Billiards is a sport that has been popular around the world for over a thousand years. It was originally played indoors, with a cue or a ball, in Europe in 15th century. There are many variations of billiards. The goal of most games of billiards is generally to accumulate a greater score than your opponent before the clock runs out. There are many games that you can play, and each one has its own rules.
The most common billiards games include pool, snooker, English billiards, and carom billiards. In each of these, players use different cues and balls to earn points. You can also foul players, which will decrease your points.
The most played game in the United States, and many parts of the UK, is pool. These games require a table and balls as well as cues. The table is typically a rectangular, polished slate or woolen-cloth structure. There are usually six pockets on the table, but sometimes the table has seven or eight. Each pocket is designated a number so the ball can be placed in numerical order.
One-Pocket, one of the first billiards game was invented. Originally, this game was played on a table with one pocket. Players occupied the left and right sides of the pocket, and they used a curved wooden mace on the other side of the table. Although this was not considered to be the official starting point of billiards it is widely believed that it was.
Pocket billiards is very popular in Canada and the United States. Pocket billiards is where you can make a combination shot and pocket the balls in numerical sequence. Some advanced versions of the game require tight pockets.
Carom-billiards is another popular game. Carom billiards is a game where players try to catch their opponent's cue ball. The table is normally at least 7 feet in length, and is heated.
English billiards is a hybrid of carom and pocket billiards. The most common way to play this game is at one table. The cue can be made of wood, fiberglass, or plastic. To win, the cue must be closest to the cushion.
In the United States, two of the most popular billiards games are pool and snooker. A table with two balls and a red object ball is used to play pool. To score points, players will need to keep the red ball. Depending on the game, they may also be able to foul. If the cueball hits a cushion or other object, the player will need to make a "lag". If the opponent is unable or unwilling to pocket the ball, he/she can place it back in its original location.
18.2 Balkline is one the more difficult billiards variations. Balkline is a tough game and is often played in billiards tournaments. The ball must be struck on either the right or left side of straight pool, unlike straight pool which can only be played with the cueball.