Saratoga Pool

At the start of the game, the object balls are racked in a pentagonal configuration with a standard triangle rack, with the 1 ball placed at the rack's apex, centred over the table's foot spot, the money ball in the centre of the third row (being either an 8 ball or a special 13 ball depending on the ball set used), a solid and stripe at the ends of the fourth row, and the 9 ball in the centre of the fifth row, with the rest of the object balls placed randomly. The breaking player may then place the cue ball anywhere in the head string, but the struck cue ball must hit the apex ball to legally break the balls. After the break shot, regardless of what ball goes down, the table remains open until a player legally pockets a solid or stripe. A player may call a push-out shot after the break-off shot, after which, the opponent can choose to accept the cue ball's position, or make the player play again. Unlike eight-ball pool, the player must aim for the lowest numbered solid or stripe first with the cue ball. Once a player pockets that suit of balls, their cue ball must strike the lowest numbered solid or stripe assigned to them. For standard pool ball sets, for solids they would have balls 1 to 6 to pocket and for stripes they would have balls 9 to 14 to pocket. The 7 and 15 balls are not used in the game. For special Saratoga Pool ball sets, for solids they would have balls 1 to 6 to pocket and for stripes, they would have balls 7 to 12 to pocket. If the money ball is pocketed on the break-off shot, it is respotted on the table and the player who broke continues their turn from where the balls lie, or they can call for a re-rack. Whilst combinations are legal, the ball pocketed via a combination must be the player's own suit, otherwise if the opponent's suit is pocketed, the player's turn ends; this is not a foul shot and the opponent does not get the ball-in-hand. An exception to this rule applies on an open table, in which they may pocket a higher numbered solid or stripe off the lowest numbered solid or stripe, and that ball pocketed would become the player's own suit. If both suits are pocketed on the same shot, the table still remains open and the player continues shooting. A player cannot pocket the money ball via a combination for an early win; this would result in a loss for the player. All foul shots award the opponent ball-in-hand, and they may place the cueball anywhere on the table for their next shot, including after the break-off shot. All shots in this game must be called; failure to call a shot results in a loss of turn, including legal slop shots. In the event of a legal slop shot, the opponent has the option of either taking their next shot, or give the shot back to the player. The first player to sink all of their balls and legally pocket the money ball wins the rack.[2][3]