SNOOKER

Chapter 1. EQUIPMENT The Standard Table The Balls The Cue Auxiliary Instruments Chapter 2. DEFINITIONS Frame Game Match Balls The Striker Stroke Pot Break In-hand Ball in Play Ball on Nominated Ball Free ball Forced off the table Foul Snookered Spot occupied Push-Out Jump Shot Miss Chapter 3. THE GAME RULES Game description Ball Positioning Playing Mode The end of Frame, Game or Match Playing from In-hand Hitting Two Balls Simultaneously Spotting Colors Touching Ball A Ball on Edge of Pocket Snookered After a Foul Fouls Penalties Play Again A Foul and a Miss Stalemate Giving up

 

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Chapter 1. EQUIPMENT

1. The Standard Table

A. The dimensions of the bed of the table
The bed of the table surrounded by the cushion faces is 11 ft 8 1/2in x 5ft 10in (3569mm x 1778mm) where the tolerance of both dimensions is +/- 1 in (+/- 13mm).

B. The height
The table height measured from the floor to the top of the cushion rail ranges from 2ft9 1/2 in to 2ft 10 1/2in (851mm to 876mm).

C. Pocket openings
- Four pocket openings are situated at the corners of the playing field. The two at the Spot end are nominated the top pockets and the two at the Baulk end are nominated the bottom pockets. There are also two ones in the middle of the longer sides nominated the center pockets.
- The dimensions of the pocket openings must conform to the templates authorized by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

D. Baulk-line and Baulk
The straight line drawn 29in (737mm) away from the bottom cushion face, which is parallel to it, is nominated the Baulk-line. The area between that line and the bottom cushion is nominated the Baulk. The line belongs to the Baulk.

E. The "D"
The "D" is a semi-circle incorporated in the Baulk with the central point in the middle of the Baulk-line and the radius of 11 1/2in (292mm).

F. Spots
At the longitudinal table line the following four points have been marked:
- The Spot (nominated the Black Spot), situated 123in (324mm) away from the face of the top cushion;
- The Center Spot (nominated the Blue Spot), situated midway between the faces of the top and bottom cushions;
- The Pyramid Spot (nominated the Pink Spot), situated midway between the Center Spot and the face of the top cushion;
- The Middle of the Baulk-line (nominated the Brown Spot).
The two other spots are marked at the corners of the "D". Viewed from the Baulk end, the spot on the right is nominated the Yellow Spot and the one on the left is nominated the Green Spot.

 

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2. The balls

The balls are made of the material of an approved composition and their diameter is 52.5mm where the tolerance is +/- 0.05mm. They also should:
A. be of equal weight with the tolerance of 3g per set;
B. a ball or set of balls can be changed if agreed by all the players or decided by the referee.

 

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3. The cue

The cue length must be at least 3ft (914mm) and it must meet the requirements of the traditional and generally accepted shape and form.

 

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4. Auxiliary instruments

The players who wish to correct the position for cueing may use various cue rests, long cues (nominated butts), extensions and adapters. It refers both to the part of the equipment found at the table and the equipment introduced by either the players or the referee (see also Section 3 Paragraph 18). All extensions, adapters and other ancillaries must conform to the design approved by the WPBSA.

 

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Chapter 2. DEFINITIONS

1. Frame

A frame in snooker means the period of playing which starts with the opening stroke, with all the balls placed according to the rules quoted in Chapter 3, paragraph 2, until it is completed by:
- giving the frame up during a player's turn;
- a player announcing completion, when there is only a black ball left on the table and his advantage exceeds seven points;
- potting or a foul, when there is only a black ball left on the table;
- the referee announcing completion, as based on the rules in Chapter 3, paragraph 3 or Chapter 4, paragraph 2.

 

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2. Game

A game consists of the agreed or defined number of frames.

 

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3. Match

A match consists of an agreed or defined number of games.

 

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4. Balls

a) The white ball is a cue ball;
b) The 15 red balls and 6 color balls are object balls.

