Snooker Rules

Snooker is a separated category in billiards. Even though snooker is played on a table with six pockets, it does not belong to the family of pocket billiard games such as 8ball and 9ball. The snooker table, the rack and the balls are different from those used in pool games, plus snooker rules and terminology are separated from pocket billiards.

Snooker Equipment

Snooker is played 6x12 ft billiard table with four corner pockets and two pockets in the middle of each side. The baulk line is stretched at one end of the table, 29 inches from the bottom cushion, and a half circle, known as the D, is drawn behind it. The snooker game is played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of different colors, which the player has to pot alternately using the cue ball and the cue stick. 

Object of the Game

The object of the snooker game is to gain the highest score by potting the reds and the colored balls legally. The snooker players are scored 1 point for each legally potted red ball. Each colored ball has different point value: potting the yellow ball worth 2 points, the green ball worth 3 points, the brown - 4, blue - 5, pink - 6, and potting the black ball is worth 7 points. 

The Rack

Before the opening break shot, all the red balls are racked in a triangle shape, and each of the colored balls is placed on its spot. The pink ball is placed on the pyramid spot closer to the apex ball. 

Opening Break Shot

The opening break shot is taken with the cue ball in hand within the half circle. The breaking player has to cause the cue ball to contact a red ball. If he fails in filling this term, it is a foul.

Snooker Rules

Turn Definition

A player's turn at the table will continue as long as he manages to pot balls legally according to the snooker rules detailed below. When a player fails in potting a ball legally, his turn ends and his opponent may begin to strike. 

Legal Strike

The cue ball must make a contact with a legal object ball (ball on). It is not required to cause any of the balls to touch a cushion or sink into a pocket. Failure in contacting a ball on is a foul. 

Playing the Reds

The player who makes the first stroke of an inning must always cause the cue ball to first contact a red ball, providing there are still reds on the table. When the reds are the legal object balls, the player is not required to call neither a specific red ball nor a pocket. 

Potting the Colored Balls

After the striking player had potted a red ball legally, he has to pot a colored ball on his next strike. When the colored balls are the player's legal object balls, he must nominate a certain colored ball before striking. Afterwards, the striking player is required to cause the cue ball to make the first contact with that certain colored ball. Potting a different ball than that specific ball is as a foul.

End of the Game

Once all the red balls are off the table, the player has to pot the colored ball in ascending order. Additionally, each potted colored ball remains out of play, unless the black ball is the last ball to remain on the table; in the latter case, the end of the frame will be determined by the first score or foul made with the black ball. 

Fouls

These acts are counted as fouls in snooker: 

• Failure in completing a legal opening break shot
• Illegal strokes and illegal potting of balls
• Contacting a non on ball
• Potting a different ball than the called red ball

Foul Penalty

Each time a player commits a foul his opponent is added points to his score. In addition, the offender's opponent is entitled to ask him to play again and the offender is not allowed to refuse.