Blackball Rules
The game is played with a cue ball (the white ball) and
: 7 red, 7 yellow and a black one.
One player must pocket the
and the other player the
. The player pocketing his group first and then legally pocketing the
wins the game.
Opening break
The balls are
with the black ball in the center of the triangle.
The game begins with the
behind the baulk line.
Any ball can be hit first by the cue ball.
The break is a
when neither the cue ball nor the black ball is pocketed, and either one of the colored balls is pocketed or at least four object balls are driven to a cushion.
If the break is not a fair break, it is a foul, and the opponent is
following a re-rack.
If the black ball is pocketed on any break, the
and the same player breaks again.
Choice of group
If no colored ball is pocketed by the opening break then the table remains open and the opposing player is next.
means that the group of balls a player has to pocket is not decided yet. It is legal to hit any red or yellow while the table is open. Hitting the black ball while the table is open is a foul.
The choice of group is determined when a player legally pockets a red or yellow ball at open table. He
by the one he pockets. When legally pocketing any red or yellow ball(s) at the break, the player can choose the color to play.
After the groups are assigned on all shots the shooter must hit a ball of his group first and pocket any ball(s) of his groups.
Continuing play
A player is entitled to continue shooting until he fails to legally pocket a ball of his group. It is no foul if he fails but then the opposing player is next.
A player has to complete one shot in
, otherwise a foul is called, and incoming player gets
.
When all balls of a players group are pocketed then the
black ball has to be pocketed
.
Fouls
The break shot is not a
.
The cue ball does not hit a ball of the
first.
The shot is
in 60 seconds.
If a foul is committed, the opponent is
.
means the incoming player may continue playing after their first visit, even if they fail to pocket a ball, unless they commit a foul. If the
, the other player gets ball in hand from the baulk, and two visits.
Foul Snooker
A player is
if their opponent commits a foul and, as a result, leaves them snookered. After being foul snookered, the incoming player can nominate the black ball, or any of the opponents balls. The nominated ball temporarily counts as one of the player’s own balls for the first shot of the first visit only.
If the
, it may be played, but potting it will mean loss of frame.
If the player is on the black ball and foul snookered, the player may play the black ball or the nominated one and pocket either or both of these balls.
If neither ball is pocketed, the player's first visit is complete.
If only the nominated ball is pocketed, the player continues with first visit.
If both balls are pocketed, the player wins the frame.
If the black ball is pocketed, the player wins the frame.
during this situation overrides the above outcomes.
Loss of Game
A player loses the game if:
They pocket the black ball before pocketing all the balls of their group (except on the break).
They pocket the black ball and any other ball (including the cue ball) in the same shot.
They commit a foul while pocketing the black ball.
