Billiards: 8-ball pool

1. Break: put the cue ball anywhere behind the line, and hit the rack hard.
2. The table is open after the break. The first ball you pocket gives you its group: solids (1 to 7) or stripes (9 to 15).
3. Hit a ball of your group first on every shot. Pocket one and you shoot again.
4. When your group is gone, pocket the 8 ball in any pocket to win.

A foul gives the other player the cue ball in hand: they can put it anywhere. These are fouls: the cue ball goes in, it hits no ball, it hits a ball of the other group (or the 8) first, or no ball touches a cushion after the hit. The 8 that goes in before your group is cleared, or on a foul, loses the game. The 8 that goes in on the break comes back to its spot.

• Aim: drag on the table. The cue points from the cue ball toward your finger or the mouse.
• The dotted line shows where the cue ball first touches a ball, the yellow line where that ball goes, and the white line where the cue ball goes.
• Fine aim: tap or hold the arrows next to the power bar.
• Shoot: slide the power bar to the power you want and let go. Slide back to the start to cancel.
• Spin: tap the small cue ball and pick where the cue hits it, for draw, follow or side spin.
• Keyboard: the left and right arrows aim, A and D aim in small steps, Up and Down set the power, Space shoots.

• Play the easy balls first, the ones close to a pocket, and leave the cue ball in the middle of the table.
• Use less power than you think. A soft shot keeps the cue ball under control.
• Hit low on the cue ball to draw it back after the hit, and high to make it follow.
• When no shot is on, hit one of your balls softly to a cushion, and leave the other player nothing easy.