# A Comprehensive Analysis of the Rules of Chinese Eight-ball Billiards Chinese eight-ball billiards, also known as Chinese-style eight-ball, is a popular billiards game in China. Its rules are simple and clear, yet full of strategies and skills, attracting many enthusiasts to participate. If you want to show your skills in a Chinese eight-ball billiards game, you must first be familiar with its rules. Before the game starts, 15 target balls are arranged in a triangle. The No. 1 ball is at the top corner, the No. 8 ball is in the middle, and the other balls are placed randomly. The right to break is usually determined by a ball comparison or coin toss. The breaker must hit the cue ball with the cue stick, and at least 4 target balls must touch the cushion, or a ball must drop into a pocket. Otherwise, the break is considered invalid, and a re-break is required. In a Chinese eight-ball billiards game, the balls are divided into solid balls numbered from 1 to 7, striped balls numbered from 9 to 15, and the crucial No. 8 ball. After the break, if a ball drops into a pocket, the player can choose to hit either the solid balls or the striped balls according to the type of the pocketed ball. Once a type of ball is selected, the player can only hit that type of ball in this inning until all of them are pocketed, and then the player can hit the No. 8 ball. When hitting the selected ball, the player must first hit that ball and then make that ball or other balls drop into a pocket to be considered a legal shot. If the player fails to hit the target ball or no ball drops into a pocket after hitting the target ball, it is a foul. When a player has pocketed all of their target balls, they can start attacking the No. 8 ball. When hitting the No. 8 ball, it must be directly pocketed and cannot be pocketed through indirect collision. If a foul occurs when hitting the No. 8 ball, such as the cue ball dropping into a pocket or the shot not going into the pocket, the player will be judged to have lost. If the No. 8 ball is pocketed into the wrong pocket, it is also a foul, and the opponent will be declared the winner. During the game, fouls will be subject to corresponding penalties. Common fouls include the cue ball dropping into a pocket, the ball going out of bounds, failing to hit the target ball, and double-hitting. Once a foul occurs, the opponent will be granted a free ball, that is, the opponent can place the cue ball at any position on the table for the next shot. Although the rules of Chinese eight-ball billiards seem simple, in actual games, players need to flexibly apply strategies and accurately calculate the shooting lines and forces. Only by fully mastering the rules can players play at their best level in the game and enjoy the fun and challenges brought by Chinese eight-ball billiards. Both beginners and experienced players can find their own room for growth in the world of Chinese eight-ball billiards rules.
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