A group of us use to play 1-15 8 Ball or as we called it "Alabama 8 Ball" with rules that lead to a strategic and nuanced game.
Alabama 8 Ball
(1-15)
The rules for 8 Ball established by
World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) with the following exceptions and modifications should apply to Alabama 8 Ball.
The Rack
The 1 and the 15 placed behind the 8 ball in the center of the rack.
The Break
Object balls driven off the table are spotted. If the 1 and/or the 15 are made on the break and the shooter fouls the balls are spotted. If the 1 and/or the 15 are pocketed on a legal break, they stay pocketed.
Open table / choosing groups / side pocket
If the 1 or the 15 is made on the break the shooter may choose to be the pocketed ball’s group by declaring so, otherwise he must declare the table to be open in order to shoot another group’s balls.
If the 1 and the 15 are pocketed on the break the table remains open.
The side pocket, to which 1 or 15 is to be made, is determined by the side that a ball is pocketed establishing the shooter’s group during an open table shot. An exception to this is when the 1 or the 15 is made on the break and shooter chooses that group, the sides are said to be open and is established by the first legally pocketed ball to that side. For example if a solid ball is legally made in one of the pockets on the right hand side of the table then the 1 ball must be made in the side pocket on the right hand side of the table and the 15 must be made in the left hand side pocket. Markers are used to mark which side the 1 and the 15 are to be made.
Spotting and Pocketing Balls
A ball, in the shooter’s group pocketed in a pocket other than the called pocket or on a foul shot, shall be spotted.
When a “Safety” is called and the ball is pocketed in a called pocket the shooter has the option of declaring, before the shot, whether the ball “stays down” in the pocket or “comes up” on the spot.
As a ball in the shooter’s group, the 1 or the 15 may be made at any time in any called pocket. If made in the correct side pocket it stays down. If made in any other called pocket it stays down until the shooters inning ends or the shooter pockets all of the balls in his group at which point the 1 or the 15 comes up on the spot and the shooter inning continues. (Alternatively, this game is also be played where the 1 or the 15 is spotted immediately after being made in the wrong pocket.)
If the shooter fouls and a ball or balls are made that are not in the shooter’s group the incoming shooter has the option spotting all, one, or none of the balls.
If the shooter pockets his opponent’s 1 or 15 in any pocket it stays down unless it was pocketed on a foul shot, then the opponent has the option of spotting the ball.
If an intentional object ball foul shot is played on the opponent’s 1 or 15, the opponent will have the option of pocketing the ball or, up to opponent’s judgment, restoring the ball to its original position (or near its original position frozen to interfering balls).
If a foul shot moves the opponent’s 1 or 15 the opponent has the option of, up to opponent’s judgment, restoring the 1 or the 15 to its original position (or near its original position frozen to interfering balls) or accepting the table as is.
Cue Ball fouls only (no touched object ball fouls).
