Editing Straight pool (section)

{{Short description|Cue sport}}
{{Distinguish|Straight rail}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use MDY dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox sport
 |name=Straight pool|
 |image=Straight pool rack.svg
 |alt=Image of a rack |caption=A traditional straight pool rack with the 1 and 5 balls at the bottom corners, and all other balls placed randomly
 |venue=Indoor, table
 |union  = [[World Pool-Billiard Association]]
 |nickname = 
 |first  = 1910
 |firstlabel = 
 |region  = Worldwide
 |registered = 
 |clubs  = 
 |contact = No
 |team  = single competitors or doubles
 |mgender = Yes
 |equipment = [[Cue sports equipment]]
 |type= Indoor, table
}}
'''Straight pool''', which is also called '''14.1 continuous''' and '''14.1 rack''', is a [[Cue sports|cue sport]] in which two competing players attempt to {{cuegloss|pocket}} as many {{cuegloss|object ball}}s as possible without playing a {{cuegloss|foul}}. The game was the primary version of [[Pool (cue sports)|pool]] played in professional competition until it was superseded by faster-playing games like [[nine-ball]] and [[eight-ball]] in the 1980s.

In straight pool, the player may {{cuegloss|call shot|call}} and attempt to pocket any object ball on the table regardless of its number or color until only one object ball and the {{cuegloss|cue ball}} remain, at which point the other fourteen balls are re-[[Rack (billiards)|racked]]. At this point, play resumes with the objective of pocketing the remaining ball in a manner that causes the cue ball to {{cuegloss|carom}} into the rack, spreading out the balls and allowing the player to continue the {{cuegloss|run}}. The goal is to reach a set number of points that is determined by agreement before the game begins; traditionally 100 points is needed for a win, though professional matches may go higher. One point is scored by pocketing an object ball without a foul, while a point is deducted on a foul.

The game was most popular in the United States and was notably played in the 1961 film ''[[The Hustler]]''. The [[World Straight Pool Championship]] was held from 1911<ref name="S&R 183">{{Stein & Rubino 2008|page=183}}</ref> until 1990, and again from 2006 until 2019. The game is currently represented at a continental level in events such as the [[American 14.1 Straight Pool Championship|International Straight Pool Open]] and the [[European Pool Championships]]' straight pool event.