Pool and shuffleboard are incredible bar games. While the former is slightly difficult for newbies, the latter is pretty simple in terms of its mechanics. If you’ve got a pool table or shuffleboard at home or want to beat your friends at the game next time you go to a bar, you’ve arrived at the right place. In this article, we’ll teach you how to play the two games in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Shuffleboard

Well, let’s kickstart this guide with the easy one to get you into the groove. Shuffleboard is usually played on a smooth long table with a few discs. The official table size must be 8 feet x 20 inches, but you can also play the game on any makeshift table at your home. The discs need to be smooth too.

There are two players. Each player will have a set of discs. The two discs vary in color (usually red and blue) to differentiate. Each player takes turns to slide discs from one end of the table to the other. At the other end are three zones labeled 1, 2, and 3. Each zone carries certain points, and the central zone has the most points.

Each round will end when all discs are played. The points are calculated at the end of each round. Each game has numerous rounds, and the players can mutually decide that number. The player with the most points at the game's end wins. Fun!!

Pool

Now onto the more challenging one, the pool. Different players play different game variations, but since you’re a beginner, let’s stick to the basics. So let’s begin with the rules for a game played between 2 people.

There are three primary things in a pool game. The cue stick with which you hit the balls, the table, and the ball. There are 15 balls, wherein 7 balls are solid colors, and the other 7 are striped colors. They are together numbered from 1 to 15. The number 8 ball is always black and is solid. Besides these, there’s a white ball that is numberless. This is the cue ball.

Now, let’s get to the rules. At first, all 15 balls are racked in the shape of a triangle at one end of the table. Any person has to hit the balls but cannot hit them directly. They have to hit the cue ball, which will hit the other balls. So, the first person breaks the triangle. If any ball is pocketed, the color (solid or stripe) of the ball will become the player's target color. If the player pockets balls of both kinds, they can choose the target color.

Once the color is assigned to the player, they play the remaining game to pocket the balls which are part of their color. For instance, if player 1 pockets a solid, they will try to pocket the remaining solid balls and vice versa.

The 8 ball is a solid black, but it shouldn’t be pocketed until other balls of the target color aren’t pocketed. So, from the previous example, until player 1 pockets all solid balls beside the 8 ball, they can’t pocket the 8 ball. If, at any point, player 1 pockets the 8-ball without meeting the aforementioned criterion, they lose. Voila! You’ve just learned the basic version of the game.

Although the game has other rules, you can learn them as you go along. So, what are you waiting for, get started with the two games today! Hit the bar or challenge your friends at a game of pool or shuffleboard at your home.