Stripes & Solids is a good introductory pool game since it allows you to concentrate on how to position and aim your cue and on how to shoot, without having to remember any complicated rules. The object of the game is simple: one player tries to hit in all of the striped balls and the other player tries to hit in all of the solid balls. Whoever hits in all of his or her balls first, wins the game.
Stripes & Solids is played with 15 object balls, numbered 1 to 15, and a cue ball. The goal of each player is to pocket his set of balls: solids numbered 1 to 8, or stripes numbered 9 to 15. The first player to pocket his entire set of balls wins the game.
Players need not call shot. A player's inning at the table ends if he fails to pocket one of his object balls or if he fouls (see the section called Fouls below).
The opening break in Stripes & Solids is made by the Starting Player, as set in the Preferences menu. The break must be made from behind the head string. There are no other requirements for the opening break; however, it will be a lot more fun to play if the break is an open break.
If a player pockets any ball on the opening break, then his set of object balls (stripes or solids) is determined by that ball. If he pockets both a striped and a solid ball, then he will be asked to choose whether he wishes to play as stripes or solids.
If a player fails to pocket a ball on the break, his inning ends. The next player's inning begins and the table remains open until at least one object ball is pocketed.
If a player scratches on the break, then that is a foul. The normal rules for scratching apply (see the section Fouls below).
If no ball was legally pocketed on the opening break, then the table is open until one of the players pockets a ball without fouling. That ball then determines the player's set (stripes or solids).
A player may legally shoot at any ball on the table in an attempt to pocket one of his own balls. If he fails to pocket one of his own object balls, then his inning ends and the table is turned over to his opponent.
If a player fouls for any of the reasons listed below, his inning at the table ends. Any of his own object balls that he pocketed while fouling are spotted. All other object balls remain pocketed and the table is turned over to his opponent.
Scratching. A player may not pocket the cue ball. After a scratch, the incoming player is awarded ball in hand behind the head string.
Illegal shooting from behind the head string: If a player has ball in hand behind the head string (ball in kitchen), then he may not shoot at any object ball in the kitchen until he first drives the cue ball out of the kitchen. If the cue ball hits a cushion and returns to strike an object ball in the kitchen, then that shot is legal. Note: The player may shoot at any object ball not in the kitchen according to the normal rules.
There is no scoring in Stripes & Solids. The first player to pocket his entire set of object balls wins the game.