5 Best Pool Table 2 Player Games to Try Today

If you’re new to the game of billiards, you might be surprised to learn how many different billiard games there are. Many pool table 2 player games are fun an exciting.

While 8-Ball and 9-Ball are the most popular played here in the United States there are a lot of other good games to try.

The basic gameplay of every pool table game is pretty much the same. Still, the regulations, ball counts, and strategies might vary considerably. For example, consider the game of Bank Pool, where each pocketed shot must be the outcome of a bank shot.

Learning new pool table games is a fun way to enhance your skills while having a great time. You’re in luck if you want to switch up your present pool mix.

We’ll list five pool games in this article for you to try. You’ll know more pool table games by the conclusion of this post than all of your pool hall friends combined!

Best Pool Table 2 Player Games

8-Ball Pool

Eight ball, one of the most well-known and well-liked pool games, is played on a typical pool table with six pockets that are either 4′ X 8′ or 3.5′ X 7′ in size. This 8 Ball game can be played by two players and is quite simple, though different versions of the rules are used in other countries.

Racking and Breaking

How to rack the balls for 8-ball pool:

1. Use all the balls, solids and stripes
2. The 8-ball must be the center ball in the rack
3. The two balls on the back corners must be a solid and a stripe
4. The rest of the balls should be randomly chose
5. See picture for visual

How to Break in 8-Ball Pool:

1. Choose who goes first. This can be done a number of different ways with simply flipping a coin the most common.
2. The cue ball can be positioned anywhere behind the head string.
3. The breaker then shoots at the racked balls. Any object ball can be hit first but the ball must not contact a rail before it contacts the object balls.
4. The break is on considered “legal” if one of the following two criteria are met:
   1. At least one ball is “pocketed” on opening break.
   2. At least four balls strike a rail.
5. If one the above (4) do not occur the the non breaker has three choices
   1. Accept the balls as is.
   2. Have the balls re-racked and break themselves
   3. Have the balls re-recked and let the previous breaker shoot again.

Play after the break

One player must pocket one or more balls of the same type on any shot made after the break to determine who’ll be playing the solid balls and who’ll be playing the stripes.

Solids are numbered from 1 to 7, whereas stripes are from 9 to 15. Both players can go again until they foul or miss if they correctly pocket one of their object balls.

Playing and Winning 8-Ball Pool

In 8-ball, the goal is to sink the 8-ball and all of your object balls before your opponent. In contrast to some other pool table games, the object balls do not have a point value. Alternatively, if you’ve got the time, you can award points for wins or, more commonly, declare a “best out of 5 matches” winner.

The player can go for the 8-ball after pocketing all the object balls, solids or stripes but usually must “call” a pocket first. A player must pocket the 8-ball in the called pocket without scratching the cue ball to win.

9-Ball Pool

The next game is 9-Ball, possibly just as well-liked as 8-Ball. You play 9-Ball by using nine object balls (numbered 1 to 9) and a cue ball, as the name suggests.

Racking and Breaking

How to rack the balls for 9-ball pool:

1. The balls 1-9 are arranged in a diamond shape
2. The 1 ball is in front and the other balls follow in numerical order
3. The 9-ball is placed in the center
4. See picture for visual

How to break in 9-ball pool:

1. Choose who goes first. This can be done a number of different ways with simply flipping a coin the most common.
2. The cue ball can be positioned anywhere behind the head string.
3. The breaker then shoots at the racked balls. They must first hit the head ball (1-ball) but the cue ball must not contact a rail before it contacts the head ball.
4. The break is on considered “legal” if one of the following two criteria are met:
   1. At least one ball is “pocketed” on opening break.
   2. At least four balls strike a rail.
5. If one the above (4) do not occur the the non breaker has three choices
   1. Accept the balls as is.
   2. Have the balls re-racked and break themselves
   3. Have the balls re-recked and let the previous breaker shoot again.
6. The other player assumes control with the ball in hand wherever on the table if the cue ball is pocketed during the break.

Playing and Winning 9-Ball Pool

As long as the first ball they strike with the cue ball is the lowest number object ball on the table, the players are free to pocket the balls in any sequence for the game’s duration.

Whoever pockets the 9-ball in sequence or after they strike the lowest remaining object ball is the winner.

Like 8 Ball, any player who successfully pockets a ball may keep shooting until they miss, commits a foul, or defeats the opponent.

10-Ball Pool

Despite having some significant structural differences that make it a more challenging game, 10 Ball is extremely similar to 9 Ball. Instead of a diamond-like in 9 Ball, this game uses ten balls (numbered 1 through 10) stacked in a triangle.

