The shooter must use the cue ball to hit the balls in order, from lowest to highest, but the balls do not need to be pocketed in order. The shooter loses his or her turn if a shot is missed or foul is committed. Missing a shot means no ball is pocketed. Examples of fouls are the balls bouncing up off the table's surface, the cue ball getting pocketed, the shooter touching or moving balls with hands or the cue, or the cue ball hitting a ball that isn't the lowest numbered on the table. A game can be over quickly if, after the break, the shooter pockets the 9 ball using the 1-ball.

When another player takes over, they may place the cue ball anywhere on the table to line up a shot. However, the shooter must stand in the same place as the previous shooter. Play continues until someone pockets the 9 ball. If any shooter commits three fouls in one game, they must forfeit. You can combine many games to form a match, where one player wins the best out of an odd number of games.