The playing area within the cushion faces shall measure 3500mm x 1750mm with a tolerance on both dimensions of +/- 3 mm.
The height of the table from the floor to the top of the cushion railshall be from 850 mm to 875 mm.
{i) There shall be pockets at the corners (two at the Spot end knownas the top pockets
and two at the baulk end known as the bottom pockets)and at the middle of the longer
sides.
(ii) The pocket openings shall conform to the templates authorised by theBilliards and
Snooker Control Council.
A straight line drawn 700 mm (1/5th the length of the playing area)from the face of the bottom cushion and parallel to it is called the Baulk-lineand the intervening space termed the Baulk.
The "D" is a semi-circle described in baulk with its centreat the middle of the Baulk-line and a radius of 292 mm (1/6th the widthof the playing area).
Four spots marked on the centre longitudinal line of the table.
The balls shall have a diameter of 52.5 mm with a tolerance of +0.05/-0.08mm.
The cue shall be not less than 910 mm in length and shall show no substantialdeparture from the traditional and generally accepted shape and form.
"Rests" may be used to provide a bridge for the cue.
A game is an agreed number of frames.
A match is an agreed number of games.
(a) the white ball is the cue-ball.
(b) the 15 reds, and
(c) the 6 colours, are object balls.
The person about to play or in play is the striker, and remains so untilcompletion of the stroke or break (Sec. 2 Rules 6 & 12).
(a) a stroke is made when the striker strikes the cue-ball with thetip of the cue.
(c) a stroke is not competed until all balls have come to rest and thereferee has decided the striker has left the table.
(a) the cue-ball is in-hand when it has entered a pocket or has beenforced off the
table.
(b) it remains in-hand until played fairly from in-hand or a foul is committedwhilst the
ball is on the table.
(a) the cue-ball is in play when not in-hand.
(b) object balls are in play when spotted and remain so until pocketedor forced off the
table.
Any ball which may be lawfully hit by the first impact of the cue-ballis said to be on.
A nominated ball is the object ball which the striker declares, or indicatesto the satisfaction of the referee, he undertakes to hit with the firstimpact of the cue-ball.
(a) if a ball is potted, the same player plays the next stroke.
(b) a break is a number of pots in succession made in any one turn.
(a) a ball is forced off the table if it comes to rest other than onthe bed of the
table or in a pocket.
(b) if a colour it shall be spotted as per Sec 3 Rule 6 before the nextstroke is made.
A foul is any act in contravention of these rules.
(a) the cue-ball is snookered when a direct stroke in a straight lineto any part of
every ball on is obstructed by a ball or balls not on.
(b) if in-hand, the cue-ball is snookered only if obstructed from all positionson or
within the lines of the "D".
(c) if the cue-ball is obstructed by more than one ball, the one nearestto the cue-ball is
the effective snookering ball.
(a) the cue-ball is angled when a direct stroke in a straight line toany part of every
ball on is obstructed by a corner of the cushion.
If angled after a foul,
(b) the referee will state angled ball, and
(c) it may be played from in-hand at the striker's discretion.
A spot is said to be occupied if a ball cannot be placed on it withoutit touching another ball.
A push stroke is a foul and is made when the tip of the cue remainsin contact with the
cue-ball,
A jump shot is when the cue-ball jumps over any ball except when itfirst strikes the object ball and then jumps over another ball.
A miss is when the referee considers the striker has not endeavouredto hit the ball on.
The game of Snooker is played on an English Billiard Table and may beplayed by two or
more persons, either as sides or independently.
Points are awarded for scoring strokes and forfeits from an opponent'sfouls.
The winner is the player or side making the highest score or to whom thegame is awarded
under Sec. 4 Rule 2.
Each player uses the same WHITE cue-ball and there are twenty-one objectballs - fifteen
reds each valued 1 and six colours: yellow valued 2, green3, brown 4, blue 5, pink 6 and
black 7.
Scoring strokes are made by potting reds and colours alternately untilall the reds are off
the table and then the colours in the ascending orderof their value, i.e. - yellow to
black.
At the commencement of each frame the object balls are positioned asfollows:
BLACK on the SPOT; PINK on the PYRAMID SPOT; BLUE on the CENTRE SPOT; BROWNon the MIDDLE
of the BAULK-line; GREEN on the LEFT-HAND and YELLOW on theRIGHT-HAND corner of the
"D".
The reds in the form of a triangle, the ball at the apex standing as nearto the pink as
possible, without touching it, the base being parallel withand nearest to the top cushion.
(a) the players shall determine the order of play which (subject toSec. 3 Rule 10) must
remain unaltered throughout the frame.
(b) the first player shall play from in-hand and the frame starts withthe first stroke.
(d) a ball not on must not enter a pocket.
(e) (i) for the first stroke of each turn, until all are off the table,red is the ball on.
(e) (ii) the value of each red, or ball nominated as red, potted in thesame stroke is
scored.
(f) if a red is potted, the next ball on is a colour, which if potted isscored. The colour
is then re-spotted.
(g) until all reds are off the table the break is continued by pottingreds and colours
alternately.
(h) if the striker fails to score the next player plays from where thecue-ball comes to
rest.
(i) the colours then become on in the ascending order of their values (Sec.3 Rule 1) and
when potted remain off the table (except as provided forin the next paragraph).
(k) the striker shall to the best of his ability endeavour to hit theball on. If the referee considers the rule infringed he shall call fouland miss.
To play from in-hand the cue-ball must be struck from a position onor within the lines of the "D".
Two balls, other than two reds or a free ball and the ball on, mustnot be hit simultaneously by the cue-ball.
