Combined (Moscow) pyramid

Before each shot — call ball and pocket. Points by ball numbers, classic target 71 or 76.

Call shotsMoscow pyramid · call shotsPyramid

Objective and scoring

Reach 71, 76, or 130 points (by discipline) before opponent. Ball number N — N points; ball No. 1 — 11; last ball on table adds +10 to its number.

Sum of all 15 ball numbers = 120; with adjustments for ball 1 and last ball yields target 71 (or 76 in extended frame).

Frame may last hours — defense, penalty points, and call tactics matter.
Official RBF and ICP discipline; at competitions referee records calls.

Call and scoring

Before shot player or referee records: which object ball and which pocket (or any pocket if regulations allow).
Call cannot change after shot. Wrong ball or pocket — ball spotted on foot spot, turn passes or stays with shooter — per regulation table.
Cue ball in pocket after object-ball contact counts only if part of call.
Uncalled ball pocketed — penalty points to opponent and spotting.

Rack and cue ball

15 white balls numbered 1–15 — pyramid at foot spot.
Cue ball — colored (yellow) only; in pocket — only if called; otherwise foul.
Free choice of any ball as cue ball not allowed — colored cue ball only.

Break and ball in hand

Break — from hand in kitchen; legal opening shot criteria as in general pyramid rules.
After foul opponent shoots from hand in kitchen; penalty points per table (often -1, -2, or ball value).
Systematic violations may lead to disqualification per competition regulations.

Point table (typical)

Ball No. 1 — 11 points; balls No. 2–14 — by number (2–14 points).
Ball No. 15 — 15 points; if last on table — +10 (25 total for final shot).
Penalty points to opponent: foul, uncalled ball, cue ball in pocket — per official ICP table.

At competitions

Moscow pyramid is main discipline for classic RBF tournaments. Referee keeps call protocol; player must wait for call confirmation before shot.

Timeouts and medical breaks — per championship regulations.
Equal score — replay or golden frame to first lead.
On billiard.guru format and point limit on tournament card.

Historical note: combined (Moscow) pyramid

Moscow (combined) pyramid is an official discipline with mandatory call of ball and pocket on every scoring shot. Points by ball numbers, target 71 or 76. Cue ball — colored only; in pocket — only if called.

Moscow school and call shots

Combined pyramid developed in Moscow sports societies from the 1950s: the player names ball number and pocket before the shot; after the shot the call cannot be changed. Wrong ball or pocket — penalty, ball spotted on the foot spot.

Combined — because one frame mixes pocket scoring and strict count by numbers (unlike purely free play without call). Target 71 or 76 points depends on tournament regulations.

The discipline became the benchmark for USSR, Russian, and international ICP championships. Referee penalty tables for foul, uncalled ball, and cue ball in pocket — official, not by eye.

Evolution of regulations

Call applies to the cue ball too: you may strike with the colored ball only by the rules; cue ball in pocket counts only if the pocket for the cue ball was announced (rare but legal technique).

Penalty points to opponent: for foul, uncalled ball, cue ball in pocket without call — per ICP table (often -1, -2, or ball value).

After foul opponent plays from the hand in the kitchen. Repeated foul in a run may award a penalty ball.

Colored (yellow) cue ball only — whites never become cue ball.
No carom pocketing of cue ball without calling the cue-ball pocket.
High refereeing demands — typical format of championship finals.

Where Moscow pyramid is strong

Region	Comment
Moscow and Central Federal District	Most schools, referee courses, sections
ICP championships	Moscow or classic — main disciplines
Regional clubs	More often free; Moscow — for serious tournaments
Belarus, Kazakhstan	Strong players, shared rules with Russia

Moscow vs classic 71

Both: colored cue ball only, points by numbers, cue ball in pocket — foul (in Moscow except when called).
Moscow: mandatory call of ball and pocket on every scoring shot.
Classic 71: no pocket call required; play to 71 points by sum of numbers.
Both in ICP program; Moscow — calling card of televised finals.

Present day

Retains top-discipline status in RBF rating.
Players move from free to Moscow pyramid at rating 4+.
Russian championship final broadcasts — main media image of strict pyramid.

This is a short guide. The exact regulations are in the tournament description on billiard.guru or from the organizer. Official event rules take precedence.

All games: Pyramid Table types