 

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5. The striker

The person about to play or in play is the striker and remains so until the referee has decided that he can leave the table at the end of his turn.

 

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6. Stroke

a) A stroke is performed when the striker strikes the white ball with the tip of the cue.
b) A stroke is legal when no infringement of the rule is made.
c) A stroke is not completed until all balls have come to rest.
d) A stroke may be direct or indirect, thus:
- a direct stroke is when the white ball strikes an object ball not having touched a cushion first;
- an indirect stroke is when the white ball has touched cushions at least once before striking an object ball.

 

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7. Pot

A pot is performed when an object ball, having contacted another ball enters a pocket without any infringement of these Rules.

 

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8. Break

A break is the number of points received for legal strokes which a player performs in one turn during the frame.

 

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9. In-hand

a) The white ball is in-hand:
- before the start of each frame,
- when it has potted into a pocket, or
- when it has been forced off the table.
b) The white ball remains in-hand until:
- it is played correctly from in-hand,
- a foul is committed the moment that the white ball is on the bed of the table.
c) The striker is said to be in-hand when the white ball is in-hand as above.

 

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10. Ball in Play

a) The white ball is in play if it is not in-hand.
b) The object balls are in play since the frame beginning and remain so until pocketed or forced off the table.
c) The color balls resume being in play having been placed on the spots marked.

 

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11. Ball on

Any ball, which can be struck by the white ball (cue ball) with the first stroke or which cannot be struck that way but it can be potted to the pocket with no infringement of the rule is nominated the ball on.

 

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12. Nominated ball

a) A nominated ball is one of the balls on which the player points to the referee as the one aimed at in the first white ball stroke.
b) The referee requests a player to nominate the ball he is going to strike with the first stroke.

 

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13. Free Ball

A free ball is the one, which is nominated by the player as the ball on, when it is in a snookered position after the opponent's foul (compare: Chapter 3, paragraph 10).

 

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14. Forced Off the Table

A ball is forced off the table when it comes to rest in the place other than the bed of the table or a pocket, or if it is taken by the striker while it is in play, except the cases described in Chapter 3, paragraph 14.

 

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15. Foul

A foul is any infringement of these rules.

 

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16. Snookered

The white ball is said to be snookered if a direct stroke in the straight line each of the object balls is totally or partially blocked by the ball or the non-object balls. If at least one object ball can be struck at both extreme points without concealing it straight on by the non-object ball, the ball is not snookered.
a) If the white ball is in-hand, it can be snookered only if the ball on is concealed, regarding all the possible positions of the cue ball, i.e. the "D" together with the marking lines.
b) If the ball on is concealed by more than one ball not on, then:
- the ball that is the closest to the white ball is regarded as the ball which enforces the snookered position effectively, but
- if there are more concealed balls at the same distance, they are all regarded as the balls enforcing the snookered position.
c) If the object balls are the red balls and the white ball is blocked for various red ones by various balls not on, then there is no ball that enforces the snookered position effectively.
d) The striker is snookered when the white ball is snookered.
e) The snookered position cannot be enforced by a cushion. If the corner of a cushion face conceals the ball before the ball not on conceals it, the white ball is snookered.

 

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17. Spot Occupied

The determined point is regarded as the Spot Occupied if a ball cannot be placed on it without touching another ball.

 

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18. Push Stroke

A push stroke is performed when the cue tip is in contact with the white ball:
a) after the white ball has started moving forward, or
b) when the white ball is contacted with an object ball except for the case when the white ball and an object ball nearly touch each other, and the white ball strikes the ball at a very small angle.

 

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19. Jump Shot

A jump shot is performed when the cue ball passes over any part of an object ball, whether touching it or not, except for the cases when:
a) the white ball first strikes one object ball and then jumps over another ball;
b) the white ball jumps and strikes an object ball but does not land on the far side of that ball;
c) after a legal stroke, the white ball jumps over the ball having hit a cushion or a ball.

 

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20. Miss

The miss takes place when the white ball does not contact the object ball as the first one and the referee recognizes the chance of striking an object ball as not taken.

