8 Ball Pool

What it is

8 Ball Pool is a browser pool table on a small multiplayer-games site: a green cloth, a rack of fifteen balls and a cue. You can play against the computer, against a friend through an invite link, or against a stranger through matchmaking. The site offers two rule sets, official tournament rules or the looser house rules most people grew up with, plus custom match settings for turn time, foul penalties and potting order.

How to play

Press Play now and pick bots, a friend or a stranger, then the rules you want. Aim and shoot with the mouse, or a finger on a phone. Solids or stripes are assigned on the first pot, the black comes last, and a foul hands the table to the other player. To play a friend, send them the invite link. No account is needed: a guest session is stored in your browser and you are at the table in seconds.

What makes it different

The rules toggle is the point. Tournament rules or house rules, then your own settings for turn time, foul penalties and potting order, so two people can agree the game before the break instead of arguing during it. The friend link is the other reason: one link, one frame of pool, no sign-up on either side.

Why it is on Bored

Pool is a game two people can settle in ten minutes, and this is a clean way to do it in a tab. The trade-off is the ad stack, which is heavy, and a consent wall with an unusually long partner list. Get through that once and the table is quick.

Tips

• Use the invite link to play a friend, it beats matchmaking with strangers
• House rules for a casual game, tournament rules if you want it strict
• Set a shorter turn time in the match options if your friend dawdles
• Expect a consent wall and ads around the table

FAQ