9 Ball Pool
Drag the cue ball to aim
- Category
- Sports
- Players
- 1-2
- Controls
- Drag / Release
- Rule
- Lowest ball first
About this game
Nine ball is the fast, sharp cousin of eight ball, and the game the professionals play. Only nine object balls are on the table, and one rule governs everything: you must always strike the lowest-numbered ball first. Pot the nine, by any legal means, and you win the rack. That single constraint turns pool into something closer to chess.
Because you have to hit the lowest ball first, but any ball can drop on a legal shot, the nine can go down early off a combination or a carom. That makes nine ball a game of position and opportunity rather than steady clearance. A player who thinks two shots ahead can end a rack in a single visit to the table.
Controls
| Drag from the cue ball | Set direction and power. |
| Release | Take the shot. |
| Rotate device | The table switches to landscape automatically. |
| New game | Rack the balls and start again. |
Tips & strategy
Position is everything in nine ball. Since you must hit the lowest ball next, each shot is really about where the cue ball stops, not just whether you pot. Before you strike, know which ball you are going for after this one and leave yourself a clean angle on it.
Look for combinations on the nine. Because the nine wins the rack whenever it drops legally, a shot where the lowest ball can kiss the nine into a pocket ends the game instantly. Always check whether the lowest ball and the nine share a line to a pocket.
When you have no makeable shot, play a safety. Leave the cue ball where your opponent cannot easily reach the lowest ball, or hook them behind another ball entirely. A good safety in nine ball wins as many racks as a good pot.
Control your power. Nine ball rewards precise position over big breaks, and a hard shot that pots but scatters the cue ball across the table often leaves you with nothing. Roll the cue ball gently to the exact spot you want for the next lowest ball.
Questions
Which ball do I hit first?
Always the lowest-numbered ball on the table. You must strike it first, though other balls can still be potted on the same shot.
How do I win the rack?
By legally sinking the nine ball. That can happen early through a combination, not only as the last ball.
What counts as a foul?
Failing to hit the lowest ball first, or potting the cue ball. Play then passes to your opponent.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The table is drawn in portrait and rotates to landscape when you turn the device.