Controls
Drag back from the cue ball and let go to shoot: the further you pull, the harder the hit. You can also drag on the table to aim and pull the power slider down. Tap a point on the spin ball to set spin, and drag the cue ball to place it when you have ball in hand. Keys: Left and Right arrows aim (hold Shift to fine-aim), Up and Down set power, Space or Enter shoots or confirms the cue ball, W A S D set spin, X clears spin, G asks for the long guide. P or Esc pauses.
How to play Pocket Pool
Pull back from the cue ball and release. The guide line shows where the cue ball will meet the first ball and which way both of them head after the hit. Set spin before you shoot: a top hit makes the cue ball follow through, a bottom hit pulls it back, and a side hit changes how it comes off the cushions.
The frame uses 8-ball rules. The first ball you pot after the break makes you solids or stripes. Clear your group, then sink the 8 to win. A scratch, hitting the wrong ball first, or a shot where nothing reaches a rail is a foul, and your opponent gets ball in hand. Pot the 8 too early or on a foul and you lose the frame.
The ladder and the trick shots
The ladder is 14 opponents. The first ten play in a pub, a downtown hall and a casino, and each one aims more cleanly than the last. The last four make up an invitational with its own tables: a fast velvet cloth, brass posts in front of the side pockets, lively cushions and a final table against The Legend. Win a frame to move up a rung.
Trick shots are 28 set layouts. Pot every ball on the table within the number of shots shown, without scratching. Solving one opens the next, and later layouts add brass posts you have to play around. Use fewer shots for more stars.
Tips and tricks
- Think about where the cue ball stops, not just the ball you are potting. Draw and follow are how you get position for the next shot.
- Do not hit the 8 first while your group is still on the table. That is a foul and hands over ball in hand.
- With ball in hand you can put the cue ball anywhere, so set up an easy straight shot rather than a long cut.
- Once per frame you can watch a short ad for a long guide line that also shows the first bounce. Skip it and you get nothing, but the button stays so you can try again.
FAQ
Is Pocket Pool free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser, with no download and no account.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Drag back from the cue ball to shoot, or aim with a finger and pull the power slider. Spin and placing the cue ball are touch controls too.
What happens when I lose a frame?
You play the same opponent again. The game-over screen can also offer a short ad for a rematch where they break and you then get ball in hand.
Is my progress saved?
Your ladder rung, the trick shots you have opened with their stars, and your trophies are saved in your browser on this device.
