The 7 Secrets Of 4-Ball Billiards (Sa-gu): Rules, Strategy, And Why Korea Is Obsessed

Forget everything you know about traditional pocket pool. The term "4 ball in pool" doesn't refer to the brown snooker ball or the striped number four, but rather to a distinct, high-stakes, and lightning-fast carom billiards game known as Four-Ball Billiards, or Sa-gu (사구) in Korea. As of late December 2025, this game remains a cultural cornerstone in South Korea, featuring in televised matches and local league play, offering a fresh, strategic challenge far removed from 8-ball or 9-ball. This deep dive will uncover the complete rules, the critical fouls, and the advanced strategy needed to dominate this pocketless discipline.

The game is a pure test of precision and position play, utilizing a pocketless table and a specific arrangement of four balls. Unlike games where you aim to sink a ball, Sa-gu is about making a successful carom—where your cue ball contacts specific object balls to score points. The unique foul system, which penalizes contact with the opponent's cue ball, adds a layer of defensive play that is central to the game's appeal and complexity.

The Essential Guide to Four-Ball Billiards (Sa-gu)

Four-Ball Billiards is a variant of carom billiards, which is played on a table without pockets. The game is known for its rapid-fire scoring and the unique challenge presented by the four-ball setup. The name Sa-gu literally translates to "four ball" in Korean, highlighting its simplicity and focus.

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The Four Balls and Table Setup

• The Table: A standard carom billiards table is used, which is larger than a typical American pool table and, crucially, has no pockets.
• The Balls: The game utilizes four balls:
  • Two Cue Balls: One solid white and one yellow (or white with a spot). Each player is assigned one as their cue ball.
  • Two Object Balls: Two solid red balls.
• The Opening Break: The two red object balls are typically placed on the head spot and the foot spot. The two cue balls are placed on the head string, often near the side rails, ensuring a challenging but fair opening shot.

The Core Rules and Scoring System

The objective of Sa-gu is to reach a predetermined score (e.g., 50, 100, or 150 points) before your opponent. Scoring is based on the carom principle.

• The 1-Point Carom: A player scores one point and continues their turn by having their cue ball successfully contact both of the red object balls on a single shot. This is the primary method of scoring.
• The 2-Point Carom (Rare Variant): In some older or less common variations of Four-Ball Carom, a player may score two points by having their cue ball contact all three object balls (the two reds and the opponent's cue ball). However, this specific shot is a major foul in the most popular Korean Sa-gu rules.
• Continuing Play: As long as a player successfully scores, they retain their turn and shoot again from the new position of the cue ball.

The Critical Foul: Why Hitting the Opponent’s Ball is a Disaster

The most distinguishing and strategically vital rule in Korean 4-Ball is the penalty for hitting the opponent’s cue ball. This rule transforms the game from a simple scoring exercise into a highly defensive and positional battle.

The "Point-Loss" Foul: If a player's cue ball contacts the opponent's cue ball at any point during a shot—even if they successfully hit the two red balls—it is an immediate foul. The penalty is severe:

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1. The player immediately loses one point from their score.
2. The player’s turn ends, and the opponent takes control of the table.

Other common fouls, such as a "scratch" (cue ball jumping off the table) or a push shot, typically also result in the loss of a point and the end of the turn. The opponent then receives "ball-in-hand" behind the head string or a specific starting position, depending on the house rules.

5 Advanced Strategies to Master Sa-gu

To achieve topical authority in 4-Ball Billiards, a player must move beyond simple scoring and master the art of position play, defensive maneuvers, and cushion control. The best players, often seen in tournaments organized by the Korea Billiards Federation (KBF), employ a sophisticated blend of offense and defense.

1. The Defensive Block (The "Safety")

Given the severe penalty for hitting the opponent's cue ball, expert players often use the opponent's cue ball as a defensive shield. A successful defensive shot involves hitting the two red balls for a point, but leaving the opponent's cue ball in a position that makes it extremely difficult for the opponent to score without fouling. This is often achieved by:

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• Hiding the Reds: Leaving the two red balls trapped behind the opponent's cue ball or near a rail.
• Forcing a Rail Shot: Positioning the balls so the opponent must attempt a difficult Three-Cushion Carom or Bank Shot to avoid hitting the cue ball directly.

2. Mastering the "Thin-Cut" Carom

The most common scoring shot in Sa-gu requires a delicate touch. Since the two red object balls are the primary targets, players must master the "thin-cut" shot to control the angle of the cue ball after the first contact. A thin-cut allows the cue ball to travel a precise path to the second red ball, minimizing the chance of an accidental contact with the opponent's ball and setting up the next shot (position play).

3. The Power of English (Spin)

Unlike pocket pool where spin (English) is often used to control the cue ball's path to a pocket, in Sa-gu, English is used exclusively for Position Play and Cue Ball Control. Expert use of side spin, top spin, and draw is essential to:

• Controlling the Draw: Using draw to bring the cue ball back toward the center of the table after a successful carom, keeping the balls clustered for the next shot.
• Forcing Cushion Contact: Using side spin to ensure the cue ball contacts a rail before hitting the second object ball, which can be necessary to avoid the opponent's cue ball.

4. The Importance of the "Massé" Shot

The Massé Shot, where the cue is used at a steep angle to curve the cue ball, is a high-level skill in all carom games. In 4-Ball, it is often a last resort to escape a difficult jam or to curve around the opponent's cue ball to reach the two red object balls. Executing a successful Massé under pressure is a hallmark of a true Sa-gu master.

5. The Long-Game Mentality (High Runs)

The most thrilling aspect of Sa-gu is the potential for a High Run—a continuous string of successful caroms in a single turn. The strategy here is to view the table not as a sequence of single shots, but as a continuous puzzle. Every successful carom must be planned to leave the two red balls close together (a "cluster") and in an open position for the next shot, minimizing the need for difficult long-distance or high-risk shots. The goal is to keep the run alive until the target score is reached.

The Cultural Impact: Why Sa-gu Endures

While games like Three-Cushion Billiards (a more complex carom game) receive international attention through organizations like the Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB), Sa-gu holds a unique place in Korean culture. It is widely played in dedicated billiards halls (often called danggu-jang) across the country, serving as a popular social and competitive activity.

The game’s enduring popularity is a testament to its perfect balance of simplicity and complexity. The rules are easy to grasp—hit the two reds—but the strategic depth required to avoid the opponent's cue ball and maintain a high run is immense. This blend ensures that Sa-gu remains a fresh and challenging sport, with new matches and tournaments, such as those promoted on Korean streaming platforms, featuring top players well into 2025 and beyond, solidifying its status as a distinct and respected cue sport discipline.