While 8-Ball and 9-Ball dominate television broadcasts and league night, your slate pool table is capable of hosting dozens of rich, historically fascinating cue sports. Exploring alternative billiard games sharpens your position play, teaches tactical defense, and makes game night thrilling for groups of any size. In this 2026 compendium, we break down the rules and strategies of the 7 best billiard games you should be playing on your home table.
7 Games Every Player Should Know
Master One-Pocket, 14.1 Continuous (Straight Pool), Cutthroat, 10-Ball, 3-Ball, Kelly Pool, and Bowlliards to master every corner of the table.
Table of Contents
The 7 Great Billiard Games Ranked
1. One-Pocket (The Chess Game of Billiards)
Each player chooses one of the two foot corner pockets. Any ball pocketed into your chosen pocket scores one point. Sinking a ball into any other pocket spots it back up. First player to score 8 balls wins. Demands the highest level of defensive safety play in cue sports.
2. 14.1 Continuous (Straight Pool)
The game played by legends Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats. Every shot is called (ball and pocket). After pocketing 14 balls, the 15th ball remains on the table as a “break ball” while the other 14 are re-racked. Players can string together runs of 50, 100, or 200+ consecutive balls!
3. Cutthroat Pool (Best for 3 Players)
Balls 1-15 divided into Lows, Mids, and Highs. Eliminate your opponents’ balls while protecting your own (see full Cutthroat Pool Rules).
4. 10-Ball (The Professional Call-Shot Discipline)
Rotation game where you must contact the lowest ball first, but unlike 9-ball, every shot must be called—slop shots and flukes do not count!
5. 3-Ball (The Fast-Paced Bar Challenge)
Only three balls are racked in a tiny triangle. Players take turns breaking and running out the three balls. The player who sinks all three in the fewest total strokes wins.
6. Kelly Pool (Pea Pool)
Players draw numbered peas from a shaker bottle. Your goal is to sink your secret ball before opponents uncover which number you hold.
7. Bowlliards (Pool Bowling)
Ten frames of play. Each frame, you rack 10 balls. You get two innings (like bowling frames) to pocket as many balls as possible. A run of 10 on your first inning counts as a Strike (30 points)!
(Make sure your table dimensions allow full cue swings with our Pool Table Room Size Calculator and review defensive tactics in The Art of the Safety Shot).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best pool game for 3 players?
Cutthroat pool is universally regarded as the best 3-player billiard game because all three players participate actively without requiring anyone to sit out.
