| 8-ball is the most popular billiard game in | | | | games. The purpose of the players in most |
| the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool | | | | carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so |
| is almost a synonym for billiards. However, | | | | it will carom off the other two balls, again, |
| 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy | | | | according to the specific requirements of the |
| family of billiard games. | | | | game. |
| | | | |
| 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one | | | | 8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other |
| pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. | | | | popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball |
| They all share a rectangular cloth-covered | | | | pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as |
| table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and | | | | straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is |
| an ambition to score, but they differ in | | | | the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even |
| their rules, objects, and even their | | | | though snooker is played on a pocketed pool |
| terminology. | | | | table, it is not governed by the same |
| | | | association that administrates pocket |
| Generally, billiard games divide into two | | | | billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard |
| types: pocket billiard games and carom | | | | general rules do not apply to snooker. |
| billiard games. Pocket billiard games, | | | | |
| usually referred to as pool games, are the | | | | The equipment used in snooker games is also |
| type of billiard played on a table that has | | | | different from the one used in pocket |
| six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the | | | | billiard tournaments. For example, the |
| players aspire to sink the balls into the | | | | snooker table is a bit larger than the |
| table pockets, according to specific games | | | | standard pool table plus its pockets are |
| rules. | | | | narrower. The terminology used in both |
| | | | billiard games is different as well. While |
| Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are | | | | pool players' goal is to "pocket" the "object |
| played on pocketless tables. Only three | | | | balls", snooker players aim to "pot" the |
| billiard balls are involved in the carom | | | | "red" or the "on-ball". |