Opponent Hits 8-Ball to Move it Away from Pocket

4/15/2021 9:18:21 AM

Opponent Hits 8-Ball to Move it Away from Pocket

Is it legal for the opponent to try to hit and move the 8-ball away from a pocket?

The scenario is that I've cleared all of my object balls, and my opponent has not. The 8 ball is on the lip of a corner pocket, but it's my opponent's shot.

My opponent tries to hit the 8 ball out of way with the cue ball (and succeeds).

Is this legal?

user1618503499

This question relates to the following billiard rules:

8 Ball Rules

Opponent Hits 8-Ball to Move it Away from Pocket

Replies & Comments

Mitch Alsup on 4/15/2021 9:22:57 AM
If a player makes contact with a ball other than that of your own group first, it is a foul.

Note that sometimes a foul is the best option (but very very seldom).

RayMills on 4/19/2021 5:13:44 PM
You asked if the shot was legal, and Mitch has reminded us that sometimes a "foul on purpose" is the best tactic. You didn't say what 8-Ball rules you were using in general, but a ball-in-hand penalty would usually make this tactic moot. So the semantics debate is over what degree of legality. The shot is legal, a non-game-ending penalty is applied, and the game goes on.

If the opponent used a combination shot to move the 8, there wouldn't be any foul.

If your opponent's last resort is to make you have a difficult shot on your 8-ball, he doesn't care where the cue ball will be placed, just that the 8-ball is confined somehow by other balls or in what direction you would need to shoot or bank it. Fouls on purpose can be excellent defensive shots, and can put big pressure on an opponent who is stressed by having to figure out a remedy!

Opponent Hits 8-Ball to Move it Away from Pocket

Title: Opponent Hits 8-Ball to Move it Away from Pocket
Author: user1618503499 (Kenneth Herb)
Published: 4/15/2021 9:18:21 AM
Last Updated: 4/19/2021 2:25:38 AM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)