 

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Chapter 3. THE GAME RULES

1. Game description

Snooker is played by two or more players, playing either independently or as sides. The general game rules are as follows:
a) Each player uses the same white cue ball and the same twenty one object balls - fifteen red balls, valued 1 each, and six color balls, valued as follows: a yellow one 2, a green one 3, a brown one 4, a blue one 5, a pink one 6 and a black one 7.
b) Scoring strokes in a player's turn are performed by potting red balls and color balls alternately until all the red balls are off the bed of the table and then potting the color balls in their value ascending order.
c) Points received for scoring strokes are added to the striker's score.
d) Foul penalty points are added to the opponent's score.
e) The frame tactic is leaving the cue ball behind the ball not on so that the next player is snookered. If a player or side is more points behind than can be scored from the balls left on the table, then while snookering the player boosts the chance of receiving points from fouls.
f) The frame winner is the player or side:
- scoring the most points,
- the frame has been conceded to, or
- the frame is awarded to under Chapter 3, paragraph 14c or Chapter 4, paragraph 2.
g) The game winner is the player or side:
- winning the most or the required number of frames;
- scoring the greatest total aggregate points, or
- the game has been awarded to him under Chapter 4, paragraph 2.
h) The match winner is the player or side winning the most games or receiving the greatest total aggregate points.

 

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2. Ball Positioning

At the beginning of each frame the white ball is in-hand and the object balls are positioned on the table as follows:
- the red balls are tightly packed in an equilateral triangle, with the apex red ball situated on the table center line, just above the Pyramid Spot so that it is possibly the closest to the pink ball with no contact, as well as the triangle base the nearest to and parallel with the top cushion,
- the yellow ball on the right-hand corner of the "D",
- the green ball on the left-hand corner of the "D",
- the brown ball in the middle of the Baulk-line,
- the blue ball on the Center Spot,
- the pink ball on the Pyramid Spot, and
- the black ball on the Spot(called the Black Spot).

 

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3. Playing Mode

Players determine the playing order by drawing or in any other way, which is mutually agreed.
a) The playing order that is determined this way must remain unchanged throughout the frame, except for the case when a player is asked by another player to play again after a foul.
b) The player or side performing the first stroke must change for each game frame.
c) The first-stroke player plays from in-hand. The frame begins when the white ball has been situated on the bed of the table and has been contacted by the tip of the cue, either
- when a stroke is performed, or
- while addressing the white ball.
d) The stroke is legal if none of the infringements described in paragraph 12 including penalties occurs.
e) During the first stroke of each turn, until all the red balls are off the bed of the table, a red ball or a free ball nominated as a red ball is the ball on. The value of each red ball and any free ball nominated as a red ball that is potted in the same stroke, is scored.
f) - If a red ball or a free ball nominated as a red ball is potted, the same player performs the next stroke, in which the next ball color is chosen by the striker. If it is potted, it is scored and the color is spotted on the bed of the table afterwards.
- The break is continued by potting red balls and color balls alternately until all the red balls are off the table. Where applicable, a color has been played having potted the last red ball.
- The color balls then become on in the value ascending order as described in Chapter 3, paragraph 1a and when the next potted remain off the bed of the table. The exception is the case quoted in paragraph 4 below.
g) Having been pocketed or forced off the table regardless of the fact that a player benefits from a foul, red balls are not replaced on the bed of the table. Exceptions to the rule are quoted in Chapter 3, paragraphs 2b, 9, 14f, 14h and 15.
(h) If the striker fails to score or commits a foul, his turn ends and the next player plays from where the white ball comes to rest, or from in-hand if the white ball is off the table.

 

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4. The end of Frame, Game or Match

a) If the black ball is left on the bed of the table only, the first potting it or fouling it finishes the frame, except for the situation when both of the following conditions apply:
   - the players have scored equally, and
   - the aggregate scoring points are not relevant.
b) If the two above-mentioned conditions apply:
   - the black ball is spotted in the spot end;
   - the players draw lots in order to determine who is playing after whom;
   - the next player is playing from in-hand, and;
   - the next potting or foul completes the frame.
c) If the winner of a game or match is determined by the aggregate scoring points, and the aggregate scoring points are equal at the completion of the latest frame, the players participating in that frame are expected to follow the procedure for the re-spotted black ball, which is explained in a paragraph b) above.

