Billiards is a collection of cue games that were created in England during the time of the British Empire. It used to be only played in the Commonwealth countries, but it has since spread out across the world. All billiards games are considered to be cue sports as they are played using a cue stick. Below we are going to take a closer look at some of the different kinds of billiards.
Four-Ball
This game gets its name from the number of balls that are used to play it – there are tow white and two red. One of the white balls usually has spots on it to make it stand out (in some cases there might be a yellow ball instead). The white ball with the spots is the cue ball. You will receive a point if the cue ball hits and then rebounds on any two of the other balls on the table. If the ball hits all three balls, you receive two points. If you only hit the target ball, you receive zero points and it is your opponents turn.
Three-Cushion Billiards
As you can probably guess from the name, the aim of this game is to hit the cue ball against the cushions at least three times before it hits your target ball. Both players have their own cue ball (yellow and white) with red being neutral. You need to hit the object ball first, after you have done that the order that ball strikes the cushions and the other ball is irrelevant.
8-Ball Pool
This has got to be the most played billiards game. It is also known as stripes and solids and is a popular pool variant that is played by amateurs and professionals. There are six pockets on the table and at the start of the game there are 16 balls on the table – a cue ball, seven striped balls, seven solid balls, and one black 8-ball. At the start, the balls are grouped in a triangle and one player scatters them in what is known as a break. Once a player legally pots a ball (not the 8-ball), they have to pot all of the same balls. The aim of the game is to pot all of your stripes or solids and then the 8-ball before your opponent does so. If you pot the 8-ball before you have cleared your own balls, you will lose.
AFRICAN BILLIARDS
Now I’m going to tell you about a very peculiar form of billiards. I am of Nigerian origin and in Africa billiards is not very widespread, however our continent has created a new form of game, the African billiards. It’s quite complicated to explain the rules but here is a very good site about it: https://afrotradosports.com/african-billiards/. One thing is for sure, we don’t play too much billiards but we love to bet on it. If you are of Nigerian origin here is a good site that talks about sports betting and makes sports articles: https://www.sport-betting.ng/.
One-Pocket Pool
This is different from other types of pool due to the fact that only two of the pockets are alive, with both players having their own designated pocket. Whenever you pot a ball in your own pocket, you win a point. The first player to pot eight balls in his own pocket wins the game. If the ball goes in another pocket, it is a foul and three fouls on the trot will mean that the other player wins.
Straight Pool
This is another billiards game with different rules. In this variant of pool, you can hit any ball on the table as the aim of the game is to score a set number of points. Each ball that you pot legally earns a point and you have to carry on potting until you reach a previously agreed figure. Each player has the tell their opponent what ball they want to hit as well as the pocket they are going to pot it in.
Snooker
This form of billiards is played on a twelve-foot by six-foot table, making it the billiards game with the biggest table. At the start of the game, there are 21 balls on the table – a cue ball and 20 object balls. The aim is to pot a red ball and then one of the colored balls and then a red ball and another colored ball until all the reds have been potted. Once there are no more reds, you have to pot the colored balls in order – yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black. The red balls are worth a point, the yellow is worth 2 points, the green is worth 3 points, the brown is worth 4 points, the blue is worth 5 points, the pink is worth 6 points, and the black is worth 7 points. The player with the highest amount of points wins the frame.