Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
14.1 Continuous is generally considered the game that provides the greatest all-around test of complete pocket billiard playing skill, requiring great concentration, accuracy, shot-making, defense, patience and knowledge. It is the only commonly played game in which a shooter can play a single inning through rack after rack of balls. Players may shoot at any ball on the table at any time, but they must call the ball and the pocket on each shot. Unending variety ... and challenge.
Two players (or two teams).
Standard set of object balls numbered 1-15 plus a cue ball.
Standard triangle rack with front apex ball on the foot spot, the 1-ball on the (racker's) right corner, the 5-ball on the left corner. Other balls placed at random. Left and right determined as looking from the head (the kitchen area) of the table down to the foot spot (where the balls are racked).
Score the predetermined point total for a game prior to the opponent. This is usually 150 in major tournament play or any agreed upon total in casual play. In block play a predetermined number of blocks are played (usually three). Blocks are usually set at 125 balls for major tournament play.
A player is credited with a point for each ball that drops on a counting stroke. (A counting stroke is one where the player legally pockets the called ball in the called pocket.)
Starting player must either (1) call a shot — designate a ball and a pocket into which that ball will be pocketed and accomplish the shot, or (2) play an opening safety — cause the cue ball to contact an object ball and then a cushion, plus cause at least two object balls to contact a cushion. Failure to meet at least one of the above is a break violation. Offender's score is assessed a two point penalty for each break violation.
When a break violation happens the shooter's opponent has the options of:
This continues until the opening break is not a break violation, or until the opponent accepts the table in position. NOTE: Break violations do not count towards a major foul.
If the opening player scratches on a legal opening break, he is charged with a scratch and assessed a one point penalty. The incoming player is awarded cue ball in hand behind the head string, with object balls in position. This scratch will count towards a major foul.
A legally pocketed ball entitles the shooter to continue at the table until he fails to legally pocket a called ball. A player may shoot any ball he chooses, but before he shoots, must designate the called ball and the called pocket (in casual games the shot need not be called if it is obvious). Detail such as kisses, caroms, combinations, or cushions (all of which are legal) are not required. Each additionally pocketed ball on a counting stroke is scored as one point. (NOTE: That if the shooter calls more than one ball on a shot all the called balls must legally go in their designated pocket for the shot to count.)
If a referee incorrectly calls a shot, the shooter is required to correct the call before completing the shot. If the shot is taken without the referee calling the correct shot it does not count. NOTE: If a miss-call does occur for any reason, the shot shall be credited if in the referee's judgment the player did legally execute the shot as intended.
For a legal shot (counting or safety) the shooter must cause the cue ball to contact an object ball and then:
Failure to do so is a foul. Balls (cue and object) will remain in position for the incoming player.
When the fourteenth ball of a rack is pocketed, play stops momentarily with the fifteenth ball remaining in position on the table. The fourteen pocketed balls are then racked (with the space at the foot spot vacant). The player then continues, normally pocketing the fifteenth (or "break") ball in such a manner as to have the cue ball go into the rack and spread the balls to facilitate the continuance of his run. However, player is not compelled to shoot the fifteenth ball; he may shoot any ball he desires. If the fifteenth ball is pocketed on the same stroke as the fourteenth ball player sees a full rack. (NOTE: This resultant full rack does not require an opening break safety -- a normal safety will suffice.)
The shooter may call a safety rather than an object ball. Safety play is legal, but must comply with all the applicable rules for a legal shot. Player's inning ends when a safety is played. Any object balls pocketed on a called safety are spotted and are not tallied.
A player may not catch, touch, or in any way interfere with the travel of a ball, or balls (e.g. toward a pocket or the rack area; as in catching a ball as it enters a pocket by having a hand in the pocket). If he does, he is penalized for a major-foul. His opponent then has the option to accept the table as it is, or have the offender shoot an opening break.
If the fifteenth (unpocketed) ball of a rack and/or the cue ball interferes with the triangle being lowered straight down onto the position of racking, refer to the Racking Table Diagram, which indicates the proper manner of relocating the balls. (The "--N/A--" boxes are those situations in which there is no interference, both balls remain in position.)
When a player has the cue ball in hand behind the head string (as after a scratch) and all object balls are behind the head string, the object ball nearest the head string may be spotted at his request. If two or more balls are an equal distance from the head string, the player may designate which of the equidistant balls he wants to have spotted.
(Frozen)
When an object ball is frozen to a cushion and a shot (counting
or safety) is played upon it the ball contacting it must go to a cushion
for the shot to be legal, or the frozen ball must contact a different
cushion.
(Nearly Frozen)
When an object ball is not frozen to a cushion, but is within a
ball's width of a cushion (referee to determine by measurement if
necessary), a player is permitted only two legal safeties on that ball
by sending it to that near cushion. If such safety play is
employed that object ball is then considered frozen to the cushion on
the player's third consecutive play upon it.
(NOTE: if a player has committed a foul on his previous shot effort before playing this ball, he is allowed only one legal safety on the ball using the near cushion. He must then meet the requirements of the (General Pocket Rules) frozen ball rule on his next shot. If he has committed two consecutive fouls, he must immediately meet the requirements of the frozen ball rule when playing this object ball. If the player fails to meet the requirements of the frozen ball rule, he is considered to have committed a major foul and the appropriate point penalty is assessed (in addition to penalties already assessed for each of the previous fouls). His opponent then has the option of taking the table as it is, or having all fifteen balls re-racked and having the shooter execute an opening break shot.)
All spotted. No penalty.
All are spotted after all the balls come to rest. The stroke is a foul. Cue ball stays in position.
Incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string, unless a provision of General Pocket Rules (e.g. Fouls #2 or #5), or a major foul penalty applies and an alternate procedure is chosen.
One point deducted for each foul. (Note: see General Pocket Rules for more severe penalties for things like: deliberate fouls (Fouls #5) and major foul (below). Incoming player accepts cue ball in position unless it was: a jumped cue ball; pocket scratch; deliberate foul (GPR #5); or a major foul where opponent opts to have shooter execute an opening break shot.
NOTE: A scratch is a foul, the distinction being that on a scratch the cue ball has left the playing surface and not returned. On non-scratch fouls the cue ball is left in position for the incoming player. Following a scratch the incoming player puts the cue ball in play from the kitchen (see GPR: Coming Out of Kitchen for details).
When a player commits a foul, he is penalized one point (or more as
appropriate) and a notation is made and posted by the scorer that he is
"on a foul". The player remains "on a foul" until
his next shot attempt, at which time he may remove the foul by executing
a legal (non-foul) shot (counting attempt or safety). If he
fails to meet these requirements the appropriate penalty is applied and
it is noted that he is now "on two fouls". If he fails to
execute a legal (non-foul) shot (counting attempt or safety) on his next
(third) turn at the table the appropriate point penalty is deducted from
his score. In addition,
The commission of the third successive foul clears the offenders record of fouls (back to "on no fouls").
After the commission of the third consecutive foul, the offender's opponent has the option of:
The deduction of penalty points can result in negative scores. A running score can read "minus one," "minus two," "minus fifteen," etc. A player could win a game with a score of 150 while his opponent has scored but three (non-successive) fouls. (The final score would read 150 to -3.)
If a player fouls on a shot that has not pocketed a ball, the point penalty is deducted from his score. If a player fouls and pockets balls on the same shot, those balls are spotted (not scored) and the penalty is deducted from his score.