One Pocket Rules

Format:  Race to 3; single elimination; one buy-back option.

Lag for First Break:  Winner of the lag decides who breaks first. 

Breaking subsequent games:  Players will alternate the break.

Legal Break:  A legal break requires you to pocket a ball or drive at least one object ball or the cue ball to a cushion after contact.  Failure to do so is a foul. 

Scratch or Foul:  Any scratch or foul results in loss of a ball.  If you have no balls to spot, you “owe” a ball.  You must spot what you owe at the end of your next inning in which you have balls available to spot.  If a scratch or foul is “slept” and subsequently remembered, the ball is spotted after each player has shot once.

Trapping or Wedging the Cue Ball:  It is a foul if you deliberately trap or wedge the cue ball in the jaw of the pocket.  In addition to the foul penalty, your opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string.

Deliberate Cue Ball Foul:  If you wish to take a deliberate cue ball foul, you must use your cue tip to strike the cue ball.  If you strike the cue ball with anything other than the cue tip, in addition to the foul penalty, your opponent receives cue ball in hand behind the head string.

Shooting into the Wrong Pocket:  If a player shoots into the wrong pocket and continues to shoot because their opponent failed to notify them of the error, any additional balls pocketed in that inning do not count, whether pocketed for the shooter’s or the opponent.  The first shot to the wrong pocket in a given inning is the shooter’s responsibility, and the opponent is entitled to any balls pocketed on that first stroke. However, any other pocketed balls in the wrong pocket in the same inning are to be spotted as illegally pocketed balls.

3-Foul Rule:  If you commit 3 successive fouls in one game you lose the game.  Your opponent must notify you that you are on 2 fouls immediately before your next inning.

Slow Play:  Slow play will not be tolerated.  Tournament officials will issue a warning if they feel you are delaying the progress of the match.  A second warning will result in ball in hand anywhere on the table.  A third warning is loss of game.  A fourth occurrence is loss of match.