Snooker

The game consists of two phases. In the first phase, the players have to play a red ball (that is, play the cue ball so that it is a red ball it first touches). When they succeed in potting a red ball, they get another shot, now at a colour. When this colour is potted, it is replaced on the table - if possible on its own spot, otherwise on the highest remaining spot, or if all spots are occupied, as close to its own spot in a straight line (perpendicular to the baulk line) as is possible without touching the ball sitting there. After this another red has to be played, etcetera.

When potting a colour, the game's rules state that a player must nominate the ball he is playing for to the referee; however this is not necessary on most shots because the choice is obvious. The choice is usually only made explicit if two or more coloured balls are in close proximity or near the same line of sight.

After the last red and the following colour have been played, the second phase begins. In this phase, all colours have to be potted in the correct order (yellow, then green, then brown, then blue, then pink, then black).

One scores points by potting the correct ball - 1 point for each red, the ball's value for the colours. One also scores points if the opponent makes a mistake such as:

• not hitting any ball with the cue ball
• hitting a colour first when a red should be hit, or a red when a colour should be hit, or the wrong colour
• potting a red when a colour should be potted, or a colour when a red should be potted, or the wrong colour
• potting the cue ball
• making a ball go off the table
• touching any ball other than the cue ball
• playing a "push shot" - a shot where the cue, cue ball and object ball are in simultaneous contact

The highest possible score in a break that can be achieved without receiving penalty points is 147; in that case, the player must pot the black ball after each red ball in the first phase of the game. Scoring 147 points in a single break rarely occurs in match play.

Snooker equipment

• chalk: The tip of the cue is 'chalked' to ensure good contact between cue and ball.
• cue: The wooden stick, which is used to strike the cue ball.
• rack: The triangular equipment used for gathering the balls into the formation required by the game being played.
• rest: A stick with an X-shaped head, which is used to support the cue when the player's arm is too short.
• spider: Similar to the rest but has an arch-shaped head, which is used to elevate (and support) the tip of the cue above the height of the cue ball.
• swan: Rarely used - the swan has an single extended neck with a fork-like prong at the end to give extra distance over larger obstructions.

Glossary

• back spin: A shot played by striking the white slightly below centre, so the ball doesn't travel so far after striking another ball.
• baulk area: The area between the baulk line and the nearest edge.
• break: Series of consecutive pots by the same player.
• cannon: Strong hit at another ball after the object ball has been hit. Can for example be used to spread a pack of balls.
• century: A break of 100 points or more.
• clearance: Break ending with potting the black in phase 2, and thus with an empty table (except for the cue ball).
• colour: A non-red object ball.
• frame: A single game in a match over a number of games.
• free ball: If a foul shot leaves the opponent snookered, the opponent can elect to play another ball in place of the obscured ball. This is known as a free ball.
• kick: An unexpectedly poor contact between cue ball and object ball (possibly caused by dirt on either of the balls, or by static electricity).
• kiss: Contact between two balls.
• masse: A shot played with the cue played in an almost vertical position - used to impart extreme swerve on the cue ball.
• maximum: The maximum (without fouls) possible score of 147, scored in a single break.
• pack: The red balls in their initial position, or, later in a game, the remaining reds remaining together roughly in the initial position.
• plant: Shot at a red ball, such that it hits another red ball which then is potted.
• pot: To hit (a ball) into one of the pockets.
• push shot: The cue tip maintains contact with the cue ball, when the cue ball hits another ball. This is a foul.
• respotted black: When the frame ends with both players having the same number of points, the black is put back on the table, as is the cue ball, and the first player to pot it wins the frame. If a foul shot is committed by either player, that player loses the frame.
• safety: A way of playing the ball, not with the intention to pot something, but to make it hard or impossible for the opponent to make a pot on his next shot.
• screw, screw shot: A shot with heavy back spin.
• side, side spin: A shot played with the cue striking the white to one side of centre, used to change the angle at which the white bounces off the cushion.
• snooker: A snooker is a shot that leaves the opponent unable to hit a correct ball directly. The opponent is said to be snookered. If potting all the remaining balls would still leave a player trailing his opponent, then he is said to be needing snookers (in order to lure the opponent into making fouls).
• stun shot: A shot with slight backspin, such that the cue ball stops dead upon contact with the object ball.
• swerve: A shot played with extreme spin, so the cue ball doesn't travel in a straight line. Mainly used to escape from difficult snookers.
• top spin: A shot played by striking the white slightly above centre, so the ball travels further after striking another ball.
• touching ball: Situation in which the cue ball is touching another ball. The cue ball must be played away from the touching ball. If this is a ball that is to be hit, the ball counts as having been hit.

See also

External links