Bank Pool Rules
“The game of
golf would lose a great deal if croquet mallets and
billiard cues were allowed on the putting green.” -Ernest Hemmingway, 1899-1961
Except when clearly
contradicted by these additional rules, the
General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
OBJECT OF THE GAME [ top ]
Bank Pool is
a game where legally pocketed balls must be banked into
the pocket (using one or more banks). Any ball on the
table can be selected. The object of Bank Pool is to be
the first player, or team, to legally sink eight balls.
The goal is to outscore your opponents by pocketing bank
shots.
PLAYERS [ top ]
Two individuals, or two teams.
BALLS USED [ top ]
Object balls numbered 1-15, plus the cue ball.
THE RACK [ top ]
Standard triangle rack with the apex ball on the foot
spot, balls can be in any order.
SCORING [ top ]
For the shot to accrue points for the shooting player, it must be a legal bank shot.
OPENING BREAK [ top ]
The opening break shot is considered to be a free shot. If any balls are pocketed on
the break, they are spotted and the breaker remains at the table. If nothing is made,
the breaker's inning is over.
The players may flip a coin or lag for the first break. For games that follow,
the winner of the previous rack has the option of breaking in the following rack.
Players my elect to have the break alternate between players regardless of
which player won the previous rack. Any object balls pocketed on the break
entitle the shooter to continue their inning, but they are not scored for
the breaker. Instead, they are held for spotting at the end of the breaker’s
inning. If the breaker fails to meet legal breaking requirements, the
opposing player has the option to start play where the balls lie or require
their opponent to re-break. There is no further penalty unless a foul or scratch occurs.
With full rack banks, all fifteen balls are tightly racked in the standard
triangle formation. On the opening break the cue ball may contact any ball
first, but after contact, at least two object balls must contact a cushion.
With nine-ball banks, any nine balls are tightly racked in the standard nine-ball
diamond formation. On the opening break the head ball must be struck first,
driving at least one object ball past the side pockets.
In any multi-player ring game the break rotates in the same order in which
the players shoot. Every time the break completes a cycle through all
the players, where each player has broken one rack, then a new shooting
and breaking order is determined. Likewise, if any players enter or exit
the game, a new shooting and breaking order is determined at such a time.
RULES OF PLAY [ top ]
All shots, except
opening break, are call ball-and-pocket. A player
continues with his inning so long as he
makes legal shots
ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALLS [ top ]
Are spotted.
If a foul was committed the player must spot an
additional ball from those he previously sank, or owe
the table a ball (to be spotted immediately after the
end of the inning in which he is first able to pay the
table).
OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE [ top ]
The stroke is a foul. Any jumped ball(s) is spotted
after the balls come to rest.
CUE BALL AFTER JUMPING OFF TABLE/SCRATCH [ top ]
Incoming shooter has ball in hand behind the head
string. If there are no object balls below the head string, the ball
nearest the head string is spotted. If two or more balls are equally
close to the head string then the highest numbered ball is spotted. The cue ball coming to rest on any area that is considered to be off of the table bed is a foul.
PENALTIES FOR FOULS [ top ]
The player must pay the table a ball. In addition to this any balls sunk on the foul
stroke must be spotted.
SUCCESSIVE FOUL PENALTIES [ top ]
If a player fouls in three successive innings he looses the game.
CONTINUE PLAYING [ top ]
Bank Pool is a call shot game. On every shot the
ball, the pocket and the path of intended cushions must
be obvious or specifically called prior to commencing
the shot. In the event that a called ball takes a
different path to the pocket than that which was called,
the pocketed ball does not count and it is spotted
without penalty to the shooter.
A player’s inning continues as long as they legally pocket their called bank.
Players can only score one ball per shot; any additional object balls that
are pocketed on the same stroke are held for spotting at the end of the shooter’s inning.
A player’s inning ends when they fail to legally pocket a called or obvious bank,
or the cue ball scratches or jumps the table, or the shooter fouls.
Every shot must be pocketed cleanly, without contacting any other object
ball on its route to the called pocket.
No combination shots are allowed.
The cue ball must contact the called ball first; no carom shots are allowed.
Every shot must be played ball first; no rail-first shots are allowed.
The cue ball is only permitted to contact the object ball once on its route to the pocket.
Any ball pocketed on a double kiss is spotted without further penalty, and the shooter’s inning is over.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION [ top ]
Unless a referee is assigned, players shall be responsible for officiating their own match.
Whenever the players themselves can come to an amicable agreement on any scoring or
officiating issues to their satisfaction, and play continues, their decision shall be deemed final.
If at anytime in a match either player anticipates a close call, or would like a neutral party to spot a ball,
or wishes to have an official ruling in any conflict, then an official should be called.
If there is no tournament official, then the house man or another mutually
agreed on impartial observer should be summoned to arbitrate. Their decision
should be considered final.
Let's help to achieve BCA's goal to make billiard as
everyone's game!
Goodluck =)
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