Pool

Pool in Britain usually means English 8-ball, played on a small table with seven red balls, seven yellow balls and a black. It is the most widely played cue sport in pubs.

Guides

• English 8-ball rules: the game, the fouls and where rule sets differ
• Table sizes, balls and cues: English and American equipment compared
• League formats: how pub pool matches are played
• Season calendar: league seasons, cups and finals nights

The game in brief

Table	Usually 6 ft or 7 ft
Balls	7 reds, 7 yellows, 1 black, 1 cue ball
Aim	Pot all of your colour, then the black
Lose the frame by	Potting the black early, or fouling while potting it

English and American pool

English pool tables are smaller than American ones, with smaller balls and tighter, rounded pockets. American 8-ball uses spots and stripes and a larger cue ball. The two games share an idea but play quite differently.