Bumper pool - Definition

Bumper pool is a casual billiards game played on an octagonal or rectangular table with two holes on opposite ends and 12 bumpers. Two bumpers surround each hole with the other eight arranged near the middle of the table on the table's midlines leaving a space large enough for a ball. The game is played with 5 red and 5 white balls, with one marked ball in each set. The game may be played in a much smaller room than most billiards games since the tables are much smaller.

Game play

At the beginning of the game each set of balls is arranged on 5 spots near each edge of the table with a hole, with the marked ball placed directly in front of the hole. To start the game, both players simultaneously shoot their marked ball attempting to sink the ball in the hole at the other end of the table by banking the ball off the cushion to the shooter's right. After this initial shot, players alternate with the player whose first shot ends up nearest the hole shooting first. If both players sink their first shot, they each select another ball to be placed directly in front of the hole and repeat the simultaneous shot. If all five balls are simultaneously sunk in this fashion the game is a draw. A player's marked ball must be sunk before the player can shoot any other balls. A player's turn continues until no ball is sunk. The object is to sink all your balls into the hole at the opposite end of the table. Unlike many other billiard games, there is no designated cue ball; each ball can be directly shot into the hole.

Faults

If a player sinks one of the opponent's balls there is no penalty, but the ball is considered sunk regardless of which hole. If a player sinks one of his own balls (but not the last) in the wrong hole, the opponent may drop two balls into his hole. Sinking your last ball in the wrong hole results in a forfeit. A ball that leaves the table is placed anywhere on the table by the opponent, usually in the middle space surrounded by bumpers.