Cut Throat Rules

Assignment of groups of balls to each player is done during game play. Each set of five balls is initially unclaimed, and the three players take turns attempting to knock any ball into a pocket. Once a player has knocked in a ball, he knows that he does not own that group of balls. For example, if Shou hit in the 3-ball and the 8-ball, he would own the high balls, as he has knocked in a low ball and mid ball. Chuu and Dai would still not have ownership over a set of balls, and would, during their turns, attempt to knock in balls to gain ownership over a set. This may vary with regional differences.

Another peculiarity of this game is the consequence of scratch, or knocking the cue ball into a pocket. In some regional variants, a player's opponents are rewarded by taking two of their balls each ought of pockets, and placing them back onto the table. Other variants allow the next player to place the cue ball anywhere on the table before he makes his shot instead of only behind the break line.

One should note that one's turn continues so long as he knocks in an opponent's ball during his turn. One can even knock in his own ball so long as an opponent's ball is knocked in first during that one turn. This circumstance, called 'Cutting one's own throat,' is where the game gets its name.

The object is to be the last player with at least one ball left on the table.

When a player has no balls on the table, he is said to be 'out' and his turn is skipped in the rotation of taking shots.

Source: Webster-Dictionary.org