Brunswick Billiards: Rules of the Game: American Snooker

TYPE OF GAME
American Snooker is a cousin of Snooker as it is played widely around the world, the rules giving it a distinct orientation toward the structure of many American pocket billiard games. It is generally played on either 4 1/2' x 9', 5' x 10' or 6' x 12' Snooker tables, with cushions that are more narrow than other pocket billiard tables, and curve smoothly into the pocket openings. The balls used are either 2 1/16" or 2 1/8" diameter. (See BCA Specifications.)

PLAYERS
Two (2)

BALLS USED
Set of Snooker balls: 15 object balls that are not numbered and are solid red (called reds), six object balls that mayor may not be numbered (called colors) and a cue ball. Point values for object balls: red-1, yellow-2, green-3, brown-4, blue-5, pink-6, black-7.

THE RACK
Play begins with balls placed as in Diagram.

OBJECT OF THE GAME
To score a greater number of points than opponent.

SCORING
Points are scored in two ways: players are awarded points for fouls by the opponent (see “Penalty For Foul” below), and by legally pocketing reds or colors. Each legally pocketed red ball has a point value of one; each legally pocketed color ball has a point value as indicated (“Balls Used” above). Game ends when all balls have been pocketed, following the Rules of Play; if, however, only the black 7–ball is left on the table, the game ends with the first score or foul. If the players’ scores are equal after that scoring, the black ball is spotted on its original position and the players lag for the choice of shooting at, or assigning opponent to shoot at the black ball with the cue ball in hand within the 0; the first score or foul then ends the game.

OPENING BREAK
Starting player has cue ball in hand within the “0”.He must:

Cause the cue ball to contact a red ball prior to contacting a color, and
Cause a red ball to contact a cushion or drop into a pocket, and
Cause the cue ball to contact a cushion after it contacts a red ball. Failure to meet these requirements is a foul and a breaking violation. A foul is scored and incoming player has the choice of:
1. Accepting the table and shooting, or;
2. Requiring offender to break again.

RULES OF PLAY

A legally pocketed ball entitles the shooter to continue at the table until failing to legally pocket a ball.
On all shots, player must comply with the appropriate requirements of Rules of Play 5 and 6, plus cause the cue ball or an object ball to contact a cushion or drop in a pocket after the cue ball has contacted a legal object ball (on ball). Failure to do so is a foul.
As long as reds are on the table, an incoming player (player taking his first shot of an inning) always has a red as his legal object ball (on ball).
Any red balls pocketed on a legal shot are legally pocketed balls; player need not call any particular red ball(s), pocket(s) or mode of pocketing.
When a player has a red ball as his “on ball” (required legal object ball), he must cause the cue ball's first contact to be with a red ball. Failure to do so is a foul. Rule of Play 2 also applies.
After a player has scored a red ball initially, his next legal object is a color, and as long as reds remain on the table he must alternate play between reds and colors (though within each group he may play ball of his choice). When reds remain on the table and a color is his object, the player must
1. designate prior to shooting which color ball is his object (that specific color is then his “on ball”), and
2. cause the cue ball’s first contact with a ball to be with that color ball. If a player fails to meet these requirements, it is a foul. Rule 2 requirements also apply.
If player’s on ball is a red and he pockets a color, it is a foul.
If player's on ball is a color and he pockets any other ball, it is a foul.
It is a foul if a player intentionally causes the cue ball to jump (rise from the bed of the table) by any means, if the jump is an effort to clear an obstructing ball.
While reds remain on the table, each pocketed color ball is spotted prior to the next stroke. (See “Spotting Balls” below for spotting rules.) If a player shooting after a color has been spotted plays while that ball is incorrectly spotted (and opponent or referee calls it before two such shots have been taken), the shot taken is a foul. If such shooting player shoots twice after such error without its being announced by opponent or referee, he is free of penalty and continues shooting and scoring normally as though the spotting error simply had not occurred.
If a player fouls and the incoming player is blocked from seeing any part of a ball on, the player may remove the impeding ball (mark the spot) and shoot the ball on. The player cannot score by pocketing this ball on that had been blocked, and the next player returns to the table when the stroke is completed.
When no reds remain on the table, player’s on balls become the colors, in ascending numerical order (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). These legally pocketed colors are not spotted after each is pocketed; they remain off the table (the seven-ball is an exception in the case of a tie score; see “Scoring”.)

ILLEGALLY POCKETED BALL
Reds illegally pocketed are not spotted; they remain off the table. Colors illegally pocketed are spotted (See “Spotting Balls”.)

OBJECT BALLS JUMPED OFF THE TABLE
Reds jumped off the table are not spotted. Colors jumped off the table are spotted. The stroke is a foul, and the penalty for fouls is followed.

SPOTTING BALLS
Reds are never spotted. Colors to be spotted are placed at the start of the game. If a color’s spot is occupied (to mean that to spot it would make it touch a ball), it is placed on the spot of the highest value color that is unoccupied. If all spots are occupied, the color is spotted as close as possible to its original spot on a straight line between its spot and the nearest point on the foot cushion.

CUE BALL AFTER JUMPING OFF THE TABLE OR SCRATCH
Incoming player has cue ball in hand within the D. When cue ball is in hand within the 0 (except on the opening break), there is no restriction (based on position of reds or colors) as to what balls may be played; player may play at an on ball regardless of where it is on the table.

PENALTY FOR FOULS
Seven points are added to non-fouling player’s score for each foul committed (no deduction from offenders score). Incoming (non-offending) player has the choice of either

accepting the table in position and shooting, or
requiring the offending player to shoot again. If the foul is a cue ball jumped off the table or a cue ball scratch, the cue ball is in hand within the 0 for either player. If the foul is other than cue ball jumped off the table or scratch, the cue ball remains in position. If a player pockets a ball and fouls, the player is not credited with any points.

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