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Pool Break
Pool Hall
Pool Shot
Snooker Hall
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In ‘8 Ball Pool’, the starting player strikes the cue ball in the direction of 15 balls which are positioned in the form of a triangle, including the black ball in the middle, at the far end of the table. In addition to the black, the 15 balls are differentiated into two groups of 7 balls – decorated as solid colours or striped colours.
If the player “pots” a ball, he chooses which group of balls he or she wishes to play, and then continues to play. If the first player does not “pot” a ball, the table is considered “open” and the opponent is given the choice of which group of balls to play. The objective is to “pot” all 7 balls within your group in any sequence, and lastly pot the black ball into a previously-nominated pocket. A player’s turn continues as long as an own group ball is struck first and an own group ball is “potted” with every shot, even if an opponent’s ball is also “potted”. If the cue ball is “potted”, a free turn is given to the opponent, from which he/she may or may not “pot” a ball, followed by his normal turn.
However, if the black ball is mistakenly “potted” whilst an own group ball remains on the table, the game is immediately lost by the offending player. Similarly, if a player “jumps” the black ball off the table at any stage in the game, he/she loses. Two other circumstances can lose the player the game when he is trying to “pot” the black to win the game. The first of these is where the black ball is “potted” into a pocket which was not nominated. The second is where the player “pots” the cue ball or “jumps” the cue ball off the table in the process of trying to “pot” the black.
In ‘8 Ball Pool’, a match is normally played as the best of a pre-determined number of frames between 3 and 17.
Equipment
The cue is used by players to strike and propel the cue ball and, especially at the higher levels of the game, it is individually designed for diameter, length and weight characteristics. It consists of a piece of wood tapered at one end and divided along its length into various sections including a leather tip, hard plastic ferrule, shaft, joint, butt and rubber bumper to absorb shock.
Balls also need to be shock resistant, and are therefore made of a blend of materials like plastic, fibreglass and resin.
A rest looks similar to a cue, but has a metal fixture to allow the actual cue to be controlled more easily when striking a ball far away from the player’s body position.
A small cube of chalk is also used. Players can rub this on the tip of their cue to prevent the cue from slipping when in contact with the ball.
History
The origin of the game of “classic” Billiards and derivatives like Snooker is unclear, yet many countries claim to have been the originators. These include China, France, Italy, England and Spain. The earliest billiards games were played on the ground and had some similarities to lawn bowling, although the balls were hit with sticks. The first Billiards table was allegedly made in France in 1469 for King Louis XI. By the middle of the 19th century, there were several variations played with or without pockets and with 3,4 or 15 balls. |