What kind of game?
Japan Nineball (Japan) is a uniquely Japanese game based on nine balls. Currently, in a normal 9-ball game, if you throw the 9th ball in, you win, but in Japan’s case, if you pocket the 3rd, 5th, 7th, or 9th ball, you score a point (referred to as a scoring ball). This is a game where you can win or lose based on the size of the game. While normal 9ball is played by two players, Japan can be played by any number of players, making it perfect for playing with a large group of people. By the way, Japan is mostly played in western Japan, and in eastern Japan, “5-9” (gokyu, gokku) is played with almost the same rules, with the point balls being the 5th ball and the 9th ball. In Japan (5-9), there are no unified codified rules, and each region and store has its own unique rules, which are also the source of the fun of the game.
Basic rules of the game
■Ball usedNine target balls from balls 1 to 9 and a cue ball.■How to assemble a rackPlace the No. 1 ball at the top of the rack as seen from the side that will make the break shot, and the No. 9 ball in the center of the third row behind it. In addition, No. 3, No. 5, and No. 7, which will be the point balls, are placed anywhere in the 2nd and 5th rows of the rack (Figure 1 left). In the case of 5-9, place number 5 in any position on the second row of the rack (Figure 1 right)
■Game purposescore more points than your opponent■Basic rule pointsA player who has the right to play must first hit the lowest numbered target ball remaining on the table when making a shot.
Game flow and wins/losses
Step 1: Decide on the match format
Before starting the game, decide on a predetermined number of racks, such as 10 racks or 30 racks. After that, decide on the order of shots using any method such as rock, paper, scissors, etc., then prepare a sheet of paper on which you can write the score, and write the names and order of the participating players (use the blackboard or whiteboard provided in the billiard hall). in some cases). If there is a difference in ability between the participating players, “Player A scores only with the 9th ball, Player B scores with the normal point ball, and Player C scores with the 4th and 6th balls in addition to the normal point ball.” They handicap players by the number of dotted balls, such as, “The ball also scores,” or “Player A gets the normal score, Player B gets double the points with the 7th ball, and Player C gets double the points with the 3rd and 7th balls.” Another method is to handicap players based on the number of points they score. There are also ways to combine these handicaps.
Step 2: From break shot to end of game
The first player starts the game by taking a break shot (Figures 2 and 3) from any position in the kitchen.
At this time, if no foul is committed and any of the nine target balls is pocketed, play continues; if a foul is committed or none of the target balls are pocketed, the turn is changed. After that, in either case, the player making the shot continues playing according to the basic rules. Also, if a dot ball is pocketed during play, record the score each time (Original Rule 2). In the end, if the player who has the right to take the shot pockets the No. 9 ball without fouling and meets the prescribed conditions (Original Rule 1), that player will move on to the next ruck’s break shot. If this condition is not met, the next player in turn will make a break shot for the next rack and the game will continue. This cycle is repeated, and the player with the most points after completing a predetermined number of racks is the winner of the game.
Points of rules to have fun playing
Foul1: Type of foul
In addition to the common fouls in pocket billiards (*), in Japan (5-9), if the shot cue ball does not hit the lowest numbered target first (no-hit), the shot cue ball is the lowest numbered target. If neither the cue ball nor the target ball reaches the cushion after being hit by the ball (no cushion), it is a foul (Figure 4).
Foul2: If you foul
Japan (5-9) If the player in front of you commits a foul, the next player with the right to take a shot will take over play in the following manner:
1. Play resumes with both the cue ball and the lowest-numbered target ball in their current positions.
2. Leave the lowest-numbered target ball in the same position, place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen, and resume play. At this time, if the target ball with the lowest number is in the kitchen, move that target ball to the center spot or foot spot (FIG. 5).
3. Leave the cue ball in the same position and move the lowest-numbered target ball to the center spot or foot spot. When moving the lowest numbered target ball to the center spot or foot spot, if both spots are occupied by other balls, place it on the long line in close contact with that ball (Figure 6).
4. If you scratch or the cue ball is outside the ballpark, place the cue ball anywhere in the kitchen and resume the game. At this time, if the target ball with the lowest number is in the kitchen, move that target ball to the center spot or foot spot and restart play.
Foul 3: Handling the ball after a foul
A point ball pocketed during a foul shot will not be scored and will be returned to the foot spot along with other target balls.
Original Rule 1: Break right from 2nd rack onwards
In Japan (5-9), if the player with the right to shoot pockets the No. 9 ball and is able to stop the cue ball in the kitchen, he will immediately receive the right to break the next rack (Figure 7) .
This is a rule known as “two-out,” and if this is not possible, the right to break usually passes to the next player in turn. There are also some regions and stores that use the “current break” method, in which after a successful two-out, the next game’s break shot is taken from the spot where the cue ball came to rest.
Original Rule 2: Scoring and calculation method for point balls
For Japan (5–9), scores are determined as follows based on the point ball and the pocket in which it falls.
