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These snooker rules are a standardized rule and regulation set for international snooker or English snooker. This version of snooker is generally played on the larger English billiard tables which are usually 6'X12'. These tables are slightly different from normal pocket billiard tables in that the cushions are generally thiner, and they curve smoothly in to the openings of the pockets. There are some smaller tables available such as the 5'X10' snooker table, which may also be used to play snooker. 6'x12' snooker tables (English billiards) have a playing area within the cushion faces which shall measure 11' 8.5" x 5' 10" with a tolerance on both measurements of +/-0.5". The height of the table is measured from the floor to the top of the cushion rail, and should measure 34" with an acceptable tolerance of +/-0.5".
Under standardized snooker rules, the game is to be played between two players, although informal variations do exist. The object of snooker is to amass a greater number of points than the opponent.
A set of snooker balls consists of 15 unnumbered, solid, red object balls called reds, 6 unnumbered, solid object balls of varying color called colors, and a cue ball called the white ball. Reds are worth one point, yellow are worth two points, green are worth three points, brown are worth four points, blue are worth five points, pink are worth six points, and black are worth seven points. The general size of the balls used in international snooker is 2-1/16" in diameter; considerably smaller than traditional pocket billiard balls.
The pink ball is to be spotted on the pyramid spot, with the apex ball from the triangle of reds to be racked as close to it as possible without touching it.
The baulk-line is to be a straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion which runs parallel to it. The area inside the baulk-line is known as the baulk.
The snooker half circle is a semi-circle located in Baulk. The center of the snooker half circle is at the middle point of the baulk-line and has a radius of 11.5" In snooker rules, if the shooting player has cue ball in hand within the half circle, they can place the base of the cue ball at any location directly on the line or inside of it. To do this, the player can use his or her hand or any part of the cue stick including the cue tip. This must be done in such a way that does not appear to be a stroke.
Under English snooker rules, points can be scored in two ways. Snooker players are given points for fouls committed by their opponent, and for legally pocketing, or potting, either red or colored object balls. Each snooker reds ball that is legally pocketed, or "potted" has a value of one point, and each colored ball potted has a value corresponding with is numbered value as outlined above. Each frame ends once all balls have been legally potted following the snooker rules of play.
The exception is the situation where only the black ball (seven) remains on the table. In this scenario, under snooker rules, the frame ends with the first score or with the first foul. Should the player's scores be equal after that scoring, the black ball is spotted on it's original position. From there, the players either draw lots, or lag to determine who has choice of playing order to play at the black ball with cue ball in hand from inside the half circle. At this juncture, the first score or foul ends the game.
Under snooker rules, players either draw lots or lag for break in the beginning frame. During match play, snooker players alternate performing the break shot in subsequent frames. The player performing the break may start with cue ball in hand from inside the half circle. This player must shoot the cue ball and cause it to contact a red ball. If the player fails to meet this snooker regulation, he or she will be assessed a foul penalty as outlined below. If such a foul is committed, as with all fouls, the incoming player has the choice of whether to accept the table as it is and play their inning, or to require the original breaking player to break again. The breaking player need not send a ball to a rail or a pocket as in some traditional billiard games.
When a ball from the reds group is illegally potted there is no spotting and they remain off of the snooker table. Balls which are illegally potted from the colors group are spotted. See below for more details on spotting.
Per snooker rules and regulations, any player to cause a ball to leave the snooker table is assessed a foul. Reds that leave the table are not respotted and colors are.
When the cue ball is jumped off the table the incoming player has cue ball in hand from within the half circle. When this shot is set up and with the exception of the opening break, there is no restriction on what balls can be played, based on position of reds and colors. The shooting player may play any ball regardless of where it lies on the snooker table.
Colors are the only group of balls to ever be spotted per snooker rules. When colors are spotted they are to be placed as they were at the middle of the game. There is a possibility that the color's spot is occupied, which is any scenario where spotting it properly would cause it to touch another ball. If this is the case, the ball to be spotted is to be placed on the spot of the highest value color that is unoccupied. When all spots are occupied, the color is spotted as close to its original spot as possible and in a straight line between its spot and the nearest point on the (top) foot cushion.