 

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5. Playing from In-hand

The cue ball which is played form in-hand must be struck from a position on or within the lines of the "D".
a) The referee, having been asked, may decide, whether the cue ball is correctly placed (i.e. within the lines of the "D").
b) If the tip of the cue touches the white ball while positioning it, and the referee is sure that the striker was not trying to strike a ball, the cue ball is not in play.

 

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6. Hitting Two Balls Simultaneously

It is illegal to strike two balls simultaneously, if they are other than two red balls or a free ball and a ball on, by the first impact of the white ball.

 

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7. Spotting Colors

Any color ball pocketed or forced off the bed of the table must be re-spotted before the next stroke is performed, until finally potted under Chapter 3, paragraph 3f.
a) A player is not to be held responsible for any mistakes made by the referee in failing to spot a ball properly.
b) If a color ball is spotted incorrectly having been potted in ascending order as described in Chapter 3 paragraph 3f, it is removed from the bed of the table without penalty when the error is discovered and then playing is commenced.
c) If a stroke is performed with a ball or balls spotted incorrectly, they will be considered to be spotted correctly for subsequent strokes. Any color ball, which is missing from the table incorrectly must be spotted:
   - without penalty if it is discovered that it has been missing due to the previous oversight,
   - with penalty if the striker had played before the referee was able to effect the spotting.
d) If a color ball is to be spotted and the spot is occupied, it must be spotted on the highest value spot available.
e) If there is more than one color ball to be spotted and the spots are occupied, the highest value ball takes precedence in the spotting order.
f) If all the spots are occupied, the color ball must be situated as close to the spot as possible, between that spot and the nearest top cushion part.
g) In case of a pink ball and a black one, if all the spots are occupied and there is no space between the relevant spot and the nearest top cushion part available, the color ball must be situated as close to its own spot as possible on the center line of the bed of the table below the spot.
h) The spotted color ball must never be touching another ball.
i) To be properly spotted, a color ball must be situated manually on the spot designated in these Rules.

 

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8. Touching Ball

a) If the white ball stops touching another ball or balls that are on or can be on, the referee states TOUCHING BALL and indicates which ball or balls on are being touched by the white ball.
b) When a touching ball has been nominated, the striker must play the white ball away from that ball without moving it or performing a push stroke.
c) Striking the white ball without making the object ball move is not a foul if:
   - the touching ball is on,
   - the touching ball can be on and the striker declares he is on, or
   - the ball can be on and the striker declares and strikes another ball that can be on first.
d) If the white ball stops touching or nearly touching a ball that is not on, the referee will answer YES or NO, if asked whether it is touching or not. The striker must strike the white ball without moving the ball not on as above but the white ball must contact the ball that is on first.
e) When the white ball is touching both a ball on and a ball not on, the referee indicates only the ball on as a touching one. If the striker asks the referee whether the white ball is also touching the ball not on, he must receive the information.
f) If the referee is sure that any movement of a touching ball while striking was not caused by the striker, he will not call a foul.
g) If a stationary object ball, which is not touching the white ball as stated by the referee, later proves to have been in contact with the white ball before a stroke has been performed, the position of the balls must be corrected by the referee to his satisfaction.

 

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9. A Ball on Edge of Pocket

a) If a ball falls into a pocket not having been hit by another ball, and it is not a part of any stroke in progress, it is replaced at a previous position and no points due to it are scored.
b) If it is hit by any other ball involved in a stroke:
   - with no infringement of these Rules, the balls are replaced at the previous positions and the same striker plays the same stroke again or a different one at his discretion;
   - if there has been a foul, the striker incurs the penalty according to the rules, all balls are replaced and the next player has the usual options after a foul.
c) If a ball balances on the pocket edge and falls into the pocket, it is counted as in the pocket and it is not replaced.

