Tournament Rules | River Tournaments Downtown Portland, OR

Note: Eligibility, Race lengths, and sportsmanship rules/enforcement are at the tournament director's discretion to encourage fair gameplay and equal competition for lower-rated players. The spirit of the rule will take priority over the letter of the rule. For clarification on BCA rules, please see refer to the World Pool Association Rule Book

Player Eligibility & Registration

Players with Fargo ratings of <445 in 8-ball, <430 in 9-Ball are welcome at River Tournaments (10-Ball TBD).
Players with a FargoRate or APA account may need to present a photo ID at registration.
If you do not have a FargoRate account and/or less than 50 robustness, your Fargo and/or APA rating will be converted to a comparable FargoRate for tournament eligibility. Conversions are at the Tournament Director's discretion.
If you have no APA and no FargoRate, you will be entered at the maximum eligible rating (445 for 8-ball, 430 for 9-Ball) and monitored for future eligibility.
If you have multiple Fargo accounts, the highest rating will be used. Players rated >430 in 9-Ball and >445 in 8-Ball are not eligible — please email support@fargorate.com to merge accounts beforehand.
DigitalPool syncs with the FargoRate system. Your rating will be available to the tournament director immediately upon your registration (if you have one). If you are in the OPAL APA system, the tournament director may find your profile and convert your rank. Please bring your APA app/account and have it ready at registration if you only have an APA rating and no Fargo.
All River Tournaments are reported to FargoRate. FargoRate estimates 2-3 weeks to process scores and create new player profiles; once processed, you will be able to claim your profile via the FargoRate mobile app..
All ratings and conversion assignments are subject to review and final approval by the tournament director.
Your rating at registration on tournament night will decide eligibility and race lengths. DigitalPool syncs with FargoRate and pulls updated ranks in real time.
Entry fees must be paid at time of registration. Your spot will not be held without payment.
You do not have a spot in the bracket until your entry fee is paid, your Fargo rating has been verified/assigned, and your match requirements are confirmed.
Any confirmed player who does not show up by the time matches are being assigned may be forfeited and replaced with a Bye.

Match Format & Races

Race lengths vary by format, the number of players, and Fargo gaps. The tournament director may adjust races based on attendance; the items below are general guidelines.
8-Ball
- 8–12 players: race to 2 on the winners side, 1 on the losers side.
- 13–16 players: race to 1 on both winners and losers sides.
9-Ball
- 8–12 players: race to 3 on the winners side, 2 on the losers side.
- 13–16 players: race to 2 on the winners side, 1 on the losers side.
- All formats/tournaments: 100+ FargoRate gap on the front — the higher-rated player must win 1 extra game. (See How do player ratings work?)
We follow BCA rules.
Definition: A Bye means an automatic advancement to the next round for a player without an opponent that round.

Equipment & Gameplay

Racks are Fargo Reported.
Lag or Flip, then alternate: Players may lag or flip a coin for the first break. If there's no agreement, lagging is the default. Players alternate breaking; rack your own.
Racking: Players may use a Magic Rack or Triangle if both agree; if not, the Triangle is the default. The rack must be tight and positioned with the apex ball on the foot spot.
Timeouts: Timeouts are not allowed during tournament play. Please direct rule questions to the tournament director.
If you need a shot witnessed, ask anyone not currently playing in a match. If no one is available, ask the tournament director.

Conduct & House Rules

The tournament director reserves the right to refuse entry to any player, or to immediately remove any player from an ongoing tournament, for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Unsportsmanlike behavior of any kind at River or ANY other tournament, league, or pool event in the Oregon community (APA, BCA, APL, etc.).
- Signs of substance impairment.
- Ineligible Fargo rating.
- Suspected or proven manipulation of Fargo ratings (sandbagging).
- Repeated intentional distraction of opponents (sharking).
- Verbal abuse or threats.
- Repeated failure to follow tournament rules or etiquette.
- Any behavior that jeopardizes the integrity of the River tournament or compromises River as a safe, fun, and inclusive space for low-level players.
No drinks on or near pool tables. Spills or damage will result in permanent disqualification from the River tournament, and possible fees and/or ban from the establishment itself (as River management sees fit).
House contributions to the pot are never guaranteed.
Entry fees are cash only and are subject to change.
The tournament director has the final say on all tournament matters.
Remember to tip your bartenders, staff, and tournament directors - they work hard for you!

