The game is played with 5 red and 5 white balls, with one marked ball in each set. At the start of play, each set of balls is arranged on five spots near each edge of the table by a pocket with the marked ball placed directly in front of the pocket. The object is for a player to sink all of their balls into their pocket at the opposite end of the table. Certain rule sets state that the player's marked ball must be sunk before the player can shoot any other balls, while other rule sets state that the player's marked ball must be sunk before the player can sink any other balls (though they are still allowed to be shot). Unlike most other billiard games, there is no designated cue ball; any ball may be shot directly with the cue stick, including into a pocket, rather than the more common rule that a cue ball must be hit into the intended ball.