Classic Pool - Play Free Online | Wipzu

About Classic Pool

Classic Pool is a browser-based 8-ball billiards game built by Israeli developer Chen Shmilovich in 2018 as his first JavaScript project. It runs on HTML5 Canvas with a custom physics engine — no third-party library — handling ball collisions, cushion bounces, and realistic roll. The goal is identical to real 8-ball: pocket all your assigned balls (solids or stripes), then sink the black 8-ball in a called pocket to win.

The single-player mode features an AI powered by a genetic algorithm. Before each shot, the AI runs dozens to hundreds of physics simulations, scores each candidate using a reward function, and executes the best result it found. At Insane difficulty — 700 simulations per turn — the AI pauses noticeably to think, then plays with genuine strategic accuracy.

Shot power is controlled with the W and S keys, allowing precise incremental adjustment before you commit with a click. This is more deliberate than a drag-release mechanic and makes soft safety shots as practical as full-power breaks. The aim line projects the cue ball's path so you can verify angle before shooting.

There is no spin or English mechanic — the cue ball strikes without sidespin, so all positional play comes from shot power and cut angle. Players who know real pool will notice this simplification after a few shots; newcomers won't miss it at all. The physics behaves consistently, so bank angles and cue ball deflection respond predictably across every shot.

Key Features

  • Genetic algorithm AI evaluates 30–700 simulated shots per turn depending on difficulty — it finds real angles rather than guessing randomly
  • Four AI difficulty levels: Easy (30 simulations), Medium (50), Hard (100), Insane (700) — with Insane visibly pausing before each shot
  • Custom HTML5 Canvas physics engine built from scratch — collision detection, cushion bounce, and roll are all hand-coded with no external library
  • W/S key power control for precise incremental adjustment before each shot, rather than a click-hold-release drag
  • Local two-player mode available alongside single-player AI — both players share the same screen and take turns
  • Ball assignment (solids or stripes) determined by whichever type you pot first after the break, following standard 8-ball rules

Controls

Mouse movement — rotate cue stick around the cue ball to aim
W — increase shot power
S — decrease shot power
Left click — execute the shot
Esc — return to main menu
MobileNot optimized for mobile — designed for mouse and keyboard input.

How to Play

  1. 1Choose a difficulty (Easy through Insane) and mode (single-player vs AI or local 2-player) from the main menu.
  2. 2Move the mouse to aim your cue. The guide line shows the projected cue ball path.
  3. 3Press W to increase shot power, S to decrease it. Watch the power meter and set your desired level before shooting.
  4. 4Left-click to execute the shot. The physics handles collisions, cushion bounces, and rolls automatically.
  5. 5Ball assignment is determined after the break — whichever type you pot first (solid or stripe) is yours for the rest of the game.
  6. 6Clear all your assigned balls, then sink the 8-ball in a called pocket to win. Potting the 8-ball before clearing your group is an instant loss.

Tips & Tricks

  • Think about cue ball position before every shot, not just which ball to pocket. A pot that leaves the cue ball frozen against the cushion is often a losing play. Use moderate power (50–70%) — controlled speed gives much better positional control than full-force hits.
  • Play defensive safeties when no clean pot is available. Hide the cue ball behind your opponent's group or nudge one of your balls to block a pocket they need. The AI is a strong shot optimizer but cannot plan multi-shot sequences, so repeated snookers are a legitimate winning strategy.
  • On bank shots, softer hits produce more accurate exit angles. Hard shots compress the cushion rubber and narrow the exit angle; a softer stroke exits closer to the true reflection angle. Test the same bank at different power levels to feel the difference.
  • Break near max power aimed slightly off-center at the rack head ball. Your goal is to spread balls widely and leave the cue ball near table center — a central cue ball after the break gives the most options for your first real shot.
  • Against Hard or Insane AI, clear your group methodically before thinking about the 8-ball. The AI cannot plan defensive sequences, so focused execution of clean positional play will consistently outperform it.

Game Info

DeveloperChen Shmilovich (henshmi)
Release Year2018
PlatformBrowser
TechnologyHTML5 Canvas / JavaScript

FAQ

Yes — Classic Pool supports local two-player mode where both players take turns on the same screen, alongside single-player against an AI opponent at four difficulty settings.

Balls are not assigned at the break. Whichever player pockets a ball first after the break is assigned that type — solids or stripes — for the rest of the game. If nothing is pocketed on the break, the table stays open.

At Insane, the AI runs 700 physics simulations before each shot and selects the best result. It reliably finds real shot angles but has no multi-shot planning and cannot set up positional chains or true defensive play — which is the main way to beat it.

This version does not expose a spin or English mechanic. All positional play comes from shot power and cut angle alone, which simplifies the game and keeps the physics behavior consistent and learnable.

Fouls include hitting the opponent's ball type first when assigned, potting the cue ball (scratch), and sinking the 8-ball before clearing your group. Fouls pass the turn to the opponent.