Regent Snooker Lounge

My high school years was spent on an Air Force Base in Italy, and many times after school, I would find myself hanging out at the Community Center playing pool with some of the GI’s. I fancied myself a fairly good player because I occasionally got a lucky shot, but in retrospect, I really wasn’t very good at all. At the time, we always played eight-ball, and only associated that game with pool tables, but since then have learned many other games that are a lot of fun to play. So if you are looking for some variety, consider some of the following games:

Nine ball

Three ball

One-pocket

Bank pool

Snooker

Let’s take a closer look at how each of these games are played.

Nine-ball
This game only uses the cue ball and the 1 through 9 balls. The balls are racked in a diamond shape with the one ball in the front and the nine ball in the middle. Though the balls can be pocketed in any order, the cue ball must first make contact with the lowest numbered ball on the pool table. The game is won by sinking the 9 ball, and a match is won by winning a predetermined number of games. When a shot is missed, the next player starts play with the cue ball in the position left by the other player. If a foul was committed, the incoming player can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.

Three-ball
When there is a lack of numerous pool tables, but many players, this is a good game to play. It just uses the cue ball plus three other balls. The object is to sink all three balls in the fewest number of strokes. One player plays until all 3 balls are pocketed, all strokes counted. Then the next player starts, trying to sink all three balls in fewer strikes. Often this game is played in innings, consisting of three or five rounds.

One-pocket
This is a two player game with each player choosing a pocket. The object is to shoot a majority of the balls (8) into your pocket. Fouls occur if you shoot your ball into the wrong pocket on the pool tables. This game often takes more strategy than other billiard games.

Bank pool
This game can be played with either a full rack (15 balls) for a long game, or with nine balls (lately more popular) for a shorter game. You have to sink a ball by banking it off of one of the sides. Shots are normally called. The first player to bank and sink eight balls is the winner (in the shorter game, five balls must be pocketed).

Snooker
Snooker can be played on average sized pool tables. The game requires 15 red balls, and six balls of various colors (1 each of yellow [2], green [3], brown [4], blue [5], pink [6] and black [7]) and a white cue ball. Each red ball is worth 1 point, the color balls are then worth 2 – 7 points as labeled above. The 15 red balls are racked up in the traditional triangle at the beginning of the game. Each colored ball has a set point on the table. The object of the game is to get the most points. First you have to sink a red ball in a pocket, and then any colored ball (remember the point value of each ball is important ). The red ball remains in the pocket, but any colored ball is replaced to its original starting place on the table after it is sunk. You receive points for each ball you sink. When you miss a shot, it is then the other players turn. Once all the red balls are gone, the color balls then have to be sunk in numerical order. The player with the most points, wins. Points can also be earned through fouls (such as sinking balls out of order – like two red ones in a row).

These are most the of the official games that are played on pool tables, though they all have more detailed rules, and many of them offer variations. So, next time you are looking for something to do, head on down to your local pool hall where they have a lot of pool tables, and try something new when you play pool with your friends.

Related Snooker Articles

8-ball is the most popular billiard game in the world. It is so popular, that 8-ball pool is almost a synonym for billiards. However, 8-ball is only a part of a one big happy family of billiard games.

8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, one pocket, balkline are all cue sports games. They all share a rectangular cloth-covered table, a long cue stick, a set of balls and an ambition to score, but they differ in their rules, objects, and even their terminology.

Generally, billiard games divide into two types: pocket billiard games and carom billiard games. Pocket billiard games, usually referred to as pool games, are the type of billiard played on a table that has six pockets. In pocket billiard games, the players aspire to sink the balls into the table pockets, according to specific games rules.

Carom billiard games, on the other hand, are played on pocketless tables. Only three billiard balls are involved in the carom games. The purpose of the players in most carom games is to maneuver their cue ball so it will carom off the other two balls, again, according to the specific requirements of the game.

8-ball pool is a pocket billiard game. Other popular pocket billiard games include 9-ball pool, 14.1 continuous (formerly known as straight pool) and even snooker. Snooker is the most popular cue sports in the UK. Even though snooker is played on a pocketed pool table, it is not governed by the same association that administrates pocket billiard rules. Therefore, pocket billiard general rules do not apply to snooker.

The equipment used in snooker games is also different from the one used in pocket billiard tournaments. For example, the snooker table is a bit larger than the standard pool table plus its pockets are narrower. The terminology used in both billiard games is different as well. While pool players’ goal is to “pocket” the “object balls”, snooker players aim to “pot” the “red” or the “on-ball”.

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Question by Mel R: Is ronnie o’sullivan playing any more snooker this year-that I can go and watch live?
Maybe you know of an exhibition he is playing in? Is he playing in the west midlands?

Best answer:

Answer by Lobsterman
Don’t know of any exhibitions but at the end of the year he may be playing in the maplin uk championship in telford if that is near you

there is also the world champs in sheffield next year

Add your own answer in the comments!

Article by CARLOS ARTURO

Things are different now. With the advent of communications and technology, you can already enjoy things and even play sports even if you are not in the actual playing field or sports arena. Nowadays, you can play pool or snooker even if you are resting in your office during lunch break or even if you are just in your study room at home. Technology have made things so amazing you can enjoy doing your favorite things and play your favorite games online. And what’s more, technology has also made it possible for one to earn some dollars while just enjoying some of the most interesting cue sports online.

First you need to know what an online pool game is. An online pool game is just like your ordinary pool played with a pool table, a cue, pool balls, and other pool gadgets but the main difference is that an online pool game is played through the Internet and with the use of a personal computer. Instead of having an actual pool table, you play pool on your computer set. If you haven’t played online snooker or other cue sports online, you will think that it sounds ridiculous to play these games via the Internet. But the makers of online cue sports conducted extensive researches and spent years developing and perfecting their online games to make these games appear and feel as realistic as possible. They have applied the laws of physics and the concepts of geometry to make your online cue sports a realistic online experience.

An online pool game is a hassle-free way to play pool because aside from not going to actual gaming areas or pool bars in your neighborhood, you can play and practice anytime you want to wherever you are so long as there is a computer and an Internet connection. You can just practice on your own or enter into one of the pool rooms to play snooker and other cue sports with other individuals who are also online.

Also, if you are the competitive type, you can enjoy playing snooker online and join weekly tournaments where you have the chance to win cash prizes and join official world pool championship games. Once again, these world pool championship games are just like what you have on actual offline pool games because they are also regulated and monitored by accredited world pool associations and there are also big cash prizes waiting to be won. Online pool games are also regulated in a way that gambling or betting outside of the game in any form is not tolerated. You can only play pool games that are legitimate with legal collection of entry fees and no illegal side betting.

Lastly, an online pool game gives you the opportunity to play pool with other cue sports enthusiasts all over the world without going anywhere, and it can also provide financial opportunities if you would only explore other areas like the affiliate program wherein you can earn something with every person you encourage to join the website and join the weekly tournaments for snooker and other cue sports.

About the Author

Know more about how to play pool online and how you can do better in your snooker, 8 ball, and 9 ball games by visiting legitimate cue sports sites online.