 

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10. Snookered After a Foul

If the white ball is snookered after a foul, the referee declares FREE BALL (see Chapter 2, paragraph 16).
a) If the player next in turn decides to perform the next stroke,
   - he can nominate any ball as the ball on, and
   - the nominated ball is regarded and valued as the ball on except for the case when it is potted, is then spotted.
b) It is a foul if the white ball:
   - does not hit the nominated ball first, or simultaneously the nominated ball and the ball on, or
   - is snookered on all red balls or the ball on by the free ball thus nominated, except for the case when the pink ball and the black ball are the only object balls remaining on the bed of the table.
c) If the free ball is potted, it is spotted and the value of the ball on is scored.
d) If a ball on is potted, the white ball having struck the nominated ball first, or simultaneously with the nominated ball and the ball on, the ball on is scored and remains off the bed of the table.
e) If both the nominated ball and the ball on are potted, only the ball on is scored unless it is a red ball, when each potted ball is scored. In the other case the free ball is spotted and the ball on remains off the bed of the table.
f) If the player who has committed a foul is allowed to commence playing, the free ball call is invalid.

 

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11. Fouls

If a foul is committed, the referee declares FOUL immediately.
a) If the striker has not performed a stroke, his turn finishes immediately and the referee announces the penalty.
b) If a stroke has been performed, the referee waits for it to be completed and then announces the penalty.
c) If a foul is neither declared by the referee nor claimed by the player waiting for his turn before the next stroke is performed, it is condoned.
d) Any color ball that is not spotted properly remains at its position; nevertheless if it is off the bed of the table, it is spotted correctly.
e) All the points scored in a break before the foul is declared are scored but the striker does not score any points for any ball pocketed in the stroke during which a foul was nominated.
f) The next stroke is played from the position where the white ball has stopped or form in-hand if the white ball is off the bed of the table.
g) If in the same stroke more than one foul is committed, the penalty of the highest value penalty is incurred.
h) The player who has committed the foul
- incurs the penalty as described in paragraph 12, and
- must play the next stroke if the next player wishes him to do it.

 

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12. Penalties

All fouls incur a four-point penalty unless a foul is a subject to a higher penalty presented in paragraph (a) to (d) below. Penalties are:
a) the value of the ball on by
   - striking the white ball more times than once,
   - striking when the player's both feet do not touch the floor,
   - playing out of one's own turn,
   - playing from in-hand incorrectly, including the opening stroke,
   - making the white ball miss all object balls,
   - making the white ball be pocketed,
   - playing a snooker behind a free ball,
   - causing a jump shot,
   - playing with a non-standard cue, or
   - discussing the situation with a partner contrary to Chapter 3, paragraph 17e
b) the value of the ball on or the ball concerned, whichever is higher, by
   - striking when any of the balls has not stopped,
   - striking before the referee has completed the color ball spotting,
   - making a ball not on be pocketed,
   - making the white ball hit a ball not on first,
   - performing a push stroke,
   - touching with the tip of the cue a ball in play which is other than the white ball as the stroke is performed, or
   - making a ball be forced off the bed of the table.
c) the value of the ball on or higher value of the two balls concerned by making the white ball hit simultaneously two balls first, which are other than two red balls or a free ball or a ball on.
d) the value of seven points if the striker
   - uses a ball off the bed of the table for illegal purposes,
   - uses any gauge for measuring distances or gaps,
   - plays at red balls or a free ball followed by a red ball in sequential strokes,
   - uses any ball other than a white ball as the cue ball while striking, the frame having been started,
   - has not declared the ball on despite the referee has requested him to do so, or
   - having potted a red ball or a free ball nominated as a red ball, commits a foul before nominating a color.

 

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13. Play Again

When a player has made the opponent play again having committed a foul, the request cannot be withdrawn. The player who has committed a foul and has been asked to play again, has the right to
a) take a new decision as to
   - which stroke to play, and
   - which ball on to try to hit.
b) score points for any potted ball or balls.

