This post contains the simple rules of a custom Snooker game as invented by and as taught to me by the late Colin Skelly a.k.a. Skelby. It is a great teacher for practicing in-offs and cue ball placement. Enjoy, and thanks too to Skelby. May he R.I.P.
Overview
This game is built upon the rules of snooker and teaches beginners (and up to moderate level) Snooker players to place the cue ball exactly where they want it to be in order to improve their scores.
Table Preparation
Remove all the red balls except one.from a completed Snooker table. Place this one red ball on the cushion behind and in line with the black ball.
Game Play
The first player calls their play in clear unambiguous calls then plays. This player continues to play until they miss or foul. All balls sunk are reinstated. Multiple scores are possible but in order to score, the play must match the call exactly [Cannon pink to black and then in-off the black” is a legitimate call and potentially scores 9 – 2 for the Cannon and 7 for the in-off the black]. Partial scores are not permitted, thus the play is either missed (0) or fouled (4 to the other player).
Failures such as these rely on:
- Snooker rules;
- Common sense (understanding that the aim of the game is to reward accuracy of the cue ball);
- The umpire’s decision.
Scoring
Scoring is made via calling what we are going to play exactly as we then play it:
- Potting a coloured ball (+ red) for the same colour points as Snooker except that red = 8 [said, “Pot pink”scores the colour value]. or,
- Hitting an in-off, for the same colour points as Snooker except that red = 8 [said, “In-off-pink”scores], or,
- A cannon (the cue ball only strikes two colours in order – with no pots = 2 points) [cue ball hits blue then hits the pink with none being dropped, said, “Blue-pink” or said, “Cannon-blue-pink” scores], or
- By way of a foul (anything other than that called or
- Not called correctly except a secondary or other cannon, or otherwise, that does not drop any ball gives 4 points, regardless of colour, to the other player).
Note that scoring only occurs when the play matches that called out first BEFORE the play is made.
The first player to score exactly 51 wins. A player who busts (52+ fouls ) must restart from 0.
Beginner’s Early Game Strategy
Just score as much as possible!
Breaking down double scoring plays into two plays makes scoring easier.
Late Game Strategy
Around 40 points or so look at how to score an odd number (3 green, 5 blue or 7 black) so that you do not bust with a 50 or 52!
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