Pool brings the classic game of 8-Ball Billiards to your browser with satisfying physics and strategic gameplay. Play Pool online free against an AI opponent and experience the thrill of sinking shots, playing safe, and running the table. Standard 8-ball rules apply: after the break, one player takes solids (1-7) and the other takes stripes (9-15). Clear all your balls first, then legally pocket the 8-ball to win. But scratch or sink the 8-ball early, and you lose! The game features realistic ball-to-ball collision physics, wall bounces, and friction. Aim carefully, control your power, and think ahead about cue ball position for your next shot. Pool rewards both precision shooting and strategic thinking.
How to Play Pool
Click and drag from the cue ball to aim. A guide line shows your shot direction. The drag distance controls power — longer drag for harder shots. Release to shoot.
After the break shot, the first ball pocketed determines your group: if you sink a solid, you play solids; a stripe means you play stripes. Pocket all your group's balls, then sink the 8-ball to win.
On each shot, you must hit one of your balls first. If you scratch (pocket the cue ball), hit the wrong group first, or pocket the 8-ball before clearing your group, it's a foul. After a foul, your opponent gets ball-in-hand (they can place the cue ball anywhere).
Pool Tips & Strategies
- Plan two shots ahead — position the cue ball for your next shot, not just the current one.
- Hit the cue ball slightly above center for follow (rolls forward) or below for draw (rolls back).
- Play safe when you don't have a clear shot — leave the cue ball in a difficult position for your opponent.
- On the break, hit the front ball square for maximum spread.
- Thin cuts (barely hitting the object ball) send it almost perpendicular to the cue ball's path.
- Don't sink the 8-ball until you've cleared all your group — early 8-ball pocketing loses the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules of 8-Ball Pool?
After the break, one player takes solids (1-7) and the other takes stripes (9-15). Clear all your balls, then pocket the 8-ball to win. Pocketing the 8-ball early or scratching on the 8-ball shot loses the game.
What is a scratch in Pool?
A scratch occurs when the cue ball is pocketed, you don't hit any ball, or you hit your opponent's ball first. After a scratch, your opponent gets ball-in-hand — they can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.
How does the AI opponent play?
The AI evaluates all legal shots and selects based on pocketing difficulty and resulting cue ball position. It plays at a moderate skill level — challenging for beginners but beatable with good strategy.
