The Game

Billiards is a game which demands the utmost precision of eye and touch. Billiards itself consists of scoring points by striking one of three balls with a wooden cue to contact the other two, or one of the two.

The markings of the table

A line drawn from the bottom cushion and parallel with it is called the Baulk-line, and the area within this and the bottom cushion is called Baulk. From the center of this line a semi-circle on the Baulk or inner side of the line is marked which is called “D”.

The plan of the game

The white ball which the player strikes with his cue is called the “cue-ball”; the other two (one white, one red) are called the “object-balls”. Each player uses one of the white balls, which are distinguished from each other by one, called Spot, being marked with a black spot at opposite extremities. The other is called Plain. The players toss or “string” for choice of balls, the winner declaring “I’ll take Plain” or “I’ll take Spot”.

To “String”. This means that each player directs, with his cue, from “hand” (i.e from the Baulk-line) a white ball “up the table, that is, to the top cushion and the player who succeeds in causing his ball to come to rest nearer the bottom cushion whether it rebounds or not, is the winner, and has the choice of balls, and of playing first or second as he chooses.

Scoring

The player who scores most points wins. Scoring is achieved as follows:

1. By Cannons. A cannon is made by causing the c-b (i.e the ball propelled by the players cue) to contact the two o-b’s in succession. Two points are scored by a cannon whether it is from white to red, or red to white.

2. By “Losing Hazards” (“Losers”). A losing hazard is made by causing c-b to enter a pocket after contact with one of the two o-b’s. A losing hazard off the red is rewarded by; 3 points, off the white by 2.

3. By “Winning Hazards” (or “Pots”). A winning hazard, or pot, is made by making the c-b contact one or other of the two o-b”s, and causing it (the o-b) to enter a pocket. “Potting or pocketing the red ball scores 3 points, potting the white 2.

When a losing hazard and cannon are made in the make stroke, the player scores 2 points for the cannon and 2 for the hazard, if the white be struck first, and 2 for the cannon and 3 for the hazard if the red be struck first. If both object-balls are struck simultaneously, and a hazard is made as well, 2 points are scored for the cannon, and 2 for the hazard. If more than one hazard, or a combination of hazards and cannons are made in the same stroke, all are scored.

A "Break"

While the player continues to score he remains at the table, and only after missing a stroke does his visit or “turn” end, whereupon his opponent takes his place.

The purpose of the game is, as implied above, to make in sequence as many cannons, losing and winning hazards as possible, and thereby to score more points than one’s opponent. The art of the game, however, is so to contrive that one successful stroke leaves, when the balls have come to rest, another opportunity of scoring. In other words, by control of the balls to leave one scoring opportunity after another.

The Baulk area and its' significance

When c-b has entered a pocket as the result of a losing hazard, the player plays his next stroke from the “D” and he must play out of the Baulk area. He may place the c-b anywhere in the “D” space, including the semi-circular line and the part of the Baulk-line which forms the straight part of the “D”. If he places his ball on this line then it must be exactly on it, which means half in and half out. If an object-ball is so situated when a player is “in hand” (that is, playing from hand after having (1) made a losing hazard, or (2) retrieved his own ball from the pocket after the opponent has potted it, during the latter’s break, then that ball cannot be played on by the player in hand. Such a ball is called a “line” ball (i.e half in and half out of Baulk). A player, in hand, wishing to contact an o-b which is in Baulk must play out of Baulk to do so, and he can do this by direct stroke (a screw-back) if practicable, off the other o-b if it lies out of Baulk, or by playing off it on to a cushion or cushions (out of or in Baulk). Or he can play directly off a cushion or cushions out of Baulk to contact the o-b’s lying in Baulk, say, to pot a ball lying on the brink of a Baulk pocket, or to make a cannon, if both o-b’s are in Baulk.

This Baulk area plays a major part in defensive tactics. If no score seems possible or probable, we may pot the white (our opponents ball) and send our own ball and the red into Baulk. Or, if one o-b is already in Baulk area (red), we may pot white and send out ball (the c-b) into Baulk to join it. Or we may pot white and send one ball (i.e red or the c-b) into Baulk. If we send both the object-balls into Baulk (or make one join the other) we leave a double-baulk. If we send one into Baulk, i.e either the c-b or the red, leaving the other out (for we shall have potted object white) we have made a single-baulk. To score off a double-baulk is not easy, for both object-balls are “safe”; that is, having to play out of Baulk we cannot contact them directly. Thus the Baulk area is an important part of safety or defensive play.

Start of the game

At the commencement of the game the red ball is placed on the billiard spot and the opponent’s ball is “in hand”, that is not on the table. The player starting the game places his ball in the “D” and must direct it out of the baulk area.

The opening stroke is played on the red, sending it into Baulk to stop near the left hand or right hand pocket and directing the c-b to the side of the table. The reply generally is to attempt the cannon from white on to red. If it is missed the opening player has the red to play at for a loser or pot.

When a ball is forced off the table, the balls are then spotted, the red is placed on the billiard spot and the object ball on the center spot. Every time the cue ball enters a pocket the player must then play form the “D”.

The object white ball stays in the pocket if potted until the opponents turn arrives. A player fails to score and gives way to his opponents if his stroke does not result in a cannon, a losing hazard or a winning hazard.

Length of the game

There are two systems.

1. The winner is the player who reaches a predetermined number of points (e.g 100,250, 500 etc)

2. The winner is the player with the most points after a predetermined time (e.g 1 hour, 2 hours etc).

For further details see “Teach Yourself Billiards” by Richard Holt.