(FAQ) Game Rules – Bottle Pool

(About the Author)

These series of “Game Rules’ provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here have been simplified from the official versions – to make them a little easier to understand.

There are other games that have been invented, copyrighted and generally available to the playing public. Web searches will turn these up and the rules printed out for use.

Bottle Pool

This game combines carom and pocket billiards. It includes use of the shake bottle.

Object

Score 31 points.

Opponents

Two sides (opposing players or doubles teams).

Balls

Balls (1-2) plus the cue ball and the shake bottle.

Racking

Place 1 ball frozen to the foot cushion on the left diamond. Place the 2 ball frozen to the cushion on the right diamond. Place the shaker bottle upside down on the center spot.

Breaking
Starting player determined by local rules (coin, lag, card draw, etc.)

Breaker shoots from kitchen to contact an object ball.

If an illegal shot, incoming player can accept the table as is or reset the table and the breaker shoots again.

Regular play

A shooter continues the inning as long as a point is made on a stroke.

Inning ends when:

  • no score is made on the stroke
  • no legal shot
  • contacts the bottle with an object ball
  • bottle knocked off the table
  • cue ball is jumped off the table
  • object ball is jumped off the table
  • exceed 31 points.

Points are scored for:

  • Pocket a numbered ball to score 1 for 1 ball and 2 for 2 ball.
  • Carom the cue ball off both numbered balls for 1 point.
  • Carom the cue ball off one numbered ball and knock down the shake bottle scores 5 points.
  • Carom the cue ball off one numbered ball and knock down the shake bottle so that it sits right-side up is an automatic win.

Note: You can get 9 points in a single stroke by sinking both balls while doing a carom, and then knocking the shake bottle over.

Any balls knocked off the table are re-spotted. If the cue ball is knocked off the table, play starts from the kitchen.

Any balls pocketed are spotted. If the ball’s position is blocked, the center spot is used. If that is blocked, the head spot is used. For spotting both balls, the 1 ball is placed first.

If a player goes over 31 points on a shot, the score is reduced to the number over 31 and loss of turn. (For example: a score is 29 and the 2 ball is pocketed but also contacts the 1 ball, the score goes to 32 which then reverts to a score of 1 plus loss of turn.

Re-position bottle

Whenever the bottle is knocked over, it is placed upside down at the point where the mouth of the bottle is located.

If the bottle was knocked off the table, it is spotted on the center spot. If this is blocked, place the bottle on the head spot. If that is blocked, place on the foot spot. If all three are covered (extremely rare), hold the bottle off the table until the next shot is done, then spot the bottle.

Fouls

Penalty is one point. If three consecutive fouls without a legal shot, the player loses game.

  • Ball off the table
  • Scratch
  • Upset bottle with object ball
  • Cue ball contacts bottle before an object ball
  • No legal shot
  • Illegal ball touching (optional – moved balls can be replaced with opponent’s approval and play continues with no penalty)

Stalemate

In a refereed match, if the referee feels that neither player is attempting to win, he may so declare. At that point, if, in the referee’s opinion, the players do not make any attempt to win for the next three turns, the match is considered a stalemate, and the game is restarted with the same original breaker.

Get the Book!

The FAQs of Pool & Pocket Billiards


Get the Book!!

book-PDF PDF book (good for smart devices)
(Includes my Money-back Guarantee)

book-red Printed book
Featured Posts

(FAQ) Game Rules - Cribbage

(About the Author) These series of "Game Rules' provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here ...

Read More

(BSC) Billiard Skills Challenge (video) - Cue Ball Shape, Set 1 (Advanced) Test Group

(About the Author) Here is Today's Test Group Challenge from the book. This progressive set develops personal confidence when similar shots ...

Read More

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 10 - condition to attack

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(AWAP) Art of War v. Art of Pool - Chapter 13 - spies usefully employed

(About the author) At it's most basic, the pool table is a small battlefield. An excerpt from "The Art of War" ...

Read More

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 6, Set 10

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you ...

Read More

(CBC) Cue Ball Control (half table patterns) - Group 5, Set 8

This is today's set of Cue Ball Cheats. These practice setups (and others in the book and blog) help you ...

Read More