16
16 Including the cue,white ball, but straight pool, the basic game is played up to a set number re racking with the last ball from the previous rack and 14 in the rack up to any number.
the most balls sunk in one span is like 564 by Willie Mosconi.
Some games play to less than the full rack
8 ball 8-15
9 ball 9
6 ball 6