GUIDE #297
How to Play 8 Ball Pool Online
Classic 8-ball pool on a real top-down table: six pockets, fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball you can spin. Take solids or stripes, clear them, then sink the 8.
01 // CONTROLS
Controls
- Aim: drag anywhere on the table — the cue points at your finger; a guide line and ghost ball show the contact and the object-ball path
- Fine-tune: slide the fine-aim dial or tap ⟲ ⟳ (or ← / →, Shift for bigger steps)
- Spin: tap a point on the small cue ball — high for follow, low for draw, left / right for side
- Guide lines: pick On or Off in the game options before the game (on by default) to show or hide the ghost ball, the object-ball path and the cue-ball line; online the host sets it for everyone and it is locked once play starts
- Strike: grab the cue (or the cue ball) and pull it back — the further you pull, the harder the shot — then let go. Slide back to zero to cancel. On a phone you can also pull the cue in the power slider. Ball in hand: drag the cue ball to place it
02 // STEPS
Step by step
- 01
Break
Place the cue ball behind the head string and break the rack. A legal break pots a ball or drives at least four balls to a cushion; otherwise it is a foul.
- 02
Open table
After the break the table is open. The first ball you pot legally makes that group yours: solids (1–7) or stripes (9–15). The 8 may not be hit first on an open table.
- 03
Clear your group
Keep shooting while you pot your own balls. Potting only an opponent ball, or nothing, ends your turn.
- 04
Fouls
Scratch (cue ball potted), missing every ball, hitting the wrong ball first, or no ball reaching a cushion after contact (when nothing is potted) is a foul: your opponent gets ball in hand anywhere.
- 05
Sink the 8
With your group cleared, hit the 8 first and pot it to win. Potting the 8 early, or fouling / scratching while potting it, loses the rack. The 8 potted on the break is re-spotted.
03 // EDGE
Pro tips
- Take the group with the easier balls — clusters near the cushions are hard to clear later.
- With ball in hand, place the cue ball for a straight shot and an easy next ball.
- Leave the 8 near a pocket until you need it, and keep the cue ball away from the corner pockets on the 8.
04 // FAQ
8 Ball Pool FAQ
Is online 8 ball pool fair?
Yes. Every shot is simulated on the server with deterministic physics; every screen replays the same numbers, so players and spectators see the identical result.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. The table turns to fit portrait and landscape without scrolling, and the spin, fine-aim and power controls are thumb-sized.
What happens if the 8 goes in on the break?
It is re-spotted on the foot spot and play goes on; if you also scratched, it is a foul and your opponent has ball in hand.
Is 8 Ball Pool free to play in the browser?
Yes. 8 Ball Pool on My MP Games is free HTML5 — no download, no account, and no paywall.
Can I play 8 Ball Pool vs the computer?
Open the play page and choose Play vs Computer. You can also play Local vs on one device or share a room code with a friend.
Where are the 8 Ball Pool rules?
Classic 8-ball pool on a real top-down table: six pockets, fifteen numbered balls and a cue ball you can spin. Take solids or stripes, clear them, then sink the 8.