Chinese Eight-ball - Fouls

Fouls

If the object ball is in contact with the cue ball when the shot begins, the player must hit away from the cue and strike it by banking off a cushion. The cue ball may not move before the object ball touches the cushion or it is a foul.

When the cue ball falls in a pocket or leaves the table it is also a scratch. The cue ball is placed at the head spot, or, if occupied, as close as possible to this spot following a line perpendicular to, and moving toward, the head cushion.

In the event of one of the above two fouls, one of the player's pocketed balls comes out and is placed on the foot (rack) spot, or if occupied, as close as possible to this spot following a line perpendicular to, and moving toward, the foot cushion. Any other missed or illegal shot does not result in a pulled ball, unless the ball was pocketed during that shot.

Any opponent's balls pocketed through an illegal or foul shot remain in the pocket. Any of one's own balls pocketed as a result of one's illegal or foul shot come out and are placed on the footer spot, or if occupied, directly behind as already detailed.

If a player makes an illegal shot (which includes not striking the cue ball first with the object ball), his or her turn ends. The opponent may elect to play the balls where they sit. The opponent may also choose to move the white cue ball to the center spot, but only if it is unoccupied.