FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Pool: Straight 8 vs BCA Trivia Quiz

I'm sick and tired of playing pool and the rules of BCA get mixed up with Straight 8. I thought I would create this quiz to clarify the rules of the two games.

A multiple-choice quiz by blakey. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
blakey

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
263,285

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
831

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. One of the things a lot of people get mixed up is the shot after the break. Is the table still open in BCA?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. When you pocket the eight ball on the break in straight eight you automatically win, but what happens when you pocket it in BCA? Hint

You lose

You buy the beer

You win

It gets spotted

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The scratch rules differ hugely between the two games. What is the difference? Hint

BCA:out of the kitchen/straight 8: ball in hand

Straight 8: out of the kitchen/BCA: at the head of the table

Straight 8: out of the kitchen/BCA: near the side pocket

BCA: Ball in hand /straight 8: out of the kitchen

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. A big difference between the two is calling your shot. How do you call your shot in BCA? Hint

You whisper it

You have to call the next ball you are going to shoot at

You just call the pocket

You scream it at your opponent

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In BCA, what happens if you hit one of your opponent's ball first? Hint

Your opponent has ball in hand

The cue goes into the kitchen

The cue is spotted

You play the cue from where it lies

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. It is illegal to jump a ball in BCA?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In BCA, if the ball leaves the table and comes back into the playing area, is it considered a scratch?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The break shot: How many balls have to touch the rail on the break shot in Straight 8 for it to be considered a legal break? Hint

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Safe shots are a big part of BCA, but you have to complete the shot. What do they mean by completing a shot? Hint

Something has to hit a rail after you make contact with your object balls

One of your object balls has to hit a rail

The cue ball has to hit a rail

You have to pocket the cue after hitting your object ball

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Why did they come up with BCA rules? Hint

Someone was losing in straight 8, so they changed the rules

To cut down on the arguments and make the game faster

To make the game easier

To be different

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the things a lot of people get mixed up is the shot after the break. Is the table still open in BCA?

Answer: Yes

According to BCA or Billiards Congress of America, the table is still open and you can use any ball except the eight ball to pocket a ball. You have to call the pocket and the ball, but it doesn't matter how the ball gets there just as long as it goes into the called pocket.

2. When you pocket the eight ball on the break in straight eight you automatically win, but what happens when you pocket it in BCA?

Answer: It gets spotted

Because you made a ball it is still your shot, just that the eight ball is brought back on to the table.

3. The scratch rules differ hugely between the two games. What is the difference?

Answer: BCA: Ball in hand /straight 8: out of the kitchen

In BCA you have ball in hand except if the scratch happened on the break. Then the shooter comes out of the kitchen.

4. A big difference between the two is calling your shot. How do you call your shot in BCA?

Answer: You just call the pocket

It doesn't matter what happens as long as the ball you call gets into the pocket. You call and you hit one of your object balls first. The only time you can use a stripe into a solid or vice versa is when the table is still open.

5. In BCA, what happens if you hit one of your opponent's ball first?

Answer: Your opponent has ball in hand

It is considered a scratch because you did not hit your ball first, so your opponent gets ball in hand. In straight 8, your opponent plays it from where it is at.

6. It is illegal to jump a ball in BCA?

Answer: No

They have sticks designed just for that purpose. In straight 8, the way that I learned, you could not jump the ball but that has also changed through the years.

7. In BCA, if the ball leaves the table and comes back into the playing area, is it considered a scratch?

Answer: No

I have seen many arguments over this but according to the BCA rule book, it is a legal shot and you keep shooting, that is if you make your shot.

8. The break shot: How many balls have to touch the rail on the break shot in Straight 8 for it to be considered a legal break?

Answer: 0

In straight 8, you can just tap the rack and it would be legal. However, in BCA you have to have three balls hit the rail or else it is a re-rack with your opponent breaking.

9. Safe shots are a big part of BCA, but you have to complete the shot. What do they mean by completing a shot?

Answer: Something has to hit a rail after you make contact with your object balls

In straight 8, there is no such thing as a safe shot but in BCA, something has to touch the rail after you make contact with one of your object balls. It doesn't matter what, it can be the cue, one of your opponents balls, or anything. This is particularly handy when you don't have a shot or a difficult shot and you try to leave your opponent rough.

10. Why did they come up with BCA rules?

Answer: To cut down on the arguments and make the game faster

When you play some people, the shot could be obvious but they still have to take their sweet natured time thinking it through, taking your mind off your game. I've seen a lot of pro players on Television play BCA, but my choice is still straight 8 or as some call it Bar Rules.

Source: Author blakey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.