Straight Pool is played by 2 players or 2 teams using a standard set of balls numbered 1-15, plus cue ball. The balls are placed in a standard triangle rack with the apex ball on the foot spot, 1 ball on the racker's right corner, 5 ball on left corner and other balls placed at random. All balls must touch their neighbors. The game is played to a pre-determined point total.

The player must nominate a ball and pocket. He is awarded one point for every correctly nominated and pocketed ball on a legal stroke and continues his turn until he either fails to pocket a nominated ball or commits a foul. Any ball legally pocketed counts one point for the shooter.

At the opening break, the starting player must either (1) designate a ball and a pocket and accomplish the designated shot or (2) cause the cue ball to contact a ball, then a cushion, plus cause two object balls to contact a cushion. Failure to do so is a breaking violation, and the offender is assessed a two point penalty for each breaking violation. The opponent has the choice of (1) accepting the table in position or (2) having the balls reracked and requiring the offending player to repeat the opening break.

If the starting player scratches on a legal opening break, he is assessed a one point penalty. The incoming player is awarded the cue ball in hand behind the head string, with object balls in position.

A shooter continues at the table until he fails to legally pocket a called ball on a shot. He may shoot any ball, but must designate the ball and pocket. Any additional pocketed ball on a legal stroke is scored as one point for the shooter.

When the fourteenth ball of a rack is pocketed, play stops with the fifteenth ball remaining in position on the table. The fourteen pocketed balls are racked, with the space at the foot spot vacant. The shooter then continues, normally pocketing the fifteenth ball so as to have the cue ball carom into the rack and spread the balls.

Illegally pocketed balls are all spotted. If object balls jump off the table, the stroke is a foul and any jumped ball(s) is spotted after the balls come to rest. If the cue ball jumps off the table or is scratched, the incoming player has cue ball in hand behind the head string.