(a) if a colour has to be spotted, and its own spot is occupied, itshall be placed on
the highest-value spot available.
(b) if there is more than one colour, and their own spots are occupied,the highest value
ball takes precedence.
(c) if all spots are occupied, the colour shall be placed as near as possibleto its own
spot between that spot and the nearest part of the top cushion.
(d) if, in the case of the Black and the Pink, the space between its ownspot and the
nearest part of the top cushion is occupied, the colour shallbe placed as near as possible
to its own spot on the centre line of thetable below that spot.
(a) if the cue-ball is touching another ball which is, or can be, on,the referee shall
state TOUCHING BALL.
(b) the striker must play away from it or it is a push stroke.
(a) if a ball falls into a pocket without being hit by another ballit shall be
replaced.
(b) if it would have been hit by any ball involved in a stroke, all ballswill be replaced
and the stroke replayed.
(c) if the ball balances momentarily on the edge and falls in, it mustnot be replaced.
(a) after a foul, if the cue-ball is snookered, the referee shall stateFREE BALL.
(b) if the non-offending player takes the next stroke he may nominate anyball as on.
(c) for this stroke, such ball shall (subject to para(e)(i)) be regardedas, and acquire
the value of, the ball on.
(e) if the free ball is potted it
(f) if the ball on is potted it is scored.
(g) if both the free ball and the ball on are potted, only the value ofthe ball on is
scored (subject to Sec. 3 Rule 3(e)(ii).
(b) should more than one foul be committed in the same stroke, the highestvalue penalty
shall be incurred.
The following are fouls and incur a penalty of four points or the higherone prescribed.
(c) value of the ball on or higher value of the two balls by causingthe cue-ball to hit simultaneously two balls other than two reds or a freeball and the ball on (3-5).
If a ball, stationary or moving, is disturbed other than by the strikerit shall be repositioned by the referee.
If the referee considers a position of stalemate is being approached,he should warn the players that if this situation is not altered in a shortperiod of time he will declare the frame null and void. The frame shallbe restarted with the same order of play.
(a) in a four-handed game each side shall open alternate frames, theorder of play shall
be determined at the commencement of each frame, andmust be maintained throughout that
frame.
(b) players may change order of play at the beginning of each frame.
(c) if a foul is committed and a request made to play again, the playerwho committed the
foul plays again, and the original order of play is maintained.
(d) when a frame ends in a tie Snooker Rule 3 (k) applies. The pair whoplays the first
stroke have the choice of which player plays that stroke.The order of play must then be
maintained as in the frame.
(e) partners may confer during a game but not whilst one is the strikerand at the table or
after the first stroke of his break.
If the referee considers that a player is taking an abnormal amountof time over a stroke, he should be warned that he is liable to be disqualified.
For refusing to continue a frame or for conduct which, in the opinionof the referee, is wilfully or persistently unfair a player shall losethe game. He is liable to be disqualified from the competitions held underthe control of the Billiards and Snooker Council and its Affiliated Associations.
The non-striker shall, when the striker is playing, avoid standing ormoving in the line of sight; he should sit or stand at a fair distancefrom the table.
In the case of his absence from the room he may appoint a substituteto watch his interests, and claim a foul if necessary.
(c) if he has failed to notice any incident he may take the evidenceof the spectators best placed for observation to assist his decision.
The marker shall keep the score on the marking board and assist thereferee in carrying out his duties.
For more information about the rules of the game, or about coachingand tournaments, contact:
The Billiards and Snooker Control Council (B&SCC),
92, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 1LT.
Tel: (0532)440586
1. A ball or a set of balls may be changed with the consent of theplayers or on a
decision of the referee.
2. It is the players' responsibility to both place the rest on and removeit from the
table.
3. Using the cue to position the cue-ball: if the referee considers theplayer is not
attempting to play a stroke, even though the tip of the cuetouches the cue-ball, the ball
is not in play.
4. If requested by the referee the striker must declare which ball he ison.
5. It is the strikers' responsibility to ensure that all balls are correctlyspotted before
striking.
6. Subject to Sec 3 Rules 8 & 12, reds are never replaced on the tabledespite the fact
that a player may benefit from a foul.
7. If there is any one ball that is not so obstructed, the cue-ball isnot snookered.
8. If there is any one ball that is not so obstructed, the cue-ball isnot angled.
9. If the cue-ball finishes on the far side of the object ball, even thoughtouching it in
the process, it is considered to have jumped over.
10. After striking the ball on fairly if the cue-ball should then jumpover the object ball
after hitting a cushion, it shall be deemed a fairstroke.
11. The positions of the object balls are commonly referred to by the colour,e.g. black
spot, pink spot, etc.
12. The player to strike first at each frame shall alternate during a game.
13. Aggregate scores: in games or matches where aggregate scores are relevantit is only
when the scores are equal as a result of the last frame thatthe above applies.
14. The ball on impossible to hit: in this situation it has to be consideredthat the
striker is attempting to hit the ball on.
15. The referee will answer if asked if the ball is properly placed.
16. Movement of touching ball: if the referee considers that a touchingball has moved
through an agency other than the player, it is not a foul.
17. No player shall be responsible for any disturbance of the balls bythe referee.
18. If a game is awarded to a player: provided that where aggregate pointsscores apply,
the offender shall also forfeit 147 points for each unplayedframe, to the number required
to complete the game.
19. The referee will not answer a question regarding the difference inscores.
20. If requested by the striker, the referee or marker may move and holding position any
light shade which interferes with the action of the striker.
Trick shoots in Snooker
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Latest modification: Augest, 1999