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Type of Game:
International or "English" snooker is the most widely played
form of snooker around the world. It is generally played on 6'x12'
English billiard tables, with cushions that are more narrow than on
pocket billiard tables and which curve smoothly into the pocket
openings. 5 x 10 and snooker tables of even smaller playing dimensions
may be used for the game. On a 6 x 12 snooker (English billiard) table
the playing area within the cushion faces shall measure 11' 8.5" x
5' 10" with a tolerance on both dimensions of +/-0.5". The
height of the table is measured from the floor to the top of the cushion
rail, and the height shall measure 34" with an allowable variance
of +/-0.5".
Players: 2
Balls Used: Set of Snooker balls:
fifteen object balls that are not numbered and are solid red (called
reds), six object balls of other colors that are not numbered (called
colors) and a cue ball (called the white ball). Point values for object
balls: red-1, yellow-2, green-3, brown-4, blue-5, pink-6, black-7. In
International Snooker the balls used are 2-1/16" diameter.
The Rack: Play begins with the
balls placed as in the diagram above. The pink is spotted on the Pyramid
Spot. The apex ball of the triangle of reds is racked as close as
possible to the pink without touching it.
Baulk-line and Baulk: A straight
line drawn 29" from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to
it is called the Baulk-line and the intervening space termed the Baulk.
The Half Circle: The Half Circle is a semi-circle described in Baulk
with its center at the middle of the Baulk-line and with a radius of
11.5". When the striker has cue ball in hand within the Half Circle
he may place the base of the cue ball anywhere on the line or within the
Half Circle, and may use his hand or any part of his cue (including the
tip) to position the cue ball-as long as it is judged he is not
attempting to play a stroke.
Object of the Game: To score a
greater number of points than opponent.
Scoring: Points are scored in two
ways: players are awarded points for fouls by the opponent (see
Penalties For Fouls below), and by legally potting reds or colors. Each
legally potted red ball has a point value of one; each legally potted
color ball has a point value as indicated (Balls Used above). A frame
ends when all balls have been potted, following the Rules of Play; if,
however, only the black (7) ball is left on the table, the frame ends
with the first score or foul. If the players' scores are equal after
that scoring, the black is spotted on its original position and the
layers lag or draw lots for the choice of playing at, or assigning
opponent to play at, the black ball with the cue ball in hand within the
Half Circle, first score or foul then ends the frame.
Opening Break: Players lag or draw
lots for choice of break in the opening frame. In a match format the
players alternate the break in subsequent frames. Starting player has
cue ball in hand within the Half Circle. He must cause the cue ball to
contact a red ball. It is not necessary to send a ball to a rail or into
a pocket. Failure to meet this requirement is a foul (see Penalties For
Fouls) A foul is scored and--with all fouls--the incoming player has a
choice of (1) accepting the table and becoming the striker, or (2)
requiring the offender to break again.
Rules of Play
1. A legally potted ball entitles the striker to
continue at the table until he fails to legally pot a ball.
2. On all shots, the striker must comply with the
appropriate requirements of Rules of Play 5 and 6. It is not necessary
to cause the cue ball or an object ball to contact a cushion or drop in
a pocket after the cue ball has contacted a legal object ball (ball on).
Failure to contact a legal object ball first is a foul.
3. As long as reds are on the table, the incoming
striker (player taking his first stroke of an inning) always has a red
as his legal object ball (ball on).
4. Any red balls potted on a legal shot are
legally potted balls; the striker need not call any particular red
ball(s), pocket(s) or details of how the pot will be played.
5. When the striker has a red ball as his
"ball on" (legal object ball), he must cause the cue ball's
first contact to be with a red ball. Failure to do so is a foul (See
Penalties For Fouls)
6. After the striker has scored a red ball
initially, his next legal object is a color, and as long as reds remain
on the table he must alternate his play between reds and colors (though
within each group he may play a ball of his choice). When reds remain on
the table and a color is his object, the striker must (a) designate
prior to stroking which color ball is his object (that specific color is
then his "ball on"), and (b) cause the cue ball's first
contact with a ball to be with that colored ball. If the striker fails
to meet these requirements, it is a foul (See Penalties For Fouls).
7. If the striker's ball on is a red, and he pots
a color, it is a foul.
8. If the striker's ball on is a color, and he
pots any other ball, it is a foul.
9. Jump shots are illegal in International
Snooker. It is a foul if the striker intentionally causes the cue ball
to jump (rise from the bed of the table) by any means, if the jump is an
effort to clear an obstructing ball.
10. While reds remain on the table, each potted
color is spotted prior to the next stroke (see Spotting Balls below for
spotting rules). After a color has been spotted, if the striker plays
while that ball is incorrectly spotted (and opponent or referee calls it
before two such plays have been taken), the shot taken is a foul. If the
striker plays two strokes after such error without its being announced
by opponent or referee, he is free of penalty and continues playing and
scoring normally as though the spotting error simply had not occurred.
The striker is responsible for ensuring that all balls are correctly
spotted before striking. If the striker plays while a ball(s) that
should be on the table is not a foul may be awarded whenever the foul is
discovered during the striker's inning. Any scoring prior to the
discovery of the foul will count.
