Rules of 8 Ball - AI

 Eight-ball is a popular pool/billiards game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered 1 to 15. Here are the detailed rules:

1. **Rack Setup**: Place all 15 balls in a triangular rack, with the 8-ball in the center and the other balls randomly arranged. The first row should have one solid (1-7) and one striped (9-15) ball, and the back two corners should be one solid and one striped ball.

2. **Breaking**: The game begins with a break shot. The player hitting the break aims to hit the racked balls with the cue ball, attempting to spread them across the table. If a ball is pocketed during the break, the breaker continues the turn. If the 8-ball is pocketed during the break, it is spotted, and the player continues their turn.

3. **Open Table**: After the break, the table is considered "open," meaning no group of balls (solids or stripes) has been determined for the players yet.

4. **Choosing Group**: The player who pockets any ball during their turn immediately determines their group (solid or stripes) by their first successful shot.

5. **Turn Alternation**: Players take turns, and their turn continues until they fail to pocket a ball or commit a foul.

6. **Pocketing Balls**: A player must pocket all the balls from their designated group (solids or stripes) before aiming for the 8-ball.

7. **Legal Shots**: To be legal, the cue ball must hit a ball from the player's group first and pocket any ball. Additionally, the player must hit a rail (cushion) with either the cue ball or any object ball after contact with the group ball.

8. **Fouls**: Common fouls include:

   - Not hitting a ball from your group first.

   - Not pocketing any ball after a legal hit.

   - Pocketing the cue ball (scratching).

   - Failing to hit a rail after contact with the group ball.

   - Pocketing the 8-ball prematurely.

   - Knocking the cue ball off the table.

   - Causing any object ball to leave the table.

9. **Loss of Game**: A player loses the game if they pocket the 8-ball prematurely, scratch while pocketing the 8-ball, or commit multiple fouls. The opponent then wins the game.

10. **Winning**: The player who legally pockets the 8-ball after all their group balls are cleared wins the game.

Remember, there are various regional and local variations of the rules, so it's essential to agree on the specific rules before starting the game.