Quick Rules
OPL follows World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) rules for consistent, professional-standard play worldwide. OPL is not affiliated with or endorsed by the WPA.
League Rules
How OPL matches work.
Lag & Break
- Lag winner chooses who breaks first
- Alternating break thereafter
Timeouts
- Players below skill level 300: 2 timeouts
- Players at skill level 300+: 1 timeout
Put-Up Order
- Home team has table advantage
- Away team decides who puts up first
- Matches can be played out of order if needed
Tardiness & Forfeits
- Captains meet within 15 min of scheduled time
- Up to 30 min late: can still play, but forfeit one match
- Over 30 min late: forfeit all matches
General Game Rules
These apply to all game types in OPL.
Racking
- Rack your own
- Balls should be frozen (touching) in the rack
- Template racks allowed if available to both teams
- On the break: at least 4 balls must hit cushions or a ball pocketed
Legal Shot & Safety
- Contact the correct ball first
- Pocket a ball OR drive any ball to a rail
- Turn ends on a called safety—pocketed balls stay down
All-Ball Foul
Moving any ball illegally is a foul—ball-in-hand for your opponent:
- Cue ball pocketed (scratch) or off table
- Touching or moving the cue ball
- Touching or moving any object ball
- Double-hitting the cue ball
Sportsmanship
Unsportsmanlike conduct includes:
- Distracting opponent during their shot
- Excessive delays
- Arguing with scorekeepers or other players
- Rooting against your opponent
8-Ball
The classic game. Pocket your group (solids or stripes), then sink the 8-ball to win.
Breaking
- Rack in triangle with 8-ball in center, one solid and one stripe on back corners
- Table is "open" until a ball is legally pocketed after break
- 8-ball pocketed on break? It gets spotted
- 8-ball pocketed on break with a foul? Loss of game
- Foul on break? Cue ball in kitchen
Gameplay
- First ball legally pocketed after break determines your group
- Must hit your ball first, then pocket or drive any ball to rail
- Call ball and pocket only
- Obvious shots don't need to be called
- The 8-ball pocket must always be called
Fouls & Losses
Fouls (ball in hand):
- • Cue ball scratches or off table
- • Hitting opponent's ball first
- • No ball hits rail after contact
Loss of game:
- • Pocketing 8-ball early
- • Scratching on the 8-ball
- • 8-ball in wrong pocket
9-Ball
Fast-paced rotation pool. Contact the lowest ball first—pocket the 9 to win.
Breaking
- Rack in diamond with 1-ball at front, 9-ball in center
- Must hit 1-ball first
- 9-ball pocketed on a legal break? You win!
- Foul on break? Ball in hand anywhere
Gameplay
- Must contact lowest numbered ball first
- Any ball pocketed on legal shot counts
- Combo the 9 to win early!
- No need to call shots
Push Out
- Available immediately after the break
- Cue ball can go anywhere (no contact required)
- Opponent can take the shot or hand it back
Fouls
- • Cue ball scratches
- • Failing to hit lowest ball first
- • No ball hits rail after contact
- • Result: Ball in hand anywhere
- • 3 consecutive fouls? Loss of game. Opponent must warn you before your 3rd.
10-Ball
The "called shot" cousin of 9-ball. Same rotation rules, but precision is rewarded.
Breaking
- Rack in triangle with 1-ball at front
- 10-ball in center of row 3
- Must hit 1-ball first
- 10-ball pocketed on break? It gets spotted
- Foul on break? Ball in hand anywhere
Gameplay
- Must contact lowest numbered ball first
- Call ball and pocket only
- Obvious shots don't need to be called
- Slop doesn't count—opponent can shoot or pass back
Push Out
- Available immediately after the break
- Cue ball can go anywhere (no contact required)
- Opponent can take the shot or hand it back
3-Foul Rule
3 consecutive fouls results in loss of game. Opponent must warn you before your 3rd.
