Types of Billiards

For the readers who are just beginning to pay billiards, we’d like to feature a two article series to get them familiar with the game. This article will explain the various forms of billiards, while the next will focus on the types of billiard balls.

English Billiards

This game has now fallen out of favor in most parts of the world, remaining popular only in some parts of Britain. Two cue balls and one red ball are used.

Eight Ball

It consists of 7+7+1 balls, plus the cue ball. There are 7 solid colored balls and an equal number of striped balls. Each player takes turns playing and pocketing his balls, giving up his turn only when he commits a foul or fails to pocket a ball. Once the 7 balls are pocketed, he has to pocket the 8^th ball.

Nine Ball

There are a total of nine balls and one cue ball. All balls are numbered. In every shot, the lowest numbered ball has to be struck first, but not necessarily sunk. You can use it to cause a chain reaction and pocket another ball. The goal is to pocket the 9 numbered ball, either by pocketing all the lower numbered balls first and then striking it, or using another ball to strike it.

14.1 Continuous or Straight Pool

The game starts with 15 balls on the table. Before making the shot, you call out which ball you will pocket, and then proceed to pocket that ball. Once the first 14 balls are sunk, they are returned to the table using the rack. You then try to pocket the 15^th ball without disturbing the other balls.

Cutthroat

This is a three player game with 15 balls divided in three groups of five. Each player tries to sink his opponents’ balls. The winner is the one who has balls remaining on the table after the other groups are pocketed.

You can find more information on this page - Pool game types which explains about several pool and billiard game types.