Tie or loss of game

[yvachon]

If the only ball left on the table is the black ball and one player is 7 points ahead of the other player. If the player who is ahead in points makes a foul, is the game over or is it a tie game.

[Robert602]

That's a respotted black situation. One example in particular comes to mind: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwVN2OFAAY

[yvachon]

Thanks Robert602. I was under the impression that in that situation the black had to be potted to tie the game and respot the black. Any foul ended the game.
Had he not pocketted the black but scratched as he did, would the black remain in place or be respotted.

[Robert602]

Fair question but it's the same result regardless of whether the black is pocketed. It's still 7 to the non-striker, so there's been a shot taken with only the black remaining resulting in newly tied scores - that's just about the definition of a respot situation.

To quote the relevant rule:

4. End of Frame, Game or Match
(a) When only the Black is left, the first score or foul ends the frame excepting only if the following conditions both apply:
(i) the scores are then equal, and
(ii) aggregate scores are not relevant.
(b) When both conditions in (a) above apply
(i) the Black is spotted,
(ii) the players draw lots for choice of playing
(iii) the next player plays from in-hand, and
(iv) the next score or foul ends the frame.