Aim of the game

Pot all of the balls of your color (solids or stripes) and finally pot the black 8 ball in order to win the game.

Gameplay

At the start of the game, the break will determine who goes first. In order to decide this, both players hit the white ball against the cushion at the right-hand side of the screen (the bottom cushion) and aim to finish with the white ball as close to the cushion at the left-hand side (the top cushion) as possible. The player whose ball stops closest to the top cushion wins the break and starts the game.

In duels with more than one round, the player who lost the previous round gets to break in the new round.

The white cue ball can be placed anywhere in the left third of the table for the break.

If at least one ball is potted during the break, the player continues. Each player continues playing as long as he continues potting balls of his colour.

Pay particular attention to the information in the message box. You receive information in this box regarding the current standings.

If at least one ball is potted during the break, the player continues. Each player continues playing as long as he continues potting balls of his color.

Controls

1. Aiming

At all times you can see two direction indicators. One of these shows which direction the ball which you hit will go in. The other indicator shows roughly which direction the white ball will go in after colliding with the other ball.

The "ghost ball" is there to help you aim. This shows where the white ball will connect. In order to place the ghost ball, there are two options:

1. Move the cue by clicking and holding the left mouse button down until the ghost ball is in the desired position.
2. Click on the place where you would like to place the ghost ball.
3. Move the "ghost ball" by holding down the mouse button and moving it to the desired position.

2. Fine adjustment

Use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard in order to adjust the direction of the shot more finely.

3. Shot power

You can set the power as you wish. Click the shot power box in the desired position. Alternatively you can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to increase or decrease the power.

The shot power will be reset to a medium pace after each shot.

Tip: The shot power does not increase at a constant rate. This means that when setting a low shot power, smaller increments are possible.

4. Spin

Use spin in order to influence the direction of the white ball after collision. In order to add spin, move the red point by dragging it to the desired position or simply by clicking directly on the desired position.

The results of the spin depend on several factors, such as the shot power and the distance between the white ball and the ball which is hit. In general, the following applies:

• The further towards the edge that you hit the white ball, the larger the effect of the spin.
• If the white ball is hit on the top (top spin), it continues rolling forward after the collision. The distance in which the ball will rebound off the ball it hits is reduced.
• If you hit the white ball on the bottom (back spin), the distance in which the ball will rebound is greater. The white ball stops quicker, stops or may even roll backwards.
• The further the ball which you wish to hit is away, the less the effect of the spin.

A comprehensive explanation of the effects of spin is not possible here. Experiment in different situations with different amounts of spin in order to get a feeling for how much spin is required in each situation.

Spin, however, does not affect the direction of the ball which is hit.

5. Shooting

Once you are happy with your settings, take your shot. To do this, press either the "space bar" or the "Enter" key on your keyboard or click on the "Shoot" button.

Ball in hand

Normally you take your shot with the balls as they are on the table when it's your turn. If your opponent has committed a foul, for example by potting the white ball, however, then you receive ball in hand.

Ball in hand means that the white ball can be placed anywhere on the table. There are no restrictions, as with "bar pool" (such as playing the white ball over the center line), except when a foul is committed on the break.

In order to place the white ball, drag the ball to the correct position by clicking and holding the left mouse button. You can also change the position once you have let go of the ball.

Shot time (and game time)

For each shot you have a limited amount of time. The clock begins counting down as soon as it's your turn. If you do not take a shot before the time runs out, your shot will be counted as a foul. Your opponent will receive ball in hand.

If you exceed the allotted time twice in a row or more than three times in total, you lose the game!

Current Scores

Click on this button in the grey bar at the top of the screen in order to see the current game standings.

Controls and Rules

Click on this button in the grey bar at the top of the screen in order to get an overview of the instructions and the most important rules.

Chat

You can send your opponent a message with the chat button.

There are three options when sending a message:

• Smilies or Emoticons (A picture says a thousand words)
• Standard answers (Your opponent receives this message in their own language. This is particularly useful if you speak a different language to that of your opponent).
• Free text. Simply enter a message and send this by pressing the "Enter" key on your keyboard.

GameDuell's 8-ball billiards is predominantly based on the official 8-ball rules of the DBU (German Billiards Union).

The game is therefore not played according to pub rules but rather in accordance with the professional rules.

The following terms will be used for the following:

• Stripes = the striped balls 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
• Solids = the colored balls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
• Color = Solid or Stripe
• White = the white ball which must be struck using the cue
• Pocket = the six holes in the corners and in the middle of the long cushions

1. Choice of ball color

After breaking, the table is always "open", i.e. it remains undecided who is "solids" and who is "stripes". The decision is made after the first ball is potted.

2. Conditions for valid shots and fouls

At least one of the following requirements must be fulfilled for a valid shot:

• You pot a ball of your color (solid or stripe) and the white remains on the table (A foul occurs if the white is potted > the opponent receives ball in hand)
• A ball of your color must be hit first (A foul occurs if an opponent's ball is hit first > the opponent receives ball in hand)
• If no ball is potted, the white or another cue ball must hit one of the cushions after the collision (A foul occurs if no balls hit one of the cushions > the opponent receives ball in hand)

3. Play the black 8 ball

• If the black is potted on the break, it is placed back on the table.
• As long as the table is "open", i.e. the color has not yet been decided, the black ball can be hit first, e.g. in order to pot another ball.
• Once it has been decided who is solids and who is stripes, the 8 ball cannot be the first ball played. If this happens, however, this is a foul and the opponent receives ball in hand.
• If the 8 ball is mistakenly potted before the conditions for this have been fulfilled, the game is lost.
• The 8 ball can only be played and potted once all balls of your color have been potted. It is also not possible to pot the last ball of your color and the black ball in the same shot. This also results in the game being lost.
• The 8 ball is the only ball which must be "declared". This means that the pocket in which the 8 ball should be pocketed must be clicked before the shot. If the black ball is potted into another pocket, the game is lost.

4. Ball in hand

• If the white is potted on the break, the opponent gets ball in hand (in the left third of the table). A ball which is not in the top third of the table must be played first.
• For all other fouls, ball in hand means that the white ball can be placed anywhere on the whole table.

Summary of the rules

Here are the most important differentiations from the standard rules for "bar pool":

• The table is "open" even if a ball is potted on the break. Who is solids and who is stripes is only decided once the first ball is purposefully potted.
• If no ball is potted, the white ball or another ball must hit a cushion after the collision.
• Ball in hand means a free choice of position on the whole table apart from when the foul was committed on the break.
• The black 8 ball can be potted anywhere, however, it must be declared beforehand.
• Potting one of your opponent's balls is not a foul as long as a permitted shot was played (playing your own ball first).