Path: elvis.clinet.fi!news.eunet.fi!news.funet.fi!sauna.cs.hut.fi!lk-hp-1.hut.fi!jkokko From: jkokko@lk-hp-1.hut.fi (Jari Kokko) Newsgroups: sfnet.harrastus.biljardi Subject: Rules of snooker Date: 2 Dec 1993 10:17:37 GMT Organization: HUT Lines: 438 Distribution: sfnet Message-ID: <2dkfc2$iah@sauna.cs.hut.fi> NNTP-Posting-Host: lk-hp-1.hut.fi RULES OF SNOOKER Sun Oct 10 17:07:53 1993 ---------------- Foreword -------- This document is about the rules of the finest cue sport of them all: snooker. Snooker is a demanding, tactical game that requires accuracy and skill, yet is rewarding to the beginner. There are two main versions of the rules of snooker: there is snooker, and there's American snooker. I'll begin by describing the version of snooker that is played internationally and in England, and then I'll try to list the differences to American snooker. There is a separate document, "Snooker and Billiards FAQ", that is actually a test paper for grade C referees of the B&SCC. In this paper there are numerous questions and answers that will clarify some of the more tricky rules. I can email it on request. (jkokko@snakemail.hut.fi) Equipment --------- The game of snooker is played on an English Billiard table. -playing area: 11' 8.5" X 5' 10" (plus or minus 0.5") -height of table from floor to cushion rail: 2' 9.5" to 2' 10.5" -pocket openings shall conform to the templates authorised by the B&SCC -the baulk-line is a straight line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it. The intervening space is termed the baulk -the "D" is a semi-circle described in baulk with its centre at the middle of the baulk-line and with a radius of 11.5" -the spot: 12.75" from the point perpendicular below the face of the top cushion -the centre spot: Midway between the centre pockets and equidistant from the faces of the top and bottom cushions -the pyramid spot: Midway between the centre spot and the face of the top cushion -the brown spot: in the middle of the baulk-line The balls shall have a diameter of 52.5mm with a tolerance of +0.05mm -0.08mm. They shall be of equal weight within a tolerance of 3 grams per snooker set. The cue shall be no less than 910 mm in length and shall show no substantial departure from the traditional and generally accepted shape and form. "Rests" may be used to provide a bridge for the cue. The Game -------- At the commencement of each frame the object balls are positioned as follows: Black on the spot, pink on the pyramid spot, blue on the centre spot, brown on the middle of baulk-line, green on the left-hand and yellow on the right-hand corner of the "D". The fifteen reds are racked in the form of a triangle, the ball at the apex standing as near to the pink ball as possible without touching it, the base being parallel with and nearest to the top cushion. -------------------- ------------------- | | | | | r | Reds: 1 point each | . (3) r | Yellow: 2 points | . | r r | Green: 3 -"- | . | r r | Brown: 4 -"- | . (4) (5) (6)r r r (7)| Blue: 5 -"- | . | r r | Pink: 6 -"- | . | r r | Black: 7 -"- | . (2) r | | | r | | | | -------------------- ------------------ Players shall decide by lot the order of play. The first player shall play from in-hand and the frame starts with the first stroke. The cue-ball must hit a ball on, and must not enter a pocket. A ball not on must not enter a pocket. For the first stroke of each turn red is the ball on, until all reds are off the table. The value of each red in the same stroke is scored. If a red is potted, the next ball on is a colour, which if potted is scored and re-spotted. Until all reds are off the table the break is continued by potting reds and colours alternately. The colours then become on in the ascending of their value and when potted remain off the table. If the striker fails to score the next player plays from where the cue-ball comes to rest. When only the black is left the first score or foul ends the frame, unless the scores are then equal. In that case the black is spotted, the players draw lots for choice of playing, the next player plays from in-hand and the next score or foul ends the frame. The winner is the player or side with the highest score. In a game of many frames, the player to strike first in each frame shall alternate. Fouls ----- If the striker commits a foul he incurs the penalty prescribed which is added to the opponent's score. The offender has to play again if requested by the next player. Once such a request has been made it cannot be withdrawn. A foul is condoned if it is not awarded by the referee or claimed by the non-striker before the next stroke is made. The penalty for a foul is always at least four points, or the value of the ball on or the value of the ball in concern in the foul. If more than one foul is committed in the same stroke the highest value penalty is incurred. The following are fouls: -striking when the balls are not at rest -causing a jump shot -causing a push shot -striking the cue-ball more than once in the same stroke -striking with both feet off the floor -striking improperly from in-hand -causing the cue-ball to miss all object balls -causing the cue-ball to enter a pocket -causing a snooker with "free ball" -causing a ball not on to enter a pocket -causing the cue-ball to first hit a ball not on -striking when a ball is not correctly spotted -touching a ball not in-hand except the cue-ball with the tip of the cue when striking -forcing a ball off the table -causing the cue-ball to simultaneously hit two balls other than two reds or the free ball and the ball on A special penalty of seven points is incurred for the following fouls: -committing a foul after potting a red and before nominating a colour or playing at reds in successive strokes -using a ball off the table for any purpose (e.g. to measure a gap) -using as cue-ball any other ball than white Definitions ----------- The striker is the person about to play or in play and