SETTING UP CONQUER THE 9-BALL CROSS
1. Begin by purchasing the Conquer the Cross™ rack and set up the pool/billiard balls as follows:
2. Racking: In the 9 Ball variant of Conquer the Cross™ the set up as shown within the cross rack is critical. Using the Conquer the Cross™ rack, balls numbered 1-5 should be aligned from side pocket to side pocket, then 6-9 from end-to-end, with the 9 ball being on either end as shown. Ensure the rack is tight so that each ball contacts its neighbor by utilizing the patent pending Conquer the Cross™ rack.
3. The order remaining perimeter balls does not matter at all, so simply position balls 10-15 in front of each pocket in any order.
How to play Conquer the 9-Ball Cross
Phase 1: Avoid the Cross
1. This is played similarly to Conquer the Cross, with 9-Ball rules and where two players alternate shots after any missed attempt until the game is over.
2. The balls placed at around the perimeter of the table must be sunk first before striking the cross.
3. The first shooter gets ball-in-hand for the first shot.
4. After the first ball is made, the next ball pocketed must be the furthest away from the cue ball.
5. If the cue ball is the same distance from multiple balls (must be agreed upon by both players) then the shooter gets the choice of which one to hit. NOTE: Making multiple balls on any single shot is allowed and encouraged, as long as the furthest ball away from the cue ball is the first one struck and pocketed (the target ball must be pocketed).
6. At any point during this first phase of the game the cross must NOT be struck in any way or it will need to be re-racked (without penalty).
7. If at any point the current shooter either misses the object ball, hits a different ball first, scratches, or hits the cross, then they lose their turn and the next shooter gets ball-in-hand (similar to 9-Ball).
8. Any perimeter balls pocketed unintentionally and out of turn will remain in the pocket and not be reset. If the cross is struck or any balls made from the cross are pocketed during this phase, they DO get reset and the cross re-racked.
Phase 2: Game Play
1. Once all the perimeter balls are pocketed, then it’s time to break the cross. At this point, the game shifts to traditional 9-Ball rules.
2. The 1 Ball must be struck first with each subsequent numbered ball being the next one in the sequence that must be struck first on each turn.
3. Ball-in-hand rules apply upon a miss, scratch, or ball hit out of sequence.
4. Any ball made out of sequence remains in the pocket with the only exception is the 9-ball, which must be reset on the table if it was made out of turn and the object ball was not struck first.
5. Again, this is 9-Ball rules so if you can combo the 9-ball by hitting the object ball first, you WIN!
6. The game is over when the 9-ball is pocketed legally.
Phase 3: Winning the Game
There are 2 ways to determine the winner, which way you play is up to you!
1. The person who makes the 9-ball wins the game - regardless of how many balls they have sunk, OR
2. Each player counts the balls sunk and that becomes their score. The player with the highest score wins!
3. Optional End Game: Points can be assigned to balls in each corresponding phase (one point per ball in Phase 1, two points per ball in Phase 2, three points for Phase 3).
Feel free to make up your own point system to best suit your creative streak and share with us!