Object of the Game

• The goal is to be the first player to legally bank and pocket 5 balls.

• Bank pool is a game where all shots must be made by banking the ball off one or more rails before the ball is pocketed.

Setup

• The game uses a standard set of 15 balls, but only 9 balls are racked in a diamond shape.

• The 1-ball is placed at the head of the rack, with the 9-ball in the center. The remaining balls are placed randomly.

• The cue ball is placed behind the head string for the break shot.

Rules

1. Call Shot: The shooter must call the ball and the pocket before each shot. The specific rail paths need not be called, but the ball must go cleanly into the pocket after banking off the rails.

2. Legal Shot: A legal shot requires the ball to be banked off at least one rail before it is pocketed. No straight-in shots are allowed. The object ball must be driven to the called pocket without hitting other balls first.

3. Winning: The first player to legally bank 5 balls wins the game.

4. Fouls:

• Scratches or fouls result in the incoming player getting cue ball in hand behind the head string.

• No ball-in-hand for regular fouls; the incoming player simply resumes play where the cue ball lies, unless the cue ball is behind the head string after a foul, in which case cue ball placement is restricted behind the head string.

5. Break:

• No specific ball must be pocketed on the break. A legal break requires driving at least one object ball to a rail.

• If a ball is made on the break, it stays down, but the breaker’s inning ends, and the opponent takes over with the cue ball in hand behind the head string. The breaker does not continue shooting.

6. Re-rack:

• If, during the course of the game, the shooter is unable to make a shot because no legal banks are available, the balls are re-racked, and the game continues.

7. Safety Play:

• While safety play (deliberately missing or leaving the opponent in a difficult position) is allowed, the shooter must always make a legal shot attempt by contacting a rail.