Introduction

Reach the proficiency of the great experts with Challenge Pool for Windows!

Fully control the cue stick by mouse or keyboard action.

Regulate the striking cue ball activity with four different cue ball hits: Dead Center, One cue tip above center, One cue tip below center, Two cue tips below center.

Easily determine the striking force by the strength level indicator.

Plot the cue ball moving path and the stop position by clicking the path indicator.

Includes the four most popular pool games: Straight, Rotation, Eight Ball and Nine Ball.

Employs the simulation of a realistic collision model in all of the four games.

Key Features

How to...

Play the Game

Keep Score

Understand the Rules of the Game

Use Tools


Key Features

>  Aim and cue ball path pre-tracing option

>  One player, two players and pool option

>  Undo option

>  Sound feature

>  Record playing time and total fouls

>  Record best playing time and least fouls

>  Redisplay the last fancy shot

>  Fully mouse-oriented or keyboard-oriented

>  Digitalize striking force for player(s)


How to Play the Game

The object of Challenge Pool is to pocket all the desired balls. This section explains how to play the game.

To Choose a Game:

From the Game menu, choose Nine Ball, Straight, Rotation or Eight Ball.

To Start a Game:

From the Game menu, choose Pool, One Player or Two Players. Default is Pool. When Pool is selected, you choose the plain game without any rule. The computer displays the pool table, cue stick and all the balls. You can play with your own rules. Any ball on the table can be moved by dragging with the mouse.

To Start a New Game:

From the Game menu choose the desired game: Nine Ball, Straight,Rotation or Eight Ball

OR

Choose Pool, One player or Two players

To Locate the Cue Stick:

To choose the desired angle to shot, drag the cue stick by holding down the left mouse button, or clicking the arrow buttons on the right of the control board, or pressing the four arrow keys on the keyboard.

To choose the desired cue ball hits (there are four hit points as shown in the left corner of the control board), select it by clicking on the desired hit point or pressing the Shift key.

To Select the Strength Level:

To choose the desired amount of force to shot  select it using the strength level indicator shown in the middle of the control board. Point to the desired strength level on the indicator and then click left mouse button, or use keyboard by pressing  the space bar.

When you are ready to shoot, click on the Start button in the middle of the control board, you will see the action picture, or click the right mouse button, or press the Enter key.


How to Keep Score

1.	To keep score for one player, the playing time and the total number of fouls is automatically recorded by two counters, which are shown in the leftmost side of the control board.

2.	To keep score for two players, the balls in the pockets are displayed under "Player 1" and "Player 2". The winner is the one shoorting the most balls in the pockets.

3.	There is no scoring for the Pool game.

To see a List of Best Shooters:

From the Game menu, choose Best Shooters. You can see a list of the Best Shooters for all four games.


How to Understand the Rules of the Game

The playing rules of Challenge Pool are the same as the rules of a regular pool game. Challenge Pool can be played by either one or two players. The following section describes the details.

Rules of Nine Ball

Nine lowest numbered balls are racked in a diamond shape, the one is at the apex and the nine is in the center. Any ball that drops on the break is legal if the one is hit first.On every shot the player must hit the lowest-numbered ball first, failure to do so is a foul. Players who pocket the cue ball, commit a foul. The player who pockets the nine ball legally wins the game.

Rules of Straight Pool

Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle and all the object balls are placed randomly. On every shot, you must pocket a ball, otherwise you commit a foul. If the cue ball goes in, it is a foul. If you miss or the cue ball goes in, you lose your turn. The player who pockets the most balls wins the game.

Rules of Rotation Pool

Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle, the one is at the apex and the two and three are in the other two angles. On every shot the player must hit the lowest numbered ball first. Failure to do so is a foul. Players who pocket the cue ball, commit a foul. Any pocketed ball is spotted on original point when a foul is committed. The player who pockets the most balls wins the game.

Rules of Eight Ball Pool

Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle and the eight is in the center. Fifteen balls are divided into two groups: balls lower than eight (group A) or all those higher than eight (group B). Players can choose either group A or B to shoot when the first ball is pocketed. Players should pocket all the balls in the selected group, then pocket the eight, to win the game. On every shot if a player pockets the eight or the cue ball, he loses the game.

Rules of Ten Ball Pool

Ten lowest-numbered balls are racked in a triangle shape, the one is at the apex and the ten is in the center. Any ball that drops on the break is legal if the one is hit first. On every shot the player must hit the lowest-numbered ball first, fail to do so is a foul. Players pocket the cue ball, commit a foul. Player who pockets the ten ball legally wins.

Rules of Fifteen Ball Pool

Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle and all the object balls are placed randomly. On every shot, you must pocket a ball. If the cue ball goes in, it is a foul. Any pocketed ball is spotted when a foul is committed. The player who pockets more than 61 points(each ball has a point value equal to its number) wins the game.

Rules of BlackJack Pool

Fifteen balls are racked in a triangle and all the object balls are placed randomly. On every shot, you must pocket a ball. If the cue ball goes in, it is a foul. Any pocketed ball is spotted when a foul is committed. The player who pockets 21 points(each ball has a point value equal to its number) wins the game. If total points more than 21, total point reset to 0.


How to Use Tools

There are several tools you can use to improve your shot.

•	To help youself to get a better shot, choose Aim from the Game menu.

•	You can watch the cue ball path before you shoot by clicking on the path indicator on the rightmost section of the control board.

•	To undo the shot, choose Undo from the Game menu.