It is generally played on 6x12 english billiard tables, with cushions that are more narrow than on pocket billiard tables and which curve smoothly into the pocket openings. Download the rules of the game explanatory notes to 2019 rules update updated november 2019 rules committee the rules committee is chaired by senior referee jan verhaas, who is assisted by brendan moore, paul collier, derek budde, martin clark, colin humphr. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. English billiards has also, but less frequently, been referred to as the english game, the allin game and formerly the common game. Any ball but the 8 ball may be hit first on the shot following the break. If it doesnt help your game in 7 days, request a refund. There are different billiards games that use the 15 ball set. The free ball is respotted while the actual ball on will stay off the table. Until everyone has had an opportunity to consider and digest the content, the books will only be available online. New rule book for billiards and snooker the snooker forum.
Nine ball rules except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the general rules of pocket billiards apply. Any ball but the 8ball may be hit first on the shot following the break. World standardized offical rules for 8ball, 9ball, and over 30 other billiard games. The american poolplayers association apa is the worlds largest amateur pool league. International or english snooker is the most widely played form of snooker around the worl d. Fouls the following actions are fouls at pool when included in the specific rules of the game being played. Stroke a a stroke is made when the striker strikes the cueball with the tip of the cue, except whilst addressing the cueball known as feathering b a stroke is fair when no infringement of rule is made.
The goal is to drive object balls into six pockets located at the cushion boundary. Rules and specifications billiards congress of america. Modified for playing on a bar table with coin drop note no spotting of the 8ball if made on the break 1 table is always open after the break. We recommend reading through the simplified guide to snooker rules and regulations first. English billiards, called simply billiards in the united kingdom, where it originated, and in many former british colonies such as australia, is a cue sport that combines the aspects of carom billiards and pocket billiards. However, if the cue ball is touching an object ball at the start of the shot, it is legal to shoot. Whether its breaking, banking, position play or safety play, we have the instructional pool.
Modified for playing on a bar table with coin drop note no spotting of the 8 ball if made on the break 1 table is always open after the break. They wouldnt want to make league players pay for a whole new game, just to spot a ball. Nine ball is played with nine object balls numbered one through nine and a cue ball. Fourball billiards or fourball carom often abbreviated to simply fourball, and sometimes spelled 4ball or fourball is a carom billiards game, played on a pocketless table with four billiard balls, usually two red and two white, one of the latter with a spot to distinguish it in some sets, one of the white balls is yellow instead of spotted. This version of ten ball billiard rules is the version that is played with a regular billiard or pool table with a standard set of pool balls, 115, solids and stripes. There are different billiards games that use the 15ball set. The game is also sometimes called 61pool for the number of points that determines the winner. Enhance your enjoyment of the game by getting to know the worldstandardized rules for 8ball, 9ball, 14. Baulk the baulk line is parallel to the head rail and one fifth of the length of the playing surface away from the head cushion. Billiards in this case referring to english billiards is a game that is popular not just in england but around the world thanks to its popularity during the time of the british empire.
Free ball a free ball is a ball, other than the ball on, which the striker nominates as the ball on when snookered after a foul see section 3 rule 12. Eight ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and 15 object balls, numbered one 1. The object of the game is to make one group of numbered object balls, either stripes or solids, and then legally pocket the 8ball which then wins the. This rule applies to any shot where the cue balls first contact with a ball is with one that is frozen to a cushion or to the cue ball itself. Eight ball eight ball is played with fifteen numbered object balls and the cue ball. Less oftused rules if the cueball ever comes to rest touching another ball, a touching ball is called. It is played on a billiards table with the same dimensions as a snooker table and points are scored for cannons and pocketing the balls. When an inning ends free of a foul, the incoming player accepts the table in position.
This is the essential resource for serious players and fans. A free ball is a ball, other than the ball on, which the striker nominates as. The shooters group of seven balls one through seven or nine through fifteen must all be off the table before he attempts to pocket the eight ball to win. Also included are bca hall of fame biographies, tournament results and records and instructional tips. The player uses a stick pool cue to strike a cue ball which in turn strikes object balls. In the apa, everyone can play anyone can win even you. While cue ball fouls only is the rule of play when a match is not presided over by a referee, a player should be aware that it will be considered a cue ball foul if during an attempt to jump, curve or masse the cue ball over or around an impeding numbered ball that is not a legal object ball, the impeding ball moves regardless of whether it. Baulk baulk is the rectangular area of the table that is bordered by the baulk line and the three. This section is for those who would like to download the official rule book. This book as includes official equipment specifications, illustrated instructional techniques and updated stats on the past and present champions. Two 58 rock maple pool cues mixed weights one set standard polyester home pool balls one bridge stick with plastic head one 8 ball triangle rack one 10 black nylon pool.
