The opponent’s target goal is the desired pocket on every shot and that is the similarity for one pocket billiards to soccer. Requiring somewhat of a defensive strategy in addition to the usual offensive strategies of billiards. Each play is essentially defending a target pocket. If a player shoots a ball into one of the four other pockets instead of making a ball into the opponent’s target pocket, then the shot is declared something like "illegally pocketed ball".

If a shooter accidentally pockets a ball in their own goal pocket, the opponent receives a winning point total, and then he loses the game. The shooter would have pocketed over half of the total billiards ball into the opponent’s pocket only if they reach the object. The object is to get to eight balls pocketed in the target or opponent’s goal pocket. The shooter loses only if the shooter has six pocketed balls and his or her opponent has seven total and the shooter accidentally pockets a ball in his or her own goal.

The two players should select their own pocket as they wish to use as a target pocket before starting the game. The breaking shooter is required to make at least one ball into the targeted pocket, and the balls are set up in the racking triangle at random. Also, is required that the shooter makes a contacted ball hit a cushion, to continue his/her turn as the shooter. The game is over if the target pocket is scored on eight or more times.