remains so until the completion of the break. A stroke is made when the striker strikes the cue-ball with the tip of his cue. A stroke is completed when all balls have come to rest and the referee decides that the striker has left the table. To play from in-hand correctly the cue-ball must be struck from a position on or within the lines of the "D". If the referee considers that the player is not attempting to play a stroke, even though the tip of the cue touches the cue-ball, the ball is not in play. A ball on is any ball which may be lawfully hit by the first contact of the cue-ball. A nominated ball is the object ball which the striker declares or indicates to the satisfaction of the referee to hit with the first impact of the cue-ball. The nominated ball must be hit first. A pot is when an object ball after contact with another ball and without any contravention of these rules enters a pocket. A break is a number of pots in succession made in any one turn. A ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the table or in a pocket. The cue-ball is snookered when a direct stroke in a straight line to any part of every ball on is obstructed by a ball or balls not on. If in-hand the cue-ball is snookered only if it is so obstructed from all positions in the "D". A cue-ball is angled if "snookered" by a corner of the cushion. If angled after a foul, the next player may play from in-hand. Note: if the cue-ball is snookered on some balls on, and angled on others, but not snookered on ALL balls on and not angled on ALL balls on then the cue-ball is not snookered or angled. A push shot is made when the tip of the cue remains in contact with the cue-ball when the cue-ball makes contact with an object ball or after the cue-ball has commenced its forward motion. When the cue-ball is almost touching an object ball it is no push shot if the cue-ball hits the finest possible edge of that ball. A jump shot is when the cue-ball jumps over any ball except when it first hits a ball on and then jumps over another ball. It shall also be deemed a fair stroke if the cue-ball after hitting a ball on fairly and then a cushion should jump over that same ball. A touching ball is called if the cue-ball after a stroke is in contact with a ball on or a ball that could be on. The player must play away from the touching ball, not moving it. No further contact on a ball on is required unless the striker nominates another ball. A free ball is awarded to the non-offending player if the cue-ball is snookered after foul. The player may nominate any ball as the ball on and that ball shall be treated as the ball on for that shot. The free ball shall be re-spotted if it enters pocket. The striker may not lay a snooker behind the free ball in such a way that the nearest snookering ball for all balls on is the free ball, except when only the pink and black are left. If the free ball is potted the value of the ball on is scored. If both the free ball and the ball on are potted then the value of the ball on is scored and the ball on remains off the table, except if the ball on is red in which case all reds or balls that are nominated as red score one point. The nominated ball must always be hit first or at least simultaneously with the ball on. A miss is when the referee considers the striker has not endeavoured to hit a ball on to the best of his ability. If this is the case, then the offending player has to play from the original position all balls having been replaced, if requested by the next player. Note: if the ball on is impossible to hit, no miss will be called. Miscellany ---------- Should a ball, stationary or moving, be disturbed by other than the striker, all balls shall be replaced and the stroke replayed. This covers the case where the striker is caused by an outside agency to disturb balls. If a ball should fall by itself to a pocket, it shall be replaced, and if it would have had an effect on the shot, the shot shall be replayed with all balls replaced. If a colour has to be spotted it is placed on its own spot if available. If its own spot is occupied, i.e. the ball cannot be placed on it without it touching another ball, the colour will be spotted on the highest value spot available. If several colours should be spotted and their own spots are not available, the balls are spotted in the order of descending value. If all spots are occupied the colour shall be placed as near its own spot between that spot and the nearest part of the top cushion. If, in the case of the black and pink, the space between its own spot and the nearest part of the top cushion is occupied, the colour shall be spotted as near as possible to its own spot on the centre line of the table below that spot. If a ball is found to be not correctly spotted, and a stroke is made, the colour will remain where it is and be considered to be correctly spotted thereafter, unless it is off the table, in which case it will spotted when discovered. If the referee considers a position of stalemate is being approached, he should warn the players that if the situation is not altered in a short period of time, he will declare the frame null and void: the frame to be re-started with the same order of play. Four-handed snooker: In a four-handed game each side shall open alternate frames, the order of play shall be determined at the commencement of each frame, and must be maintained throughout that frame. Striking out of turn is a foul. Players may change order of play at the beginning of each frame. If a foul is committed and a request to play again is made, the player who committed the foul plays again, and the original order of play is maintained. In the case of a re-spotted final black the pair who play the first stroke have the choice of which player plays that stroke. The order of play must then be maintained as in the frame. Partners may confer during a game but not whilst the striker is at the table or after the