Billiard Specialties and Game Rules
MBM Biliardi, beyond design, is passion and sport.
Snooker
Originating in the United Kingdom, snooker is a break-building game popular in nations such as Canada, the USA, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Born in 1875, it was conceived by British officers in India as an alternative to English billiards during the rainy season. The term derives from the nickname given to cadets at the Woolwich Military Academy.
The Table: Equipped with six pockets; for “Grand Match” games, standard dimensions are 3.50 x 1.75 meters. The table weighs about 1,700 kg, featuring a 5 cm thick slate bed (weighing 1,000 kg).
Rules: 21 colored balls are used: 15 reds (1 point each) and 6 different colored balls with varying values. It is a break-building game: players must pot a red followed by a colored ball, alternating until all reds are cleared, and then clear the remaining colors in a specific sequence.
Pool
Made famous by the 1961 film The Hustler, pool has its roots in the 19th century as the “4 ball game.” Claudius Berger contributed to its popularization in the USA during the American Civil War by introducing carom and massé.
The Table: Promotional versions (2.20 x 1.10 m) or tournament versions (2.54 x 1.27 m) with six pockets.
Main Specialties:
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8 Ball: Players must pocket either the solids (1 to 7) or stripes (9 to 15) group, followed finally by the black 8 ball.
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Straight Pool (14.1 Continuous): Known as “125,” it involves pocketing 15 balls according to a precise pattern, continuing the run after each rack.
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9 Ball: 10 balls are used (cue ball + numbered 1–9); the objective is to legally pocket the 9 ball.
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One Pocket: A defensive game for professionals; there is only one designated pocket where all eight balls must end up.
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Rotation: Among the oldest variations; the 15 balls must be pocketed in ascending order. The winner is the first to reach 61 points.
Carom (Carambole)
The artistic aspect of billiards, played on pocketless tables where the challenge is precision in predetermined patterns. In 19th-century America, the “American series” (balle fine / balkline 45/2) was introduced by the Dion brothers, debuting at Madison Square Garden in 1896.
Rules: Pocketless table (2.84 x 1.42 m), two white cue balls and one red ball. The cue ball must strike the other two balls to score a point (carom). If the shot is valid, the player continues their turn.
European Specialties: Free game, Balkline 47/1, 47/2, 81/1, 81/2 (with variations on restriction zones), One-Cushion, Three-Cushion, and Artistic billiards (classic fancy shots).
International 5-Pins
A very popular specialty in Italy, played on the “International match” table.
Characteristics: Pocketless table (2.48 x 1.42 m). Cushions are 37–38 mm high with profiled rubber. Non-shiny green cloth and “diamonds” spaced at 1/8 intervals of the length. Requires thermal heating and 4 lights positioned 90–95 cm above the playing surface.
Materials: Three balls (white, yellow, red) with a diameter of 61.5 mm and a weight of 205–215 g. Five pins, 25 mm high, form the “castle” in the center.
Scoring: Ranging from 120–130 points (national competitions) down to 50 points (international competitions best of 5 games). Includes variants such as Goriziana (9 pins), Bazzica, Carolina, and Bandiera.
Boccetta
Created in the 1920s, it evolved to meet television broadcasting demands for fast-paced matches. The first World Championship was held in Milan in 1997.
The Table: International pocketless (2.84 x 1.42 m) or Italian with pockets (2.70 x 1.35 m).
Gameplay: Played with 8 balls (4 red, 4 white), a blue jack (pallino), and 5 pins (one red). A center line divides the table: the jack and boccette can only be hit (“bocciabili”) beyond this line. The winner is the player who gets closest to the jack or knocks down the pins according to the scoring rules.
8-15
A pool variant played with 15 balls: 8 “solids” (1–7), 7 “stripes” (9–15), the black 8 ball, and the white cue ball.
Gameplay: Begins with a triangle rack and a break shot. Until the first ball is legally pocketed, the table is “open.” Once groups are assigned, the player remains at the table as long as they legally pocket their own balls.
Closing: After pocketing their 7 balls, the player attempts to sink the 8 ball in a called pocket (different from the opponent’s). US variants may allow winning on the break or require potting the 8 ball via a bank/kick shot (hitting a cushion first).
Russian Pyramid
Popular in former USSR countries, played on 2.84 x 1.42 m tables with very tight pockets.
Materials: 16 balls (15 numbered white balls 1–15 and one colored cue ball).
Scoring: The number 1 ball is worth 11 points, while the others are worth their face value. The last remaining ball is always worth 10 points. The winner is the first to score at least 66 points. A score of 65–65 results in a tie. Players must call the ball and pocket, except on the initial break.
Goriziana
An Italian specialty played on a 2.84 x 1.42 m pocketless table.
Dynamics: Three balls (white, yellow, red jack/pallino). Played in teams or singles. The objective is to hit the opponent’s ball to knock down the castle of 9 pins. The jack only awards points if hit after striking the opponent’s ball.
Unique Characteristic: Turn execution always passes to the opponent after every shot (players do not continue their turn after scoring). Points are doubled if achieved via an indirect shot (hitting at least one cushion before the opponent’s ball).
