1. Start with the break
One player strikes the racked balls with the white cue ball. After the break, the table is usually still open: no one owns solids or stripes until a player legally pockets a colored ball and that group is established.
2. Solids versus stripes
The solid balls are numbered 1 through 7. The striped balls are 9 through 15. Once groups are assigned, your first contact on a shot should normally be one of your own group. Keep making legal shots to continue your turn.
3. The black 8-ball comes last
Clear your group before attempting the black 8-ball. Pocketing it early is normally a loss. In many casual games, players also call the intended pocket for the 8-ball; agree on that detail before the break.
4. What is a scratch?
A scratch happens when the cue ball is pocketed or leaves the table. Rules differ by venue, but a common outcome is ball in hand: the next player may place the cue ball before shooting. A scratch does not make the colored ball you pocketed belong to the other player.
5. Keep house rules explicit
Whether a ball must hit a rail, whether every shot must be called, and where the cue ball may be placed after a scratch are frequent local variations. Decide them before the break instead of arguing after a close shot.
Can you hit the 8-ball first?
Not while you still have object balls from your assigned group. The 8-ball is generally the legal target only after your group is cleared.
Do you have to call every shot?
That is a house-rule decision. Casual tables often only require a called pocket for the 8-ball; formal rulesets can be stricter.
What happens if the cue ball goes in?
That is a scratch. The usual consequence is a turn change and ball in hand, but agree on local rules before play.