294.—"I should be glad if you could let me know where the Billiards Championship is going to be played and when. I fancy that the first heat is the first week in March. As I shall be in town about then I should like, if possible, to go."
The championship matches are fixed to be played at the Holborn Hall, as follows:—March 2-7, Gray v. Reece; March 9-14, Stevenson v. Gray or Reece; March 16-28, Inman v. Winner of the preliminary heats.
295.—"If a player forces his own, or his opponent's, ball, or the red ball, off the table, is it correct to spot the white ball on the centre spot and the red on the usual spot, and then to play from baulk, or does the next player follow on at the position in which the two remaining balls are left?"
The B.C.C. rules governing your question are Rule 17 (Section B), which states that forcing a ball off the table is a foul stroke; Rule 18, which states that "If, after contact with another ball, striker's or any other ball is forced off the table, the non-striker shall add two points to his score;" and Paragraph 2 of the same rule, which slates that "For a foul stroke the striker cannot score, and is liable for any further penalty that may have been incurred by the same stroke. His ball shall be placed on the centre spot, the red shall be spotted, and his opponent shall play from the D."
Rule 36 of the Billiard Association is somewhat different, and runs as follows:—"If the striker, after striking a ball, forces either his ball, or any other ball, off the table, he cannot score, and his opponent may either follow on from the position in which the balls are left or he may either break the balls himself or direct his opponent to do so." We regard this rule as unnecessarily cumbersome. It is surely much simpler to have the uniform and invariable rule that when a foul stroke of any kind is committed the striker cannot score and the balls are to be spotted for the opponent.
396.—"Can you kindly let me know the size of room required for a three-quarter size table? We are contemplating enlarging our club rooms and we should then have a room about 14ft. by 18ft. Do you consider that large enough?"
We are not quite sure what size you regard as three-quarter, but assuming that you mean 9ft. by 4ft. 6in., the minimum size of room scheduled by makers for this is 18ft. by 13ft. 6in. Other under sizes are:— 11ft, by 5ft. 6in. (room 20ft. by 14ft. 6in.); 10ft. by 5ft. (room 19ft. by 14ft.); 8ft. by 4ft. (room 17ft. by 13ft.); 7ft. by 3ft. 6in. (room 16ft. by 12ft.); and 6ft. by 3ft. (room 15ft. by 11ft.). The real test, however, is a cue (measuring 4ft. 9in.) carried horizontally all round the outside of the table rails, as nothing is more annoying in a game than to find the butt of the cue striking against an obstruction or the necessity of taking up a smaller cue. It is far better to have the table a size smaller or the room a little extra large. It must also be remembered that the sizes given for tables do not always include their overall dimensions.
Thus a full-size table may be given as 12ft. by 6ft., whereas the actual playing surface may be 5ft. 10in. by 11ft. 9in., to which has to be added the cushions and rails. We know a gentleman who recently had a billiard room built 24ft. by 18ft. but overlooked the fact that the fireplace, being built against a previously existing outside chimney, would stand out 18 inches. The result is that the cue occasionally catches this fireplace or the wall at the opposite end.
297—"I am in want of a teacher or someone to give me a helping hand. I had no knowledge whatever of billiards until last November. I bought a 6ft. table, and have had a friend in who can play a little, but am desirous of getting a knowledge of the game. The time I have at liberty is Thursday afternoon. I should be very pleased if you could let me know of someone who could spare an hour weekly at a moderate fee."
You will observe from an advertisement that lessons at 5s. cash are not given, but we fancy that these are only of half-an-hour's duration.
Hitherto there have, we believe, been no lessons available at less than 7s. per hour. Our own opinion is that they are still somewhat too dear and that 5s. per hour (except, of course, in the case of a renowned player) would attract many more students.
298.—"Could you oblige me by posting me a printed copy of the rules of snooker pool?"
The rules of snooker pool are supplied by Messrs. Burroughes and Watts, 19, Soho Square W.C., for 1s. post free.
299—"Two balls at pool are at an equal distance from the striker's ball, the two players toss up in accordance with the rule; can the striker insist on playing on the ball of the player who lost the toss, or has the winner of the toss the right of saying which ball shall be played on, viz., whether on his own ball or the ball of the loser?"
We should say that the winner of the toss, whether striker or not, has the right of saying which ball shall be played on. Otherwise the tossing would seem to be superfluous. But perhaps we have not fully grasped your question.
300.—"My opponent gave the usual miss in baulk. I next sent my ball into the centre pocket. Scores 1 and 3 away. Then as I expected, my opponent gave another miss in baulk, whereupon I claimed a foul. Was I in order? As we could not find a rule in our old rules to this effect, I was naturally looked upon as a waster of valuable time. But if you would oblige me by giving the exact details regarding this little point it would somewhat lessen the feeling caused."
Under Rule 9 (B.C.C ) a player may not make two misses in successive innings, unless he or the opponent scores after the first miss, or a double baulk occurs. Any miss given when the striker is in hand and there is no object ball out of baulk does not count as one of the two misses which constitute a foul stroke. From this you will see you were perfectly right in your contention, as the three scored by your opponent as the result of your coup is not a score within the meaning of the rule.