The *exact* rules for games of the BCA are copyrighted, and should not be reproduced in electronic form without permission. See below for information on ordering copies and the World Pool-Billiard Association's site at http://www.wpa-pool.com/rules/rules.htm In almost every pool game, a shot that does not pocket a ball is required to have at least one ball contact a rail after the cue ball contacts a ball. NINE BALL Rack the lowest numbered nine balls in a diamond, with the one ball at the foot spot and the nine in the middle. Any ball that goes in counts as long as the lowest numbered ball on the table is hit first. The winner is the player who makes the nine on a legal shot. If a player fails to hit the lowest numbered ball first, the opponent has ball in hand anywhere on the table. On the first shot after a legal break, regardless of who the shooter is, the player can call "push", and merely push the cue ball somewhere, without restrictions on driving a ball to the rail or hitting the lowest numbered object ball. Opponent can either accept the table and shoot, or force the player to shoot. From then on, normal ball-in-hand for failure to hit the lowest-numbered object ball applies. After a foul, no balls are spotted except the nine (when necessary). On a coin-op table, substitute the ten-ball for an escaped nine. Three consecutive fouls by one player, loses the game.