21 balls, alternating reds and colors, and long frames — 12 ft table, pockets narrower than pool.
Snooker is a points game: while reds remain, players alternate red and any color; when reds are gone — colors in ascending value to black.
The table is longer and narrower than pool, cloth is slower; pockets are tight — accuracy matters. Snookers and safety tactics decide the frame.
Pick a game — each page has the full ruleset, history, and discipline notes.
Tournament standard — 12 ft per World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) rules. Clubs often use 10 ft tables for training.
| Parameter | 12 ft (tournament) | 10 ft (club) |
|---|---|---|
| Playing surface | 3569 × 1778 mm | ≈ 2900 × 1450 mm |
| Overall table size | ≈ 3840 × 2060 mm | ≈ 3200 × 1700 mm |
| Height from floor | ≈ 850 mm | ≈ 850 mm |
| Markings | D-zone (baulk), color spots, baulk line | Same elements |
| Ball | Qty | Points / role |
|---|---|---|
| Red | 15 | 1 point |
| Yellow | 1 | 2 points |
| Green | 1 | 3 points |
| Brown | 1 | 4 points |
| Blue | 1 | 5 points |
| Pink | 1 | 6 points |
| Black | 1 | 7 points |
| Cue ball | 1 | White, no point value |
| Red diameter | 52.5 mm | Colors and cue ball — 53.5 mm |
| Pocket type | Feature |
|---|---|
| Corner (4) | Tight "bags" — precise potting |
| Middle on long rail (2) | As in pyramid — on the long side |
| Difference from pool | Narrower pockets; power play less common, position more important |
| Ball return | Balls not returned until end of frame |
Colors return to spots after being potted; reds stay in the pocket. Before a match, check spot positions and cloth condition.
Go through these at the table — fewer disputes about rules and equipment.
Discipline confirmed
Classic snooker or shortened format (6 reds) — per tournament card.
Match format
To N frames (e.g. best of 3, 5, or 9); shot time limit — per regulations.
Color setup
Yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black — on their spots; 15 reds — in a triangle.
D-zone (baulk)
Break from the semicircle; after a foul — cue ball in D or penalty per regulations.
Shot order
While reds remain: red → color → red. Then colors in ascending points.
Ball on
Cue ball must first contact the required ball; otherwise foul and penalty points to opponent.
Snooker
If a direct shot at ball on is impossible — miss or kick with declaration.
Score and display
Points on the scoreboard; with a large lead the frame may be conceded early.
Penalties and ball-in-hand depend on the tournament regulations — confirm with the referee before the match.
Snooker is a British game with 22 balls, narrow pockets, and point-based frames. Below — who invented it in India, how it reached England, became a televised sport, and took hold in China.
Snooker was invented in the late 19th century in India by British officers. Neville Chamberlain (not the prime minister) is most often credited — in 1875 in Jabalpur he proposed rules for a game with reds and colors based on pool and pyramid games.
The name "snooker" comes from army slang for a raw recruit; officers used it for clumsy players. The game reached Great Britain in the 1880s and took root in officers' and billiard clubs.
The 12 ft table matches English billiards; pockets are narrower than pool, but balls and scoring are unique: 15 reds worth 1 each, 6 colors with fixed values, frames, and "snookers".
| Year / period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1875 | Presumed invention in Jabalpur, India |
| 1880s | Game in clubs across Great Britain and Ireland |
| 1927 | First official World Championship (Joe Davis dominated until 1946) |
| 1969 | Televised "Pot Black" — snooker boom on BBC |
| 1977 | World Championship moves to Crucible Theatre, Sheffield — still there today |
| 1990s — present | WPBSA, professional tour, China's rise from the 2000s |
| 2010s — present | Ding Junhui and the Chinese school — millions of players in China |
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) runs the professional tour and rules. 12 ft table, 22 balls (15 reds + 6 colors + cue ball), D-zone for break and ball-in-hand.
Frame: while reds remain — alternate "red + color"; color returns to its spot. After all reds — colors in ascending order to black. Match — by frames won.
Penalty points for a foul depend on the highest ball in play (4–7). Maximum 147 — all reds with black, then all colors.
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| WPBSA | Professional tour, rules, World Championship |
| World Snooker Tour | Commercial series, broadcasts |
| National federations | Amateur leagues, clubs |
| Region | Level | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom, Ireland | Very high | Birthplace; Crucible, UK Championship, Masters |
| China | Very high | Millions of players; academies from the 2000s; Ding Junhui and others |
| Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia | High | Strong Asian schools, amateur leagues |
| Europe (DE, PL…) | Medium | TV broadcasts, 12 ft club tables |
| Russia | Medium | Moscow, St. Petersburg — dedicated tables; niche beside pyramid |
| Australia, Canada | Medium–high | British heritage, amateur snooker |
The World Championship in Sheffield (Crucible Theatre since 1977) is an icon of British sport. UK Championship, Masters — the professional "Triple Crown". Ronnie O'Sullivan, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry — names in world culture.
Maximum 147 is a cultural phenomenon; prize money for a "147" at major events. Overhead TV cameras from the 1970s made snooker a spectator sport.
In Russia snooker is a niche: 12 ft tables in larger halls, enthusiasts after pyramid. On billiard.guru it appears less often than pool and pyramid.