Except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the General Rules of Pocket Billiards apply.
TYPE OF GAME
Bottle Pocket is among the few games that combine the objectives
of Carom Billiards and Pocket Billiards. It is a unique game in the it
uses a leather "shaker bottle" in addition to normal pocket billiard
balls.
PLAYERS
Two, or more, individuals or teams.
EQUIPMENT USED
Object balls numbered 1-2, plus the cue ball, and a "shake" bottle.
OPENING SETUP
The opening setup of the game has the 1-ball frozen to the foot cushion
one diamond from the left foot pocket, the 2-ball frozen to the foot cushion
one diamond from the right foot pocket, and the shaker bottle placed
upside down on the center spot.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
To score 31 points before your opponent(s).
SCORING
Shooter can only score on legal strokes. Points can be scored by either pocketing a numbered ball (point value of ball sunk), by caroming both numbered ball with the cue ball (1 pt), caroming the cue ball off an object ball and knocking the bottle over (5 pts). If the cue ball caroms off of an object ball and knocks the bottle so it stands base down (right side up) on the bed of the table the shooter automatically wins the game.
It is possible to get up to 9 points per inning by sinking both object balls, caroming off of both object balls, and knocking the bottle over (on the same stroke).
If a player scores more than 31-points his score will become the amount
he went over 31 by, and his inning is over. (Example: shooter starts
with 30 and sinks the 2-ball on a legal shot - his turn is over and he
now has 1 point.)
OPENING THE GAME
The game starts with the first shooter having cue ball in the kitchen.
At least one of the objects balls must be hit for a legal opening shot
(the bottle can not be legally struck before an object ball is
contacted). Failure to execute a legal opening shot allows option of
accepting table as it sits after the shot or having the opening player
open the game again.
RULES OF PLAY
Shooter continues at table until: he fails to execute a legal shot, contacts the bottle with an object ball (before the cue ball, after contacting an object ball, contacts the bottle), drives the bottle off of the bed of the table, or exceeds 31-points.
It is a foul to upset the bottle with an object ball.
It is a foul if the cue ball contacts the bottle before the cue ball has contacted an object ball.
An object ball must be contacted on each stroke, and either the object
ball, another object ball, or the cue ball, must reach a cushion after
the cue ball object ball contact. Failure to do so is a foul.
SPOTTING THE BOTTLE
The bottle is "spotted" before the next shot anytime it is knocked over. This is done by placing the bottle upside down as close to where the opeing came to rest as possible,
If the bottle came to rest off of the table it is spotted on the center
spot. If the center spot is blocked then spot on the head spot; if the
head spot is blocked then spot on the foot spot; if the foot spot is
occupied then keep out of play until the center spot is open.
ILLEGALLY POCKET BALLS
Are spotted (without additional penalty) as described below.
JUMPED OBJECT BALLS
Are spotted (without penalty) as described below.
CUE BALL AFTER SCRATCH OR JUMPING OFF TABLE
Shooter's inning is over, a fould is marked, and incoming player will
put cue ball in play from kitchen.
SPOTTING OBJECT BALLS
Any pocketed balls are spotted, prior to the next shot, in hte position
they occupied at the start of the game. If that spot is blocked then
the center spot is used, if the center spot is blocked then the head
spot is used. If both balls need to be spotted then the 1-ball is
spotted first.
PENALTY FOR FOULS
One point is deducted from offending player's score.
LOSS OF GAME
The game is lost if a player fouls in three consecutive inngs.