Ten-ball (call-shot pool)

Like nine-ball, but ten balls. Before every shot — call ball and pocket; lucky pots do not count.

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Objective

Legally pot ball 10. Play balls 1–10 in order; 10 is the winning ball.

Every scoring shot — with explicit call: which ball and which pocket (or "any" — if regulations allow).

Lucky pots do not count — only the declared combination.
Official pool association discipline; popular on professional tournaments.

Setup and break

Balls 1–10 in triangle: 1 on foot spot, 10 in center.
Break — as in nine-ball: first contact ball 1, cue ball behind head string.
Illegal break — ball in hand to opponent.

Call and scoring

Before shot name ball and pocket; caroms and cushions — also declare if part of the plan.
Wrong ball or wrong pocket — ball spotted, turn passes.
First contact — lowest number on table; otherwise foul.
10 can be called only when all lower balls are cleared or per combination rules.

Play

Ball order as in nine-ball; difference — strict pocket call on every score.
Safety play: leave opponent a hard position without an obvious foul.
Run — while you pot called balls.

Fouls

Uncalled ball in pocket, wrong "ball on", cue ball in pocket.
Ball off table — spot and ball in hand.
Three consecutive fouls — loss (per pool association regulations).

Historical note: ten-ball

Ten-ball is an official WPA discipline with call ball and pocket on every shot. A "fair" alternative to nine-ball: fewer disputed lucky pots.

When it appeared

Ten-ball adds a tenth ball to nine-ball and requires naming ball and pocket before the shot — similar to strict carom disciplines and snooker.

WPA has promoted ten-ball as the basis of professional series since the 2000s, especially in Asia where disputed pots in nine-ball were criticized by viewers and players.

Rules are close to nine-ball in ball order, but call makes every shot "intentional" for the referee and broadcast.

Ten-ball vs nine-ball

	Nine-ball	Ten-ball
Call	Not required (except push-out and regulations)	Required on every shot
Balls	9	10
Lucky pot	Allowed with legal first contact	Only called ball in called pocket
Geography	Global	Stronger in Asia and elite series

Geography

China and Hong Kong — mass tournaments, television.
Europe and USA — elite WPA series.
Russia — growing in clubs preparing players for international formats.
On billiard.guru ten-ball appears less often than eight-ball and nine-ball.

The present day

WPA World 10-Ball Championship — flagship of the discipline.
Asian leagues include ten-ball alongside nine-ball.
Players with nine-ball experience adapt to call in 1–2 seasons.

This is a short guide. The exact regulations are in the tournament description on billiard.guru or from the organizer. Official event rules take precedence.

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