If a ball entering the mouth of a pocket contacts the cushion within the mouth, it does so at a point well below the cushion nose. On each shot the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowestnumbered ball on the table, but the balls need not be pocketed. Improve your billiards game by learning from the best with these billiards instructions. Any violation of the general rules of pocket billiards that is deemed a foul will give the opponent cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. Watch this short video tutorial guide on how to play snooker under world snooker rules.
After a couple of years of intense consideration and debate by a small team, led by jan verhaas, the eagerly awaited new rules of snooker and billiards were published on monday 12th august 2019. Forced off the table a ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than on the bed of the. The cue ball may be adjusted by the players hand, cue, etc. Needless to say, my experience was fine when purchased the bca rule book online. The official rules and records book is complete with detailed instructions on how to play everything from basic pocket billiards to cutthroat, together with the rules for tournament games such as nine ball, rotation, snooker, and carom games. Download the current 2020 regulations for a complete explanation of the various csi dress codes and enforcement procedures. If a foul is not called before the next shot begins, the foul is assumed not to have happened. Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a baizecovered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions.
Go ahead get one or more of my pdf books and videos. If several fouls occur on one shot, only the most serious one is enforced. The official rules and records book is complete with detailed instructions on how to play everything from basic pocket billiards to cutthroat, together with the rules for tournament games such as nine ball and rotation, and snooker and carom games. After a foul has been committed the incoming player is awarded a free shot. These are the rules that govern how to play snooker and english billiards.
These are the official rules of billiards from the billiard congress of america. Billiards is a cue sport that is played by two players and utilises one object ball red and two cue balls yellow and white. Fifteen ball is a game where shooters play for points and scratches make for a dramatic turn of the tables. Here in a single, compact handbook are all the rules for the myriad forms of pocket billiards. The following play kits are available with the purchase of any pool table listed on our web site. Four ball billiards or four ball carom often abbreviated to simply four ball, and sometimes spelled 4 ball or fourball is a carom billiards game, played on a pocketless table with four billiard balls, usually two red and two white, one of the latter with a spot to distinguish it in some sets, one of the white balls is yellow instead of spotted.
If a free ball occurs on a coloured ball after all the reds are potted, the player will attempt to pot any nominated ball and the next shot will revert to the lowest value ball. Two cue balls historically both white, with one marked with a dot, but more recently one white and one yellow and a red object ball are used. Fifteenball is a game where shooters play for points and scratches make for a dramatic turn of the tables. Eightball pool can be played as a singles or doubles game and is played with cues and 16 balls, 15 object balls, and one cue ball the ball the players strike to try. This section is for those who would like to download the official rule book we recommend reading through the simplified guide to snooker rules and regulations first the portable document format may be useful once you are familiar with the basic version. This is the only time when attempting to pot a colour that two balls can be potted without a. While cue ball fouls only is the rule of play when a match is not presided. Eight ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. Eight ball rules except when clearly contradicted by these additional rules, the general rules of pocket billiards apply. The gate method provides a more accurate measurement of a pocket opening based on the true action of a ball entering the mouth of the pocket. If the first object ball contacted by the cue ball is not the lowest numbered ball on the table, the shot is a foul. The portable document format may be useful once you are familiar with the basic version. Free shot after a foul has been committed the incoming player is awarded a free shot.
Pocketing the 7 ball on a legal break wins the game. Pocketing the 7ball on a legal break wins the game. Whether its breaking, banking, position play or safety. I saw rules on 8 ball for bca and we will be following the rules for appa because i made 8 ball on break and had to respot and continue vs appa i would have won the game. Billiard rules and regulations billiards for beginners. Only the cueball is returned for free on those tables. If no object ball is pocketed, failure to drive the cue ball or some object ball to a rail after the cue ball contacts the object ball is a foul. One player must pocket balls of the group numbered 1 through 7 solid colors, while the other player has 9 thru 15 stripes. The games vary according to which balls are legal targets and the requirements to win a match.