 

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14. A Foul and a Miss

The striker should, doing his best, attempt to hit the ball on. If the referee regards the rule as infringed, he calls A FOUL AND A MISS except for the cases in which only the black ball remains on the bed of the table or there is the situation in which the ball on is impossible to be hit. In the latter situation the striker must be assumed to have been attempting to hit the ball on, on condition that in the referee's opinion he is playing in the direction of the ball on with satisfying strength directly or indirectly, in order to have reached the ball on but the ball or balls on the way.
a) After a foul and a miss has been declared, the next player may order the player who has committed a foul to play again from the current position or from the original position. In the latter case the ball on must be the same one as the ball prior to the latest stroke performed, i.e.:
   - a red ball, if a red ball was the ball on,
   - a color ball on, if all red balls are off the bed of the table, or
   - a color chosen by the striker, if the ball on was a color ball, a red ball having been potted.
b) If the striker, while striking, does not manage to hit a ball on first when the path in a straight line from the white ball to any part of any ball that is or could be on is clear, the referee declares A FOUL AND A MISS unless one of the players needed snookers before or as a consequence of the stroke performed and the referee is sure that it was not a miss intended.
c) A miss having been declared under paragraph (b) above when the path in a straight line from the white ball to a ball that was on or that could have been on was clear and a central, full-ball stroke was possible (in case of red balls, it refers to the full diameter of any red ball not obstructed by a color ball), then:
   - another failure to hit a ball on while performing the first stroke from the same position is declared A FOUL AND A MISS regardless of the score difference, and
   - if ordered to play again from the original position, the player who has committed a foul is warned by the referee that the consequence of the third failure will be the frame being awarded to the opponent.
d) The white ball having been replaced under this rule, when the path in a straight line from the white ball to any part of any ball that is or could be on is clear, and the striker commits a foul at any ball, even the white ball while making preparations to perform a stroke, a miss is not declared if the stroke has not been performed yet. In this situation the appropriate penalty is incurred and
   - the next player can perform the stroke himself or order the player who has committed a foul to play again from the current position, or
   - the next player may request the referee to replace all balls which have performed moves to their original position and order have the player who has committed a foul to play again from there, and
   - if the above-mentioned situation occurs while a sequence of misses are declared, the previous warning about the prospective awarding of the frame to the opponent comes into effect.
e) All other misses are declared at the referee's discretion.
f) After a miss and a next player's request to replace the white ball, all the object balls affected remain unmoved unless the referee decides that the player who has committed a foul would or could gain profit. In the latter case, any or all affected balls may be replaced at the referee's discretion. In both situations, color balls that are off the bed of the table improperly are spotted or replaced appropriately.
g) While any ball being replaced after a miss, both the player who has committed a foul and the next player are consulted regarding its position, and then the decision taken by referee is irrevocable.
h) If while consulting as described in paragraph (g), one of the players touches any ball in play, there will be a penalty as if he were the striker, and the order of playing will not be disturbed. The referee, at his discretion, replaces the ball having been touched, if necessary, even if it was picked up.
i) The next player can request the referee whether he wishes to replace balls other than the white ball in case that he ordered to play the stroke from the original position. The referee ought to state his intentions.

 

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15. Stalemate

If the referee regards the existing situation as a stalemate, or tending to be a stalemate, he should suggest the players the immediate re-starting the frame. If any of the player does not consent, the referee permits to continue with the proviso that the situation must alter within a defined period, usually after three more strokes of each side but the referee can determine a different period. If after the defined period the situation remains generally unchanged, the referee nullifies all the scores and re-set all balls as they were at the start of the frame and
(a) the same player performs the opening stroke again,
(b) the same order of playing is maintained.

 

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16. Giving up

a) A player can give up playing only if he is on. The opponent can accept or reject the suggestion, which in case of game continuation becomes void.
b) If aggregate points are valid and a frame is given up, the point value of the balls on the bed of the table is added to the opponent's score. In this case each red ball is scored eight point and each ball that is illegally off the table is regarded as a legally potted ball.