Three-cushion

Reach the set number of points before the opponent. One point — one scoring stroke: cue ball contacts the second and third ball (in any order), and rebounds from cushions at least three times before or between contacts.

Inning — to 15, 25, 40, or 50 points; match — to N wins. Format specified by organizer on billiard.guru.

• Continental and world championships — three-cushion as main carom discipline.
• Average professional run — several points in a row; records — dozens of consecutive points.

• Red — on center spot (or per starting position regulations).
• Cue ball — in D-zone; first stroke from hand in D or from baulk line.
• Players assign plain white and spotted white; first stroke — by lot.
• After scoring stroke cue ball stays where it stops — break continues.

One point counts if in one stroke all conditions are met: cue ball contacts two other balls; at least three cushion rebounds total (counted by referee or players by agreement).

Cushion rebound counts if cue ball or object ball touches the cushion rubber. Ball-to-ball contact does not replace cushion rebound.

• Order of ball contacts may vary: cue ball → red → second white or other sequence.
• Three cushions may occur before first ball contact, between contacts, or after — three before stroke ends.
• Several points in a row — break; opponent gets no stroke while break continues.

• After non-scoring stroke (no point, no foul) — change of innings; balls stay in place.
• Defensive play — leave opponent a difficult position without clear foul.
• Positional play: plan not only current point but cue-ball position for next.
• Power strokes less common than pool — fine cut and long rebounds dominate.

• Cue ball contacts no ball — foul; change of innings, sometimes penalty point to opponent.
• Fewer than three cushion rebounds with contact of two balls — no point; foul if no ball contact.
• Ball off table — penalty (often 1–2 points to opponent) and ball-in-hand per regulations.
• Double hit, push shot, touching ball by hand — foul and change of innings.
• Cue ball in opponent's D without score — restriction on next stroke per regulations.

• Shot time limit — typically 40–45 seconds at world events.
• Tie in inning — "golden stroke" or extra inning.
• On billiard.guru format (points to win, time limit) — in event card.

• Three-cushion requires three cushion rebounds; straight rail — contact with two balls is enough.
• Three-cushion is harder and more spectacular; straight rail — foundation for learning rebounds.
• Same table, same three balls — scoring rules differ.