# I am found in a pool, never sinking nor afloat; pass the squares that I rule, and a soldier must promote

Riddle me this:

Although I'm a cube, I do not have six sides;

Beneath me is green, although no grass resides.

My pockets are large enough — I can fall in!

But then you'll fall out, though at ends you might win.

I'm solid and black, but my pupil is white;

My letter and name are as tall as my height.

My value is tied, unlike my rotund form.

No tees are before you; no spots on me swarm,

But I despise stripes even when they're on cue.

My pale friend knows me, but what about you?

A classic riddle of mine. The title is also a clue, but it plays an entirely different game.

Hint:

I spin all the time, but will never get dizzy.
Don't count to my number when tipped — it ain't easy.

• @Jannis remember when I told you that I was gonna make a teapot riddle, but didn't? Can you guess what my teapot word might have been, from this riddle? :P – Mr Pie Sep 25 '18 at 12:22
• Dude, I don't think that message will get to @Jannis 's inbox 'cos she's not active in this comment section lol :D – Kevin L Sep 25 '18 at 13:30
• @KevinL oh. Eh well, I'll just comment on one of her posts I guess :P – Mr Pie Sep 25 '18 at 14:12
• @user477343 I'm here :) you've made it; My guess your teapot was ball(s) :D – user52327 Sep 25 '18 at 14:27
• @user477343 Thx :D – Kevin L Sep 26 '18 at 2:10

I think you are

The black ball in pool

Although I'm a cube, I do not have six sides;

The ball usually has the number '8' on it which is a cube

Beneath me is green, although no grass resides.

Pool tables often have a green baize (although it can be blue or red too)

My pockets are large enough — I can fall in!

Pool tables have pockets

But then you'll fall out, though at ends you might win.

If you pot the black ball before all others of your designated type, you will lose although you will need to pot at the end to win the game.

I'm solid and black, but my pupil is white;

The black ball has a small bit of white containing the number.

My letter and name is as tall as my height.

Not sure about this one, but possibly referencing the similarity between the number '8' and the letter 'B'.

My value is tied, unlike my rotund form.

The inherent value of the black ball in pool is the winning of the game and not the value '8'.

No tees are before you; no spots on me swarm,
But I despise stripes even when they're on cue.

The black ball is neither considered part of the 'spots' or 'stripes' in pool. You use a 'cue' to play the game.

My pale friend knows me, but what about you?

The cue ball

Hint

The black ball may spin a lot during play. The number '8' turned on its side is $$\infty$$, not easy to count.

Title

I'm found in a pool - pool being the game rather than a swimming pool.
pass the squares I rule - not sure about this but several of the other balls have square numbers.
and a soldier must promote - an 8-ball is U.S. military jargon for a soldier often in trouble

• Yeah, that's it, however (ROT13) V qvqa'g xabj gur gnoyr pbhyq or oyhr be erq, gbb. Vf guvf ernyy gehr? – Mr Pie Sep 25 '18 at 12:06
• Blue is fairly common and you often see it used in tournaments on TV although red is admittedly more rare. – hexomino Sep 25 '18 at 12:08
• I might think about those for a bit, first. – hexomino Sep 25 '18 at 12:19
• Oh, and congratulations for hitting past $30k$ reputation! :D – Mr Pie Sep 25 '18 at 12:20
• You can get pool felt in any color you want. – Keltari Sep 26 '18 at 0:42