SPORTS> Snooker Rules
Rules of snooker

Updated: 2007-03-23 16:48
Snooker may be played by two or more players, either independently or as sides. The game can be summarised as follows:

(a) Each player uses the same White cue-ball and there are twenty-one object balls - fifteen Reds each valued 1, and six colours: Yellow valued 2, Green 3, Brown 4, Blue 5, Pink 6 and Black 7.

(b) Scoring strokes in a player’s turn are made by potting Reds and colours alternately until all the Reds are off the table and then the colours in the ascending order of their value.

(c) Points awarded for scoring strokes are added to the score of the striker.

(d) Penalty points from fouls are added to the opponent’s score.

(e) A tactic employed at any time during a frame is to leave the cue-ball behind a ball not on such that it is snookered for the next player. If a player or side is more points behind than are available from the balls left on the table, then the laying of snookers in the hope of gaining points from fouls becomes most important.

(f) The winner of a frame is the player or side

(i) making the highest score,

(ii) to whom the frame is conceded, or

(iii) to whom it is awarded under Section 3 Rule 14(c) or Section 4 Rule 2.

(g) The winner of a game is the player or side

(i) winning most, or the required number of frames

(ii) making the greatest total where aggregate points are relevant, or

(iii) to whom the game is awarded under Section 4 Rule 2.

(h) The winner of a match is the player or side winning most games or, aggregate points are relevant, with the greatest total.