The game is played on a rectangular 6-pocket table with 15 balls (7 yellows, 7 reds and a black 8 ball.)
To win, a player or team must pocket all their group of object balls in any order, and then legally pocket the 8 ball.
To determine who has the right to break, both players will lag to determine who gets that advantage. (To lag, both players simultaneously play a ball up the table from anywhere behind the baulk line, with the intention of stopping it as close to the baulk cushion as possible. The person whose ball is deemed closest to the baulk cushion chooses if they wish to break or not.)
The game begins by the first player breaking the balls. To be deemed a legal break, 4 balls have to hit a cushion. The break will also be deemed a "fair break" if at least one colour is potted.
Following the break shot, regardless of whether a player has potted a ball or not, the person breaking will nominate their choice of balls. If the player breaking pots a combination of balls, for instance a red and a yellow, they can simply nominate which ball set they wish to play. Further, if one red is potted, they can if they so choose, nominate yellows without having to pot.
If a player fouls from the break, the right to nominate will be lost. This advantage will then pass to the opponent, who will receive two shots, the first of which will be a free table (NB: Note two ‘shots’ and not two “visits”. This is the only time in the frame where two shots do not carry following a foul.) With the first shot, the player can then play or pot whichever ball they wish (the exception being that one cannot pot the black) following which they then nominate their preferred set.
If one fouls on the break by not driving four balls onto cushions, the oncoming player has the choice to play the balls as they lay or to have them re-racked. If they take the latter option, they themselves must perform a legal break, following which they will then nominate their preferred set.
The game is completed when the 8 ball (black) is pocketed legally in any pocket, and all the remaining balls have come to rest, except on the break. If the black is potted off the break, one re-racks the balls without penalty.
A game is deemed to be lost under the following circumstances.
If a player pockets the 8 ball (black) before all the balls in their own group, except on the break.
A player going in off the 8 ball (black) when the 8 ball (black) is pocketed.
A player pocketing the 8 ball (black) and any other ball on the same shot. Except following a foul when only the 8 ball (black) and ball(s) of the opponents group are on the table, then with the first shot of the first visit, the player may legally pocket the 8 ball (black) as well as ball(s) of the opponent's group by any combination and in any order.
A player who clearly fails to make any attempt to play a ball of their own group will lose the game.
A foul is deemed to have occured in the following circumstances.