first stroke of his break. If the referee considers that a player is taking an abnormal amount of time over a stroke, he should warn the player that he is liable to be disqualified if he contines to play abnormally slowly. For refusing to continue a frame or for conduct which, in the opinion of the referee, is wilfully or persistently unfair a player shall lose the game and be liable to be disqualified from competitions held under the control of the B&SCC. In case of a player's absence from the room, he may appoint a substitute to watch his interests, and claim a foul if necessary. The referee shall be the sole judge of fair and unfair play, and responsible for the proper conduct of the game under these rules. He must intervene if he sees any contravention. He can tell if requested to by a player who is colour blind, the colour af a ball. He will clean a ball on a player's request. He shall not answer any question not authorised in the rules. He shall not give any indication that a player is about to make a foul. He shall not give any advice or opinion on points affecting play or answer a question regarding the difference in scores. If he has failed to notice any incident he may take the evidence of the spectators best placed for observation to assist his decision. If requested by the striker, the referee or marker may move and hold in position any light shade which interfers with the action of the striker. The Professional Game --------------------- The rights to the rules are owned by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). There are some differences in the game as played on the amateur level and in the professional (or WPBSA sanctioned) tournaments. Here are the differences, these may become part of the amateur rules later. When trying to hit a ball on, according to amateur rules you can play any shot you like, no matter how difficult, even if there is an easier shot, provided that you really try it in the opinion of the referee - a miss will not called. (It will be a foul, but not a miss. See "miss" in "definitions"). In WPBSA tournaments, a miss is also called when a player doesn't make contact even though he could have made full ball contact with a ball on. Also a miss is called if the so called "two-cushion escape" is attempted, and contact is not made. The two cushion escape is played at the pack of reds off of the side cushion and the top cushion, attempting to get a thin nick on the pack and getting the cue-ball back in to baulk. This is a very defensive shot and it can be argued that the player doesn't really care if he hits a ball on or not. In addition, if a pro misses three times in a row, he will forfeit the frame. A miss is not called according to pro rules if anyone needs snookers in the frame. The start of a frame is when the cue-ball is on the table and the tip of the cue touches the cue-ball. No angled ball rule. If the referee fails to re-spot or incorrectly spots a ball, the player is not penalised. The player must give the referee sufficient time to spot balls when necessary. If ancillary equipment owned by the striker or borrowed by the striker should be faulty and cause the striker to disturb a ball in play a foul is called. Equipment that comes with the table or that is provided by a third party including the referee is not the responsibility of the striker -- no foul is called if their faultiness causes the striker to disturb a ball in play. AMERICAN SNOOKER ---------------- "American snooker is a cousin of Snooker as it is played widely around the world: the rules giving it a distinct orientation toward the structure of many American pocket billiard games." (BCA 1990) The rules are the same as above except for the following differences. Terms ----- Baulk-line: Balk-line to pot: to pocket legally the ball on: the on ball, (required) legal object ball striker: shooter stroke: shot nominate: designate forced off the table: jumped off the table the spot: the billiard spot to string: to lag Equipment --------- Tables are either 5'x10' or 6'x12' snooker tables, height: 29.25". Pocket openings curve smoothly into the pockets, cushion rails are more narrow than on pool tables. On a 5'x10' table the black spot is 10.5" from the cushion, pyramid spot is 28" from the cushion, the balk line is 23.5" from the other cushion, the "D" is 9.1875" in radius. Balls either 2.0625" or 2.125" in diameter. Reds are not numbered but colors may or may not be numbered. The Game -------- Players lag for break. The triangle of reds is racked so that the apex ball is on pyramid spot and the pink is frozen to the apex red. Opening break must make a red ball contact a cushion or enter a pocket and the cue-ball contact a cushion after hitting a red. Failure to do so is a foul and a breaking violation, incoming player has choice of accepting the table and shooting or making offender to break again. Penalty for fouls is seven points. The non-striker can foul. On all shots a ball must contact a cushion, unless a ball is pocketed. A jump shot is always a foul if it is an attempt to clear an obstructing ball. A slightly different "striking when a ball is not correctly spotted" rule. Apparently hitting two balls simultaneously when both are not reds ends the inning, but is no foul. (No mention of this in the BCA book). No free ball rule. No angled ball rule. No miss rule. No touching ball rule. Push shots are legal if the cue-ball is only struck once (?). REFERENCES ---------- Rules of the game of snooker, B&SCC 1989. Billiards: the official rules and records book, BCA 1990. Pot Black Magazine on the Professional Game, 1992-1993. Grade C Referees' test paper) the Internatlonal Association of Billiards and Snooker Referees, 1989. An article by Dave Dunbrack that Ben Fulton (fulton@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu) sent me for reference in trying to figure out what the American rules are about, 1993. Alt.sport.pool FAQ, 1993.