BCA Rules

Select Format:

8-Ball

Lag or Flip, then alternate: Players may lag or flip a coin for the first break. If there's no agreement, lagging is the default. Players alternate breaking; rack your own.
Racking: Balls are racked with the 8-ball in the center of the triangle, a stripe in one back corner, and a solid in the other. Players may use a Magic Rack or Triangle if both agree; if not, the Triangle is the default. The rack must be tight and positioned with the apex ball on the foot spot.
Legal Break: The cue ball starts behind the head string (2nd diamond, aka the kitchen). A legal break requires that at least four object balls hit a cushion or a ball is pocketed. If this requirement isn't met, it's an illegal break, and the incoming player may accept the table, re-rack and break, or have the original breaker re-break.
Fouls Before the Rack is Struck: No fouls can be called until the cue ball contacts the rack on the break. (Tournament director may still address etiquette or sportsmanship issues at any time.)
8 on the break: If the 8-ball is pocketed and no foul occurs, the breaker may spot the 8-ball and continue shooting OR re-rack and break again. If the 8-ball is pocketed and a foul occurs, the incoming player may spot the 8-ball and take ball in hand behind the headstring or re-rack and break again.
Scratch on the break: If the cue ball is scratched or jumped on a legal break, it's a foul. The incoming player gets ball in hand behind the head string (2nd diamond, aka the kitchen).
Open Table: On all shots (except the break), the cue ball must first contact a ball of your group, and then either an object ball or the cue ball must contact a rail. Failure to do so is a foul, your opponent gets ball in hand.
Call Pocket: You must call the ball and intended pocket for each shot (except on the break):
- You do not need to call details like banks, kisses, or caroms, unless the shot is not obvious.
- If it's clear what ball and pocket you're aiming for, no verbal call is required — it's understood.
- If there's any doubt, you must verbally call or point to make your intended ball and pocket clear.
- Any obvious pocketed ball counts as legal; but if a called ball goes into an unintended pocket, the turn ends and the opponent takes over (no foul unless the cue ball is scratched).
Legal Shot: On all shots (except the break), the cue ball must first contact a ball of your group, and then either an object ball or the cue ball must contact a cushion. Failure to do so is a foul; your opponent gets ball in hand.
Groups: Groups (solids or stripes) are assigned by the first legal shot after the break. If both are made on the break, the table remains open.
8-Ball Shot: You must clearly call the pocket for the 8-ball. The 8-ball may not be the first ball contacted except on a legal combination. Pocketing the 8-ball in an uncalled pocket, or scratching while pocketing it, results in loss of game.
Timeouts: Timeouts are not allowed during tournament play. Please direct rule questions to the tournament director.
General Fouls: All fouls result in ball in hand anywhere on the table (except after the break, when it's behind the head string aka in the kitchen). Fouls include (but are not limited to):
- Failure to contact your object ball first
- Failure to drive any ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball
- Scratch or cue ball off the table
- Jumping any ball off the table (except 8-ball, which is a loss of game)
Races (general guidelines):
8–12 players: race to 2 on the winners side, 1 on the losers side
13–16 players: race to 1, both sides
All Tournaments: 100+ Fargo gap, higher player must win +1 game on the front only.

