Nine Ball

Nine Ball is the fast pool game played with nine object balls racked in a diamond. On every shot the cue ball must hit the lowest-numbered ball on the table first — but any ball that drops counts, so a clever combination can sink the 9 early and win the rack on the spot. Miss the lowest ball, scratch or fail to reach a rail and your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table. Set your spin, use the aiming guide and the fine-aim strip, and race to win the most racks against the computer, a friend on the same device, or a player online.

Tips

• Look for combinations on the 9: if the lowest ball can be sent into the 9 and the 9 drops, the rack is yours.
• Use back spin (tap low on the cue-ball icon) on straight shots so the cue ball stops instead of following the object ball into the pocket.
• When there is no good shot after the break, play a push-out to a spot that leaves your opponent a hard shot.

Questions

What happens if the 9 drops on a foul?

It is put back on the foot spot, the rack goes on, and your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere on the table.

What is the three-foul rule?

It is an optional house rule you can switch on before the game: if a player fouls on three shots in a row in the same rack, they lose that rack.

Can I play Nine Ball online?

Yes. Choose online play to face another player 1v1 in a race to 3 racks; every shot is replayed identically on both screens.

1. Pick Easy, Normal or Hard against the computer, or 2 Players on one device, and a single rack or a race to 3 or 5 racks.
2. Break from behind the head string: you can drag the cue ball anywhere in that zone first. The 1 must be hit first and either a ball drops or four balls reach a rail.
3. On every shot, hit the lowest ball on the table first. The dashed ring shows your target; the ghost ball turns red if your aim would hit the wrong ball.
4. Pocket a ball legally to keep shooting. Sink the 9 on a legal shot — directly or with a combination — to win the rack.
5. Fouls (scratch, wrong ball first, no rail after contact) give your opponent ball in hand anywhere on the table.
6. Right after the break you may play a push-out: no rules except no scratch, then your opponent chooses to shoot or pass the shot back.

Controls

Computer

Move or drag the mouse on the table to aim, drag the power bar down and release to shoot, or drag back from the cue ball. Drag the cue ball itself when you have ball in hand. Keys: ← → aim (Shift for fine aim), ↑ ↓ power, I J K L spin, Space shoot, U push-out, B pass back.

Phone and tablet

Drag on the table to aim and use the fine-aim strip for small corrections. Tap the cue-ball icon to set top, back or side spin, then pull the power bar down and let go. With ball in hand, drag the cue ball to a new spot.