balls and then pot the 8 ball, there a few differences in both games:

  • The Chinese 8 ball pool table is 9 feet long.
  • Full-sized 2 ¼” American pool balls are used in the game.
  • The rules are slightly tweaked, as explained below.
  • The cut in the pockets of a Chinese 8 ball pool table resembles that of a Snooker table.

How to play the Chinese 8 Ball Pool?

The triangle rack is set up in the Chinese 8 ball pool with the 8-ball in the middle and the 1-ball at the front. Other balls are placed randomly inside the rack with a striped ball and a solid ball at each end corner.

When the game starts, the first player hits the cue ball with their cue stick to play the break shot. After the break shot, the players cannot hit the cue ball directly with the cue stick. The break shot is considered legitimate only when the player pots an object ball or two object balls hit the cushions. After the break shot, the players hit any object ball with their cue stick such that it hits the cue ball and gets pocketed or the cue ball further hits and pockets another cue ball. The objective remains the same; that is, the players have to pot all of their assigned balls and pot the 8-ball in the end. The first player to pot all the assigned balls and the black 8-ball wins the game.

Also Read: How to Master the 8-Ball Pool Break Shot?

Chinese 8 Ball Pool Rules

The rules are quite simple but also increase the difficulty of the game. The challenging rules make playing the Chinese 8 ball pool more entertaining. Here are the rules you must keep in mind when playing this exciting game:

  • Firstly, the break shot must be legal; that is, an object ball must be potted, or two object balls must touch the cushion. If the break is not legal, the players have to arrange the rack and play the break shot again.
  • After a legal break shot is played, the players cannot hit the cue ball directly with the cue stick.
  • Each time a player plays their turn, they must call the pocket in which they intend to pot an object ball. 
  • After a player hits an object ball, either the object ball or the cue ball must hit the cushion.
  • In a skill shot, a player’s cue ball must hit their object ball first before it makes contact with the opponent’s object ball.
  • The player loses a turn if they hit their object ball successfully but don’t pot it and instead pot the opponent’s object ball.
  • No player gets two shots in Chinese 8 ball pool.
  • A player wins the game if they pocket all their balls and then pocket the 8-ball before the opponent.
  • In a tournament format, a player wins if they either win 13 frames first or win higher frames within 140 minutes.

The Chinese 8 ball pool game is definitely challenging and fun for everyone who has played the original 8 ball pool game. While this variant is not quite popular on online gaming platforms, the Chinese 8 ball pool tournaments are popular in China, and the game is also garnering worldwide popularity. 

Vijaya Bharti
Vijaya Bharti is an experienced gaming writer fuelled by a passion for virtual worlds and interactive storytelling. Her profound understanding of game design and culture shines through her compelling content pieces captivating readers. She finds leisure in playing online games, writing about anything related to games, and watching web series.

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