11. When no reds remain on the table, striker's
balls on become the colors, in ascending numerical order (2,3,4,5,6,7).
These legally potted colors are not spotted after each is potted; they
remain off the table. (The black (7) ball is an exception in the case of
a tie score; see Scoring.)
Illegally Potted Ball: Reds
illegally potted are not spotted; they remain off the table. Colors
illegally potted are spotted. (See Spotting Balls.)
Object Balls Jumped off the Table: Reds jumped off the table are
not spotted and the striker has committed a foul. Colors jumped off the
table are spotted and the striker has committed a foul. (See Penalties
For Fouls)
Spotting Balls: Reds are never spotted. Colors to be spotted are
placed as at the start of the game. If a color's spot is occupied (to
mean that to spot it would make it touch a ball), it is placed on the
spot of the highest value color that is unoccupied. If all spots are
occupied, the color is spotted as close as possible to its original spot
on a straight line between its spot and the nearest point on the top
(foot) cushion.
Cue Ball after Jumping off the Table: Incoming player has cue
ball in hand within the Half Circle. When cue ball is in hand within the
Half Circle (except the opening break), there is no restriction (based
on position of reds or colors) as to what balls may be played; striker
may play at any ball on regardless of where it is on the table.
Touching a Ball: While balls are in play it is a foul if the
striker touches any object ball or if the striker touches the cue ball
with anything other than the tip during a legal stroke.
Snookered: 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 there is any one ball that is not so obstructed, the cue ball is
not snookered. If in-hand within the Half Circle, the cue ball is
snookered only if 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 the effective snookering ball.
Angled: The cue ball is angled when a direct stroke in a straight
line to any part of every ball on is obstructed by a corner of the
cushion. If there is any one ball on that is not so obstructed, the cue
ball is not angled. If angled after a foul the referee or player will
state "Angled Ball", and the striker has the choice to either
(1) play from that position or (2) play from in hand within the Half
Circle.
Occupied: A spot is said to be occupied if a ball cannot be
placed on it without its touching another ball.
Touching Ball: If the cue ball is touching another ball which is,
or can be, on, the referee or player shall state "Touching
Ball." Thereafter the striker must play away from it or it is a
push stroke (foul). No penalty is incurred for thus playing away if (1)
the ball is not on; the ball is on and the striker nominates such ball;
or (3) the ball is on and the striker nominates, and first hits, another
ball. [If the referee considers that a touching ball has moved through
an agency other than the player, it is not a foul.]
Push Stroke: A push stroke is a foul and is made when the tip of
the cue remains in contact with the cue ball (1) when the cue ball makes
contact with the object ball, or (2) after the cue ball has commenced
its forward motion. Provided that where the cue ball and an object ball
are almost touching, it shall be deemed a legal stroke if the cue ball
hits the finest possible edge of the object ball.
Miss: The striker shall to the best of his ability endeavor to
hit the ball on. If the referee considers the rule infringed he shall
call foul and a "miss." The incoming player (1) may play the
ball(s) as they lie, or (2) may request that the ball(s) be returned to
the original position and have the offending player play the stroke
again. Note: if the ball on cannot possibly be hit, the striker is
judged to be attempting to hit the ball on.
Free Ball: After a foul, if the cue ball is snookered, the
referee or player shall state "Free Ball." If the
non-offending layer takes the next stroke he may nominate any ball as
on. For this stroke, such ball shall be regarded as, and acquire the
value of, the ball on. It is a foul should the cue ball fail to first
hit, or - except when only the pink and black remain on the table - be
snookered by, the free ball. If the "free ball" is potted, is
is spotted, and the value of the ball on is scored. if the ball on is
potted it is scored. If both the "free ball" and the ball on
are potted, only the value of the ball on is scored.
Fouls
If a foul is committed:
1. the player who committed the foul incurs the penalty prescribed
(which is added to the opponent's score), and has to play again if
requested by the next player. Once such a request has been made it
cannot be withdrawn. 2. should more than one foul be committed in the
same stroke the highest value penalty shall be incurred. 3. any ball
improperly spotted shall remain where positioned, except that if off the
table it shall be correctly spotted.
Penalties for Fouls
The following are fouls and incur a penalty of four points or the higher
one prescribed:
1. value of the ball on - by striking:
a) when the balls are still moving from the previous shot.
b) the cue ball more than once (double hit).
c) without at least one foot on the floor.
d) out of turn.
e) improperly from in hand within the Half Circle.
by causing:
f) the cue ball to miss all object balls.
g) the cue ball to enter a pocket.
h) a snooker with free ball.
i) a jump shot.
2. value of the ball on or ball concerned -
by causing:
a) a ball not on to enter a pocket.
b) the cue ball to first hit a ball not on.
c) a push stroke.
d) by striking with a ball not correctly spotted.
e) by touching a ball with other than the tip of the cue.
f) by forcing a ball off the table.
3. value of the ball on or higher value of the two balls by causing the
cue ball to hit simultaneously two balls other than two reds or a
"free ball" and the ball on.
4. penalty of seven points is incurred if - the striker
a) after potting a red commits a foul before nominating a color.
b) uses a ball off the table for any purpose.
c) plays at reds in successive strokes.
d) uses as the cue ball any ball other than the white one.
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