Choose the right cue and chalk the tip lightly
Rack the balls with the 8-ball in the center; place the 1-ball at the front, and alternate colors on the remaining spots
Determine who breaks; place the cue ball behind the headstring, centered
Break by striking the cue ball firmly toward the rack without jumping or fouling
After the break, pocket a legal ball and keep the cue ball in play
Call shots if required by your game type (e.g., 8-ball rules)
Continue shooting by aiming at a ball you are allowed to hit first
Ensure the first contacted ball is legal, then pocket a ball (or meet the minimum requirements for your ruleset)
Use follow-through and control speed to position the cue ball for the next shot
If you pocket a ball legally, you generally continue shooting
If you miss, foul, or fail to meet legal requirements, the turn ends and the opponent takes over
Handle common fouls by avoiding: hitting the wrong ball first, not contacting any ball, scratching the cue ball, or hitting the wrong ball into a pocket illegally
When your group (solids or stripes) is assigned, keep shooting only your group legally
To win in 8-ball: pocket the 8-ball legally after all of your group balls are cleared
If the 8-ball is pocketed early or pocketed illegally, follow your game’s loss rules
If you scratch on the break, follow your game’s rules for ball-in-hand and re-rack expectations