GENERAL RULES
Snooker is played with 22 balls which are positioned at the start of the game as shown in the diagram.
The cue-ball, which is used alternatively by both players, can be placed anywhere in the 'D' for the first shot but must then be played from where it comes to rest after each shot except after an in-off or if it is forced off the table, in which case the next player must again play from the 'D'.
Points are scored by potting and by receiving penalties from foul strokes. Each player must first attempt to strike a red (value 1). When he pots a red he must then play at a colour, the values of which are: black (7), pink (6), blue (5), brown (4), green (3), yellow (2). The player should nominate the colour he is attempting when it is close to another colour and not obvious which ball has been chosen.
If a colour is potted, it is replaced on its own spot, another red is then attempted and so on until all the reds have been potted.
The colours are then potted in order (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black) until only the cue-ball remains on the table.
Failure to strike a red involves a penalty of four points (the minimum penalty for any shot) but the penalty is increased to 5, 6 or 7 if, instead of a red, the cue-ball strikes blue, pink or black. An in-off is a foul carrying a minimum penalty of four points, 5, 6 or 7 if the ball "on" was a higher valued colour.
Failure to strike a nominated colour also carries a penalty of four points, or more if the ball involved is of higher value. If, for example, green is nominated but pink is struck, the penalty is 6. If pink is nominated and green is struck the penalty is also 6.
Penalties often result from snookers. A snooker occurs when the balls are so placed that a player cannot strike the ball he is due to play witho ut hitting a cushion or making the cue-ball swerve.
If a player is snookered on the reds after a foul shot by his opponent he may nominate any coloured ball as a red. This is known as a free ball. If he pots it he scores one and can then nominate a colour in the usual way.
If no red remains, a free ball is valued at a number of points equal to that of the lowest value colour remaining and the colours are then taken in sequence.For the purpose of this rule, a player is deemed to be snookered if he cannot directly hit both sides of the object-ball he is due to play (the exception to this rule is when one or more reds are preventing a player striking a particular red.)
Foul Shots After any foul shot, whether he is entitled to a free ball or not, a player can ask his opponent to play again. A foul is committed in both billiards and snooker if:
a) a player's cue-tip strikes the cue-ball more than once in the same stroke
b) a ball is forced off the table
c) a player plays with both feet off the floor
d) a player plays before all the balls have come to rest
e) a player strikes or touches a ball other than with the tip of his cue
f) the cue-ball jumps an intervening ball.
If at the end of a frame the scores are level, the black is replaced on its spot and the player winning the toss of a coin has the choice of whether he or his opponent takes first shot at it from anywhere within the 'D'.