33Pool Ladder · Interactive Demo

Learn 33 Rotation
By Watching It Played

Nine balls, three rounds, 33 points for a perfect game. Nine short levels show you the rack, the break, how points are scored and lost, and what the 11 ball does. Then you break a rack yourself.

Start At Level 01 Just Give Me The Rules Watch The Videos

Round score 0

The Whole Game, In Writing

33 Rotation, In One Screen

Everything the demo shows, in the order you meet it at the table.

The objective

Score the most points over 3 rounds.
A round is worth a maximum of 11 points. A perfect game is 33.
Nine balls: 1–8 and the 11. Each ball is 1 point.
Highest total after 3 rounds wins. A tie goes to up to 3 sudden-death rounds; still tied is a draw.

The rack

Nine balls in a diamond, turned side-on to the breaker.
The 11 goes in the centre of the rack, on the foot spot — the dot. It is the only ball with a required position.
The dot is under the 11, not under the front ball: the front ball sits a ball’s width ahead of it.
The other eight balls go wherever the racker likes.

The break

Must be a clear, powerful break: 4 balls hit a rail, or 2 balls pass the first diamond past the midpoint.
Balls pocketed on the break count as rail contact.
No ball is required on the break. Balls made on the break count.
Illegal break: −1, re-rack, re-break. Second illegal break: −2 total and the round ends.
Penalties are cumulative and can go past −2.

Playing a round

Shoot in rotation — lowest ball first — for the best scoring.
You may shoot any ball at any time.
In rotation: the point always counts, and a bonus stays possible.
Out of rotation: the ball you pocket is a potential point until the 11 drops.
A miss after the break ends the round.

Legal shots

Pocket the called ball by direct hit, carom or combination.
The called ball is the only ball that may score on a shot.
Any other ball that drops does not count, and is removed from play.
An unintended 11 is spotted and does not count.
These rules apply at all times, in rotation and out of it.

The 11 ball

Perfect rotation: all balls in rotation, 11 last → +2 bonus, an 11-point round.
11 on the break: 1 point + 1 bonus. Clear the rest in rotation for another +1.
Early 11: locks in your points and you keep shooting. No bonus.
After the 11 has dropped, all balls count.

Scoring & scratches

Balls made on the break and in rotation are locked in as they drop.
Out of rotation stays potential until the 11. Miss first and you lose it.
Scratch on the break: −1, play continues. Scratch after the break: −1 and the round ends.
A called ball pocketed on the same shot still counts.
The cue ball goes in front of the scratch pocket, anywhere inside the placement boundary — touching the line is allowed.
Balls inside the boundary cannot be pocketed for points, but you may carom or combo off them.

Official Quick Start Rules Watch The Video Series Play A Friend Online Keep Score At The Table