9-Ball

Lag or Flip, then alternate: Players may lag or flip a coin for the first break. If there's no agreement, lagging is the default. Players alternate breaking; rack your own.
Racking: Balls are racked in a diamond shape with the 1-ball at the apex on the foot spot and the 9-ball in the center. All other balls are placed randomly. Players may use a Magic Rack or Triangle if both agree; if not, the Triangle is the default. The rack must be tight.
Legal Break: The cue ball starts behind the head string (the kitchen). On the break, the cue ball must contact the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact a cushion, or it's a foul. Jumped object balls are not returned to the table.
9 on the Break: If the 9-ball is pocketed on a legal break, the game is won. If the 9-ball is pocketed on a foul break, it is spotted and the incoming player has ball in hand anywhere on the table.
Scratch on the Break: If the cue ball is scratched or jumped on the break, it's a foul. The incoming player gets ball in hand anywhere on the table.
Push-Out Option: If there was no foul on the break, the player taking the first shot after the break may call a push-out. You must declare "push" before the shot, and your opponent must acknowledge. Key points:
- The cue ball does not need to contact the lowest ball or any cushion.
- Any object balls (except the 9-ball) pocketed on a push remain down.
- After the push, the opponent may either shoot from the new position or pass the shot back.
- If a foul occurs on the shot after the push, the opponent receives ball in hand.
Continuing Play: After the break (and any push-out), play continues by always contacting the lowest-numbered ball first. If you pocket any ball legally, you continue shooting. If you foul or fail to pocket a ball legally, your inning ends. The game is won when the 9-ball is legally pocketed on any legal shot.
Timeouts: Timeouts are not allowed during tournament play. Please direct rule questions to the tournament director.
Races:
8–12 players: race to 3 on the winners side, 2 on the losers side
13–16 players: race to 2 on the winners side, 1 on the losers side

10-Ball

Lag or Flip, then alternate: Players may lag or flip a coin for the first break. If there's no agreement, lagging is the default. Players alternate breaking; rack your own.
Racking: Balls are racked in a triangle with the 1-ball at the apex on the foot spot and the 10-ball in the center. All other balls are placed randomly. Players may use a Magic Rack or Triangle if both agree; if not, the Triangle is the default. The rack must be tight.
Legal Break: The cue ball starts behind the head string (the kitchen). On the break, the cue ball must contact the 1-ball first and either pocket a ball or cause at least four object balls to contact a cushion, or it's a foul. Jumped object balls (other than the 10-ball) are not returned to the table; if the 10-ball is jumped, it is spotted.
10 on the Break: If the 10-ball is pocketed on a legal break, it is spotted and play continues. If the 10-ball is pocketed on a foul break, it is also spotted and the incoming player has ball in hand anywhere on the table.
Scratch on the Break: If the cue ball is scratched or jumped on the break, it's a foul. The incoming player gets ball in hand anywhere on the table.
Push-Out Option: If there was no foul on the break, the player taking the first shot after the break may call a push-out. You must declare "push" before the shot, and your opponent must acknowledge. Key points:
- The cue ball does not need to contact the lowest-numbered ball or a cushion.
- Any balls (except the 10-ball) pocketed during a push stay down; the 10-ball is spotted.
- After the push, the opponent may shoot from the new position or pass the shot back.
- If a foul occurs on the push, the opponent receives ball in hand.
Continuing Play: After the break (and any push-out), play continues by always contacting the lowest-numbered ball first. You must call every shot. If the called ball is legally pocketed, your inning continues. Balls pocketed incidentally stay down (except the 10-ball, which is spotted if not legally pocketed). The game is won when the 10-ball is legally pocketed on a called shot.
Illegally Pocketed Balls: A ball is illegally pocketed if it is made in a pocket other than the one called, or if no called ball is made on the shot. The 10-ball is spotted, and all other illegally pocketed balls remain down.
Opponent's Option: If you illegally pocket a ball, your opponent may:
- Accept the table as it lies, or
- Require you to shoot again from that position.
Three-Foul Rule: A player loses the game after committing three consecutive fouls in the same game.
Stalemate Rule: If neither player makes progress after three consecutive innings each, the game is replayed with the original breaker breaking again.
Timeouts: Timeouts are not allowed during tournament play. Please direct rule questions to the tournament director.

River Tournament Rules and House Guidelines