Racking and Breaking

How to rack the balls for 10-ball pool:

1. The alignment of the rack is similar to 8-ball except that only balls 1-10 are used.
2. 1-ball is at the head.
3. 10-Ball is in the center.
4. 2 and 3-balls are randomly placed at the corners. Other balls are randomly located as well.
5. See picture for visual

The ten ball should be in the middle, with the one ball at the foot location and apex. Place one of the 2 and 3 balls on each triangle’s four corners. Similar to 9 Ball, the cue ball and the lowest-numbered ball on the table must make initial contact on any given shot (including the break).

Playing and Winning 10 Ball Pool

The players must call the pocket and the ball they intend to pot to make the game more challenging. If the cue ball first contacts the lowest-numbered ball on the table and the shot is correctly called, it is legal to pocket the ten ball any time, and it will win you the game.

The opposing player might choose to take over as the table is or force the shooter to continue if a player accidentally sinks a ball or hits the called ball into the wrong pocket.

With the exception of the 10 Ball, any balls pocketed stay in the pocket. A player is permitted to continue if they sink both an unexpected ball and a called ball in a called pocket. In tournament-style play, there are typically no points allocated to any of the balls, and a “best of” method is normally decided upon.

3-Ball Pool

In the world of pool games, 3 Ball is relatively uncommon. As the name suggests, only three object balls and the cue ball are used to play. The main distinction in this game is that only one participant plays in each rack.

It’s the other player’s turn once that person has all the balls in the hole and has calculated how many shots it took.

Due to this, it is possible to play 3 Ball with more than two players, but the longer the game lasts and the longer everyone must wait for their turn, the more players there are. However, players with exceptional talent play a single rack extremely fast.

Racking and Breaking

How to rack the balls for 3-ball pool:

1. In a 3-ball pool match you start with any 3 balls
2. The balls are placed in a triangle formation in no certain order.
3. See picture for visual.

Playing and Winning 3 Ball Billiards

The goal of 3 Ball is to finish the round with the fewest possible shots. Let’s imagine that you and a friend agree to play three games. The winner would be the one who took the least shots in two of the three rounds.

In 3 Ball, it’s conceivable for two players with comparable skill levels to remain tied. In this case, it’s best to continue playing until one person prevails.

7-Ball Pool

Regarding billiards games, 7 Ball is among the best and most frantic games. This game is similar to 9 Ball, with a few significant exceptions.

Racking and Breaking

How to rack the balls for 7-ball pool:

1. In a 7-ball pool match you use balls 1-7.
2. They are arranged in a circle from 1-6 with 7 in the middle
3. It is easiest done by turning a nine ball rack sideways.
4. See picture for visual.

The cue ball has to make contact with the one ball first for a break to be valid. Any ball pocketed during the break allows the player to keep shooting until a foul or miss happens.

Playing and Winning 7 Ball

The non-breaking player selects which long side of the table she will pocket the seven ball in after the break. The opposite side of the table is given to the player who breaks. Anywhere on the table is a potential pocket for a ball with a number between 1 and 6, as long as the ball with the lowest number is struck first.

The person who legitimately pockets the 7-ball first wins the game. After that, the ball must be placed in the pocket on the side of the previously selected table. A shooter loses if they pocket the seven ball on the other player’s side of the table.

This game of pool is played under the standard foul rules, which include pushing, scratching, and failing to hit an object ball. Because it emphasizes strategy and planning, 7 Ball is frequently used as a training game. And it’s a ton of fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   What Makes Up A Legal Break In Pool Games?

Most pool games begin with a break; thus, it’s crucial to comprehend and master these because a strong break can offer you an early advantage when playing competitively.

The cue ball must first make contact with the ball at the triangle’s tip. Then, at least three of the balls in the cluster must also touch the cushion next to it. Re-rack with the opposite player attempting the break if neither of these things happens on the break.

2.   What constitutes a foul in pool games?

Pool fouls can happen in a few different ways, with the following being the most common:

• Not using the cue ball to hit any balls
• Hitting the ball of your opponent before hitting your own
• Choosing to hit the black 8-ball before any of your own
• Potting or putting in the cue ball at any time
• Putting in the black ball before being ready
• Potting the ball of your opponents at any point
• If any ball leaves the table after your shot

Each time one happens, the offending player is penalized, and the opponent gets two more shots on the next turn.

Conclusion

As you can see, various pool games are available, which are a ton of fun to play with friends. So give a handful of them a try the next time you’re in the pool hall.

It’s fun to try out different pool table games to mix things up. After all, playing 8-Ball or 9-Ball repeatedly becomes very monotonous very quickly. When there’re so many more pool games to try, don’t wear yourself out playing the same ones.

Make your friends aware of these games! They will undoubtedly appreciate them as much as I do. Thanks for reading this post!