WPA World Standard 8-Ball Rules.
"Every foul results in Ball-in-Hand anywhere on the table. You must Call the Pocket for the 8-ball, and a scratch on the break is not an instant loss."
1. The Opening Break
To be a legal break, the breaker must either pocket a ball or drive at least four numbered balls to the rail. If they fail, the incoming player can choose to re-rack or play the table as it lies.
2. Determining Groups (Open Table)
The table is always "Open" immediately after the break, even if balls were pocketed. Groups (Solids or Stripes) are only determined once a player legally pockets a called ball after the break.
3. Fouls & Ball-in-Hand
This is the big one. Under WPA rules, any foul results in the incoming player receiving the cue ball "in hand." This means they can place it anywhere on the table surface, not just behind the "D" or the headstring.
Common Fouls:
- Failing to hit your own ball first.
- Pocketing the cue ball (scratching).
- No ball hitting a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball.
4. Winning the Game
The 8-ball must be pocketed in a called pocket. If you pocket the 8-ball and the cue ball in the same shot, you lose the game. However, pocketing the 8-ball on the break is not a win or a loss; the ball is simply spotted or the rack is replayed.