| The Table
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|
The
12-ft standard table is a slate bed, covered with green baize
(measures 12 ft x 6 ft. 1 ½ in.).
The
playing area within the cushion faces measures 11 ft. x 8 1/2 in x 5
ft. 10 in. The height of the table is 2 ft 9 1/2 in. from the floor
to cushion rail.
A 6-ft
standard table is also used for playing billiards. The size of the
table and the balls used are different from the above.
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| Balls
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| Two white balls
(one with a spot) and a red ball are used for playing the game. The
balls have a diameter of 5.3 cm. They must be of equal size and
weight. At present super crystalline balls are being used.
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| Cue and Rest
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The
following are the dimensions of cues and rests: |
| (a) Long butt
cue |
9 ft.
|
| (b) Half butt
cue |
7 ft.
|
| (c) Long butt
rest |
8 ft.
|
| (d) Half butt
rest |
5 ft.
|
| However, a
billiards cue shall not be less than 3 feet in length in any case
and it shall show no substantial departure from the traditional and
generally accepted shape and form. |
| Rules of the
Game |
| Billiards is
played by two players or pairs. The rules in a nutshell are given
below: |
| 1.
Duration: Play lasts an agreed length of time or until one
player or side reaches an agreed number of points. A match consists
of agreed number of games. |
| 2.
Scoring |
| (a)
Cannon (Two points) - When the striker's ball hits both the
red and white balls or vice versa. |
| (b) In-off white
(Two points) - When the striker's ball after hitting the non-
striker's white ball falls into a pocket. |
| (c) In-off red
(Three points) - When the striker's ball after hitting the red ball
falls into a pocket. |
| (d) Pot white
(Two points) - The non-striker's white ball is forced into a pocket
by the striker's ball. |
| (e) Pot red
(Three points) - The red ball forced into a pocket by the striker's
ball. |
| (f) If more than
one of the above occurs and are made in the same strike, all scores
are counted. |
| (g) When an
in-off is combined with a cannon, the score will be four or five
depending upon whether white or red was hit first. |
| 3. Commencement of
Game: The choice of the ball and order of play is generally
decided by stringing. |
| 4.
Stringing: Each player plays the cue ball from the baulk line
to the top cushion with the object of getting the ball as close to
the bottom cushion as possible. The player, whose ball stops nearer
to the cushion, starts the play. |
| 5. Starting
Position: The red ball is placed on the spot and the striker
places his cue ball at any point in the 'D' and plays the first
shot. While bringing a cue ball into play, no shot may be made to a
ball directly in the baulk area. If both balls are inside the cue
area, the cue ball must strike the cushion outside before it can
touch another ball. |
| 6. Pocketed
Balls: If the non-striker ball is pocketed during a break, the
ball remains off the table until the break ends. When the red ball
is pocketed, it is brought back on the table and placed on the spot.
After the non-striker's white ball is pocketed, the striker plays
the ball by playing it from the 'D'. |
| 7. Balls
Touching: If the striker's ball comes to rest against another
ball, the red ball is placed on the spot, the non-striker's ball on
the centre spot and the striker plays from the 'D'. |
| 8. Spotting
Red Ball : If the red ball is pocketed or forced off the table,
it is placed on the spot. If the spot is occupied, it is placed on
the pyramid spot. If this is also occupied, then it is placed on the
centre spot. If the red ball is pocketed twice from spot or pyramid
spot consecutively, the ball should be placed on the centre spot.
|
| 9. Each time a
player scores from a shot, he is entitled to another shot.
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|
10.
Limitations:-
(a) Consecutive cannons limited to 75.
(b)
Consecutive hazards (in-off) limited to 15.
(c) Red may be
pocketed three times in succession.
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| |
| 11. Fouls and
Penalties: |
| (a) A striker
who makes a foul shot loses his turn and also the score in that
break. |
| (b) A striker
concedes points to his opponent for the following:- |
(i)Two points - Touching his ball more than once in a
strike.
(ii)Three points - Forcing the ball off the table.
(iii)Two points - Not playing out of the baulk from 'D'
correctly.
(iv) Two points making a push shot.
(v) For a
miss, the striker concedes one point. A miss is foul except when
the striker is in hand and there is no ball out of baulk. If the
cue ball goes into a pocket after a miss, the striker concedes
three points. |
| |
|
Following fouls incur no penalty points:-
(i) Playing with both feet off the ground.
(ii)
Playing the balls before they are still.
(iii) Striking the
ball with anything else than the cue.
(iv) Playing the wrong
ball.
(v) Playing out of turn.
(vi) Playing from outside
the 'D' when required to play from within
it.
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|
(Courtesy - The Hinduja Sports
Foundation) |
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