Straight rail

Reach the set number of points before the opponent. One point per stroke if cue ball contacts both other balls (red and second white).

Classic format for training, club tournaments, and warm-up before three-cushion.

• Inning — to 10, 15, or 25 points by agreement.
• Change of innings and foul rules close to three-cushion, but without three-cushion requirement.

• Three balls on table: red and two whites (players' cue balls).
• Start — red on center spot, cue ball in D; first stroke — by lot.
• After scoring stroke play continues from where cue ball stops.

Point counts when cue ball in one stroke contacts both other balls. Order of contacts does not matter.

Cushion rebounds not required — may score "head-on" or off one cushion.

• Carom stroke: cue ball → red → second white — one point.
• Break continues while player scores; miss — change of innings.

• Focus on simple contacts and speed control — fewer long "molecular" trajectories than three-cushion.
• Good for practicing cut, rebound angle, and cue-ball position.
• In clubs often played "until miss" or with stroke limit per inning.

• Cue ball does not contact both balls — no point; complete miss — foul and change of innings.
• Ball off table — penalty point and ball-in-hand per regulations.
• Double hit, push shot, touching by hand — foul.
• Cue ball not touching cloth on stroke — foul.

Straight rail is the traditional first step before three-cushion: same three balls and table, but simpler scoring condition.

• After mastering two-ball contact, move to counting rebounds in three-cushion.
• In some halls the table is also used for pyramid with cushions — check table type in club catalog.