Rules of Snooker and Pool

Basic rules of Snooker

One stop guide to learn the rules of snooker!

Introduction to the rules of snooker:

International or English snooker is the most popular type of snooker that is played throughout the world.

The game is typically played on a 6 by 12 foot English billiard table, however, the main difference is that the pads are different from that of a billiard table. Snooker pads bend much more into the pocket openings as the balls used in snooker are smaller and hence need to be easier to be pot. The material for the table is wooden with a coarse felt-like texture for the table top. This provides friction for the balls.The table is also designed to be ass flat as possible so that the balls do not slide accidentally.

A little history of snooker

Snooker was actually born from billiards. The first billiard game was played close to 400 years ago while the first snooker game was played less than a 100 years ago. The history of billiard is much longer than snooker which also explains the difference in popularity of the 2 sports. Snooker was first played and popularized by the Chinese and Indians during its emerging years. Nowadays, the sport is dominated by people from the United Kingdom. What is most interesting, is that snooker was formed by the combination of two spin-off games from billiards, life pool and pyramid pool. These 2 spin-offs were created due to the stringent rule of billiards being a 2 person sport. While the popularity of snooker has never been particularly high, many still enjoy it due to it being more challenging that billiards and having more variations in play. Snooker can be described to be designed for those who want to be challenged by the game whereas billiards is seen to cater to casual players.

Equipment to play snooker

Typically, snooker is played by 2 players but there are certain variations where 4 players can also play the game.

A set of 21 balls are used in a typical game of snooker. These balls, unlike pool balls, are unnumbered. Of these 21 balls, 15 are red (called reds) and 6 are of different hues (called hues). The scoring ball or white ball is referred to as the cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point while the points for the hues are listed below:

Yellow Ball -2 points

Green Ball -3 points

Brown Ball - 4 points

Blue Ball - 5 points

Pink Ball - 6 points

Black Ball - 7 points

All the balls are typically made to be 2 and 1/16 inches in size.

Snooker cues: The cue stick should be at least 3 feet in length and comply with official snooker regulations. For more information about snooker cues, please refer to my other blog post:
https://mastersnookerandpool.blogspot.sg/2017/09/choosing-snooker-cues.html

The Setup

Rack the red balls into a pyramid shape. Place the pink ball at the head of the pyramid but ensure that it does not touch any of the red balls. Place the black ball behind pyramid, with it being in line with the center of the pyramid.

Place the blue ball between the pink ball and the balk line. Place the yellow ball on the edge of the half circle and the green ball at the other edge. Finally, place the brown ball in the center of the half circle.

The balk line refers to the straight line drawn on the snooker table. It is located 29 inches away from the face of the table.

The half circle is, as the name suggests, a semi circle that is drawn above the balk. When the game starts, the player who is breaking the ball can decide to place the cue ball anywhere within the half circle or on the edge of the half circle. However, once he endeavors to make his shot, the cue ball can no longer be moved.

Rules - Scoring

The point of the game, similar to every other game out there, is to score a greater number of points compared to your opponent.

It is possible to earn points in 2 different ways. Either from fouls committed by your opponent (this will be elaborated on later) or by legally potting the red and hue balls. Each legally potted red ball is worth 1 point while the hues are worth the number of points mentioned above

One round of snooker closes when all the balls have been potted but the balls must be potted according to the official playing sequence.

In the special event where only the black ball is left on the table, the game is then determined by whoever scores the black ball first or makes the first foul. In the off chance that the score of both players are equal after potting the black ball, the ball is returned to its original position in the setup. Players then decide among themselves who will take the shot. The first score or foul will then end that round of play.

Rules - Starting the game

It is customary for the players to toss a coin to decide who gets to break first. Or it can be given to the more inexperienced player. Following the first round, the players then take turns to have a shot at breaking the ball first. For the first shot, the player must always cause the cue ball to hit a red ball. Failing to do so results in a foul. (He does not need to score the ball, only to hit it)

Standard rules of play

1. Potting balls allow the striker to keep scoring until he finally fails to pot a ball or commits a foul

2. The striker must always pot a red ball before being allowed to pot a hue ball (failure to comply results in a foul)

3. The striker must always hit the red ball first with the cue ball if the intention was to score the red ball.

4. Any shots that are scored by pure luck is accorded as a foul, no points would be awarded and possession of play goes to the opponent.

5. Jump shots are strictly not allowed, failure to comply leads to a foul and possession is given to the opponent

6. If no reds remain in play, the player must go in numerical ascending order of potting the remaining hues

(Rules) In the event of fouls:

1. Hues that are illegally potted return back to their original position as depicted in the setup, red balls are not returned in play.

2. Jump shots that cause balls to jump off the table are subject to same rules as being illegally potted.

3. If the position where the ball is supposed to return to is occupied, it is placed in the next possible location. If all locations are taken, it is placed as close as possible to the location without touching the ball occupying that space.

4. If the cue ball lands outside the table, the possession of play transfers, and the player can place the ball wherever he desires to. (Free ball)

5. Touching the ball, either with the cue or with your hands is subject to the same penalties as that of the cue ball landing outside the table.

6. If you pot the white ball, it is considered a foul. The penalty of doing so is the same as the above 2 fouls

7. It is mandatory for at least one foot to be touching the ground when a shot is made. Failure to do so will lead to you committing a foul.

(Rules) Fouls and points awarded.

Committing a foul is a grave sin and the penalties reflect this. A foul results in 4 points being awarded to your opponent. However, if the ball in question is worth more than 4 points, then the value of the ball is given to the opponent in points.

I hope this blog spot was enjoyable for you to read and helped you understand more about the rules of snooker. Thanks for making it thus far and all the best in your snooker endeavors!



More information can be found on the official wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_snooker
If you want to find out how you can get better at snooker, simply read my other blog post:
https://mastersnookerandpool.blogspot.com/2017/08/how-play-snooker.html