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In Snooker, “struck balls” must be “potted” into one of 6 pockets located around a table, or moved to another area of the table to try to avoid the opponent “potting” the ball. Matches are decided by the points scored by players, denoted by the colours of their “potted” balls, plus penalty points conceded by their opponents.
A game of Snooker is played with 22 balls and the object of the game is to alternatively “pot” (sink the ball into a pocket) red balls and nominated coloured balls in sequence using a white cue ball. The coloured balls all have a positioning spot and are immediately replaced on the table in their original spots if they are “potted” Once all the red balls have been “potted”, the coloured balls must be “potted” in order of value. The points value rises from 1 to 7 in steps of 1 point from red (1), yellow (2), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6) to black (7).
A player continues to play for as long as he or she continues to score points successively, until a shot is missed and the opponent’s turn begins.
when the black ball is “potted” at the end of the coloured ball sequence according to the rules.
A match consists of an odd number of frames, the winner being the first player to reach an unbeatable frame total. The winner of a “frame” is the player with the highest score when no more balls are able to be potted.
Matches can be played individually or in teams of two, with the players alternating.
For the first shot of the game, or when the “cue” ball is accidentally “potted”, the “cue” ball must be hit from a particular arc on the table.
In addition to the points they score whenever they sink a ball, players also receive penalty points according to the fouls that they commit - ranging from 4 to 7 points, these are added to the opposing player’s total score.
Whenever a player commits a “foul” stroke, the turn of the player at fault is terminated and handed to the opponent. Examples of “fouls” are the following:
1. “Potting” the cue ball.
2. Missing all the balls.
3. Hitting the wrong ball which is often caused by their opponent deliberately playing a ball into an obstructing position between the cue ball and the next sequentially coloured ball to be hit (called a “snooker”).
4. A double hit which occurs when the tip of the cue is in contact with the white ball when it touches another ball.
5. A “false hit” which occurs when the white ball is touched by a part of the cue other than the tip.
6. A “jumped” ball which is a ball that jumps from the table.
7. Playing a ball before the balls are completely stopped.
8. Players lifting both feet from the ground when playing a shot, since the rule is that one foot must always be kept in contact with the ground at all times. |