- 1. If you pocket the 3rd, 5th or 7th ball to the corner – 1 point
- 2. If you pocket the 3rd, 5th, or 7th ball to the side, – 2 points
- 3. If you pocket the No. 9 ball to the corner, 2 points
- 4. If you pocket the No. 9 ball to the side – 4 points.
- When you score a point, you will receive points from all other players participating in the game. For example, if you are playing with three players and put the No. 9 ball in the side pocket, the number of points earned will be 4 + 4 = 8 points. Based on this, it is common to play by adding options to change the score depending on the situation, and one of the most commonly used is that if you fail to get two, the score of the 9th ball is halved. Options include (1 or 2 points) or doubling the total score in the case of a break runout (Maswari). Below is an example of how to record scores during a game when three people are playing.1. In the first rack, Player A puts the No. 5 ball into the corner, so write “|” to represent 1 point. After that, B put the No. 9 ball into the corner and successfully made a two-out, so they got 2 points. Mark “x” to represent 2 points. Up to this point, write at any time during the game, and start calculation when one rack is completely completed (Table 1).
- 2. C, who does not have a point ball in the first rack, pays 1 point to A and 2 points to B, resulting in a total of -3 points. At this time, write “3” in the blank. A gets 1 point each from B and C and gets 2 points, but since he pays 2 points to B, the score of the first rack is ±0. At this time, write “△” (or 0) in the blank. B receives 2 points each from A and C (a total of 4 points) and pays 1 point to A, so the score of the first rack is +3. At this time, write “③” in the blank (○ means positive) (Table 2)
3. In the second rack, B makes a combination shot and hits ⑤ in the corner for 1 point (“|”), and C hits ⑤ which is returned to the foot spot and hits the corner for 1 point (“|”). After that, A puts ⑨ on the side and scores 4 points (“XX”). B gets 1 point each from the other two players and gets 2 points, but he pays 4 points to A and 1 point to C, so the score for the second rack is -3 points, and the cumulative score from the first rack is ±0 points. (Enter “△”/Table 3)
4. The score of C in the second rack is exactly the same as B, which is -3 points, so the cumulative score from the first rack is -6 points (enter “6”). A received 4 points each from the other two players and got 8 points. From here, you pay 1 point to B and 1 point to C, so the score for the second rack is 6 points. Since the first rack was ±0, enter “⑥”. At this stage, A will be ranked first, and the scores will be entered in the same manner up to the specified number of racks (Table 4).
- Original Rul3: If the ball falls on the way the number 3, 5, 7, or 9 is pocketed by a break shot, combination shot, cannon shot, kiss shot, or by chance, and is not the lowest number remaining on the table at the time, the pocketing player After the player has scored the specified number of points, he returns the point ball to the foot spot.Original Rule 4: Prohibition of safetyNormal 9-ball is a one-on-one match, so there are situations where the player who has the right to make a shot does not aim for the target ball into the pocket, but instead uses a safety that leaves the opponent in a position that is difficult to hit (Figure 8).
- However, in Japan (5-9), where three or more players often play, even if you play a safety and the next player, in turn, commits a foul, it is not your turn after that, so in effect, there is no direct safety benefit. Therefore, Japan (5–9) is often played with no safeties allowed. However, when playing with two players, it is sometimes played with a safety.* Common fouls in pocket billiards scratch: a foul in which the cue ball falls into the pocket either directly or after hitting some target ball. The subsequent processing will vary depending on the type of game.2_ Touch the ballThe only thing you can touch the cue ball with when shooting is the leather tap attached to the cue tip. Touching any other part will result in a foul. It is also a foul if you touch the target ball. Outside the stadium, if the shot cue ball flies off the table, or if the shot causes the target ball to fly off the table, it will be a foul.4_twiceThe tap may only touch the cue ball once during a shot. If you hit the cue ball more than once once it has been shot, it will be a foul.5_ Both feet are off the floor at the moment of the shot, one foot must be touching the ground, even just the toe. For example, if you sit on a table and shoot with your feet in the air, it will be a foul.6: Make a markIt is a foul if you place any kind of marker to help you determine where you want to aim when taking a shot.
3. In the second rack, B makes a combination shot and hits ⑤ in the corner for 1 point (“|”), and C hits ⑤ which is returned to the foot spot and hits the corner for 1 point (“|”). After that, A puts ⑨ on the side and scores 4 points (“XX”). B gets 1 point each from the other two players and gets 2 points, but he pays 4 points to A and 1 point to C, so the score for the second rack is -3 points, and the cumulative score from the first rack is ±0 points. (Enter “△”/Table 3)
4. The score of C in the second rack is exactly the same as B, which is -3 points, so the cumulative score from the first rack is -6 points (enter “6”). A received 4 points each from the other two players and got 8 points. From here, you pay 1 point to B and 1 point to C, so the score for the second rack is 6 points. Since the first rack was ±0, enter “⑥”. At this stage, A will be ranked first, and the scores will be entered in the same manner up to the specified number of racks (Table 4).
