Cue sports, such as carom billiards, pool (pocket billiards), and snooker, are the focus of this portion of our web guide.

Cue sports include a range of games played with a cue stick and billiard balls on a table. Variations of some of these games have sprung up over the years.

The origins of cue sports can be traced back to 15th-century Europe. It is believed that the game evolved from outdoor lawn games like croquet and was brought indoors to be played on a table covered with green cloth to simulate grass. The earliest form of the game was played with balls pushed with wooden sticks called maces. The term billiard is derived from the French word billart, which translates to "mace."

In time, the mace was replaced by a cue stick, which allowed for better control. By the 18th century, cue sports were popular across Europe, with various forms of the game played in different regions.

Carom billiards, also known simply as carom, is played on a table without pockets. Points are scored by striking the cue ball so that it contacts both of the other two balls on the table. Carom billiards originated in France in the late 18th century. It gained popularity in Europe and the United States during the 19th century, with professional tournaments and championships established.

There are variations of carom billiards, including straight rail, balkline, and three-cushion billiards. In straight rail billiards, players score points by making the cue ball contact the other two balls without additional requirements. In the balkline variation of the game, the table is divided into marked regions, and additional points can be scored by keeping the balls within specific areas. With three-cushion billiards, the cue ball must make contact with three cushions before hitting the second object ball.

Players take turns attempting to score points in carom billiards. A successful carom shot earns the player the right to continue shooting until they miss. The game is played to a predetermined number of points.

The terms "pool" and "pocket billiards" are often used interchangeably, although there is a subtle difference, which will be discussed later in this article.

Pool, also known as pocket billiards, is played on a table with six pockets. The objective is to pocket the balls into the pockets using a cue stick. There are a few variations of pool, each with its own rules and objectives.

Pool originated in the United States in the 19th century, evolving from earlier European billiard games, then gaining widespread popularity in American bars and pool halls.

Eight-ball is the most common form of pool. In this game, players must pocket either the solid-colored balls (1-7) or the striped balls (9-15) before pocketing the eight ball.

In nine-ball, players must pocket the balls in numerical order, with the nine-ball being the final target.

In straight pool (14.1 Continuous), players score points by pocketing any ball on the table, with the goal of reaching a predetermined score.

Players take turns attempting to pocket balls. In eight-ball and nine-ball, players must call their shots, indicating which ball they intend to pocket and into which pocket. Fouls result in the opponent gaining ball-in-hand, allowing them to place the cue ball anywhere on the table for their next shot.

Regarding the differences between pool and pocket billiards, "pocket billiards" is sometimes viewed as a broader term encompassing all games played on a billiard table with pockets. This includes eight-ball, nine-ball, straight pool, one-pocket, and others. In contrast, "pool" is the more common term used in the United States and is sometimes used to refer specifically to the game of eight-ball. The term originates from the gambling term used for collective betting. Over time, the term became associated with the game itself, particularly in pool halls. However, the term may also refer to other variations, like nine-ball and straight pool.

Snooker is played on a larger table with smaller pockets, as compared to pool. The game involves 21 balls, including 15 red balls and six colored balls. Points are scored by potting the balls in a specific sequence.

Snooker originated in the British Army in India during the 19th century. The game was developed as a variation of the existing billiard games, gaining popularity throughout the British Empire.

Standard Snooker is played with 15 red balls and six colored balls. Six-Red Snooker is a faster version of the game, played with only the six red balls.

Players take turns attempting to pot the balls in the correct order. Red balls are worth one point each, while the colored balls have higher point values (yellow=2, green=3, brown=4, blue=5, pink=6, black=7). After potting a red ball, the player must pot a colored ball, and the sequence continues until all balls are potted.

Recommended Resources

Search for Billiards & Pool on Google or Bing