While balls are in play, the shooting player may not touch any object ball. The shooting player also may not strike the cue ball with anything other than the tip during a legal stroke. If a player commits either of these actions, a foul is assessed.
The cue ball is considered snookered when a direct stroke in a straight line to any part of every "ball on" is obstructed by either a ball or balls "not on." If there is any ball that is not obstructed in such a manner, the cue ball is not snookered. When playing ball-in-hand from within the half circle, the cue ball is only considered snookered if it is obstructed from all positions on or within the half circle. If the cue ball is obstructed by more than one ball, the one nearest to the cue ball is to be used as the effective snookering ball.
When a direct stroke in a straight line to any part of every "ball on" is obstructed by a corner of the cushion, the cue ball is said to be angled. If there is any "ball on" that is not obstructed, the cue ball is not angled. If the cue ball becomes angled after a foul, the referee or the player will call "angled ball" and the shooting player may either play from that position or play ball-in-hand from within the half circle.
A given spot is considered "occupied" if a ball can not be spotted on it without said ball touching another ball.
If the cue ball is in any way touching another ball that is, or could be, "ball on," the referee will call "touching ball." The shooting player must then play away from it. If this is not done, the action is considered a "push stroke" which is a type of foul. If the shooting player does play away from the ball, no foul is assessed if either the ball is not on, if the ball is on, and the shooting player nominates as such, or if the ball is on and the shooting player nominates, and first hits, another ball. The referee also has the option clear a foul if he or she deems the touching ball to have moved through an agent other than the shooting player.
When the tip of the cue stick remains in contact with a ball for too long, the action is called a "push stroke" and is considered a foul. This can occur when the cue tip is still touching the cue ball when it contact the object ball, and when the cue stick is still contacting the cue ball after the cue ball has began its forward motion. For cases where the cue ball is already touching another ball or almost touching another ball it may be deemed a legal shot if the cue ball hits the finest possible edge of the near object ball.
The shooting player is obligated to the best of his or her ability to try to hit the ball on. Should the referee feel that this snooker rule has been infringed upon, he or she shall call a foul and a "miss." The incoming player has the choice of whether to play the ball as they are or to request that the balls be respotted to their original positions so that the offending player may shoot again. If the "ball on" can not possibly be hit, the shooting player is deemed to be attempting to hit the ball on automatically.
If after a foul has been called the cue ball is snookered, the referee or shooting player shall state "free ball." If the non-offending player decides to take the next stroke, he or she may nominate any ball on. For this stroke, the nominated ball is to be regarded as, and shall acquire the value of, the ball on. If the cue ball fails to contact, or except when only the pink and black remain on the table, be snookered by, the free ball, a fould is called. If the free ball is potted, it is spotted and the point value of the ball on is scored. If the ball on is potted, it stays potted and is scored accordingly. Should the shooting player pot both the free ball and the ball on, only the value of the ball on is to be scored.
There are several snooker regulations that apply should a foul be committed:
Each of the following are considered snooker fouls, and carry a value of four points unless otherwise specified:
The snooker rules article was posted on 2/12/2008 9:28:00 PM and updated on 2/12/2008 9:28:00 PM. The snooker rules article was edited by Billiards Forum Editor.
The term snooker has its roots in the British military in the 19th century. A snooker was a term referring to first year cadets or otherwise inexperienced troops. Lore states that Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain of the Devonshire regiment called his opponent a snooker when the opponent failed to pot a ball while playing the newly created game. Snooker Rules originate from the creation of the game of snooker in the late 19th century. Snooker was created by officers of the British Army stationed in India when they often created variations on the then popular billiards. Snooker happened to be one of the variations created while stationed in Jabalpur, India in 1874-1875. The particular defining characteristic was the addition of colored balls to the reds and blacks typically used for pyramid pool.
The governing body for snooker rules is the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (pro), International Billiards and Snooker Federation (amateur).
Snooker Rules belong to the snooker category of cue sports. Snooker is a type of cue sport class of games that are played on a large snooker table.
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Is there a foul if the cue ball does not touch a rail before striking the ball on; and the ball on is not potted; and the ball on does not touch a rail or cause another ball to touch a rail after having been struck by the cue ball; and the cue ball does not touch a rail or cause another ball to touch a rail after having struck the ball on?
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