How many lives do you get in killer pool?

Three lives each is the usual pub rule. Bigger groups sometimes play with two to keep the game short.

What happens if you foul in killer?

A foul, such as potting the white or missing every ball, costs a life just like a miss. Some pubs make it cost two, so agree before you start.

What happens if you pot the black in killer?

If agreed as a house rule, potting the black wins an extra life, usually capped at your starting number of lives. The black stays down. Some pubs also give an extra life for potting two balls in one shot, sometimes only if both were nominated first. Without these rules it simply counts as a pot.

How is the order decided in killer pool?

Agree it first. Fixed: names on the board for the whole game. Shuffled: deal one playing card to each player, lowest shoots first, and deal again each round. Drawn as you go: after each shot, the player who just shot draws the next shooter, so the order stays random.

What is the confirmation shot in killer pool?

An optional rule: the last player with lives must pot one more ball to win. If they miss, nobody wins, the pot carries over and a new game starts with everyone back in.

How many people can play killer pool?

Any number from three upwards. It works best with four to twenty players, which is why it's a favourite for pub nights.

KILLER POOL

Rules

Killer pool rules: how to play killer

Q: How do you play killer pool?

Every player starts with the same number of lives, usually three. Players take one shot each in a fixed order. Pot a ball and you keep your lives; miss and you lose one. Lose all your lives and you're out. The last player left wins the pot.

The pub game for any number of players. Free printable score sheet below.

In short: everyone starts with the same number of lives, usually three. Players take one shot each in a fixed order. Pot a ball and you keep your lives; miss and you lose one. Lose all your lives and you're out. The last player left wins the pot.

3 lives eachSame for everyone

One shotThen the next player

Pot = safeKeep your lives

Miss = 1 lifeNo lives left, you're out

Last one winsThey take the pot

What you need

Any pool table (English 8-ball or American, it doesn't matter) and a full rack of balls.

Three or more players. Four to twenty is the sweet spot.

An entry fee per player if you're playing for a pot, and something to keep score with.

How to play

Before you start

1
Pay in. Everyone puts the entry fee in the pot.
2
Decide the order. Fixed for the whole game, or shuffled every round (see Setting the order).
3
Set the lives. Each player starts with three lives (two for big groups).

Playing

4
Break: two shots. The first player breaks and gets two shots on the break. If nothing goes in off the break, they have another go. Potting on the break counts as a pot.
5
One shot each. On your turn you get one shot and must pot a ball. Any ball counts, colours or stripes, spots or solids.
6
Pot = safe. Keep your lives. Play passes to the next player; you don't shoot again.
7
Miss = lose a life. Fail to pot and you lose a life. 1
8
Out of lives = out. Lose your last life and you're knocked out. Play skips you from then on.

Keep going

9
Re-rack. When the table is empty, or down to one ball if you agree, rack again (see Re-racking).
10
Last player standing wins the pot.

Keep score on your phone instead of the chalkboard: lives, turns and who's out, plus the game on the pub TV.

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Setting the order

Agree before the break whether the order is fixed or shuffled. Three ways to do it:

Fixed

Write the names on the board in the order people paid in, or draw them once. That order stays for the whole game.

Shuffled with cards

Deal one regular playing card to each player. Lowest card shoots first, highest last. To shuffle every round, collect the cards and deal again at the start of each round. If whoever shot last would go first, they swap with the next card, so nobody shoots twice in a row.

Drawn as you go

After each shot, the player who just shot draws the next shooter: a card from the pack, or a name from a hat. Nobody knows who's up next, so the order stays random all game.

Re-racking & fouls

Re-racking

When the table is empty, or at one ball left if you agree.

One ball left? The player whose turn it is chooses:

Option 1Re-rack and break.

Their break is their one shot.

Option 2Play the last ball.

If they clear it, the next player breaks with two shots.

Fouls 1

A foul costs a life, the same as a miss.

Potting the white (in-off)

Missing every ball

Knocking a ball off the table

Touching a ball with your hand, clothes or the cue

After a foul the next player usually has the white in hand: behind the line in English pool, anywhere on the table in American pool. Some pubs make a foul cost two lives. Agree before you start.

Extra lives If agreed

Extra lives are a house rule, not always played. Agree them before you start:

Pot the black

An extra life. The black stays down; it isn't put back on the table.

Two balls, one shot

An extra life, if agreed. Some pubs only give it if you nominate both balls before you shoot.

A cap

Most pubs don't let anyone go above their starting number of lives.

Without these rules, potting the black or two balls simply counts as a pot.

The last two players

They take turns, one shot each, until one of them runs out of lives. Nobody shoots twice in a row, even if the order is shuffled.

The confirmation shot If agreed

Some pubs make the winner earn it. When only one player has lives left, they don't win straight away. They take one more shot: the confirmation shot.

Confirmation shot

Pot it

They win the pot.

Miss it

They lose their last life too. Nobody wins: the pot carries over, and a new game starts with everyone back in (and usually a fresh entry fee on top).

House rules worth agreeing first

How many lives each player starts with.
Whether a foul costs one life or two.
Whether the order is fixed, shuffled with playing cards every round, or drawn by each player as you go.
Extra lives: for the black, for two balls in one shot, and whether lives are capped.
Whether the table is re-racked at one ball left.
Whether the winner has to take a confirmation shot.
Late arrivals: most pubs let people join during the first round only.

Killer, Kelly pool and cutthroat

They're all group games, but they're different.

Killer

You lose lives for missing. Last player left wins.

Kelly pool

Each player secretly draws a numbered ball and wins by potting it.

Cutthroat

Three players each own a group of balls and try to clear everyone else's.

Questions

How many lives do you get in killer?

Three is the usual pub rule; two keeps big games short.

Do you have to pot your own colour?

No. Any ball counts in killer.

Do you get another shot if you pot?

No. One shot each, then it's the next player's turn.

How long does a game take?

About 20 to 40 minutes for ten players with three lives.

Printable score sheet

Print it and cross off a box each time a player loses a life.

#	Player	Life	Life	Life	Extra
1
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5
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7
8
9
10
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13
14
15
16

Killer Pool · killer.pocketpoolapp.com/rules

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