Principal Rules in a Nutshell

• When the red ball cannot be spotted it is placed on the pyramid spot, or, if that be also occupied, on the centre spot.
• If pocketed from the spot twice in succession, without an intervening score, the red ball is placed on the centre spot; if that be occupied on the pyramid spot; if that be also occupied, on the top spot. (This rule may, under B.C.C. rules, be suspended if the players agree to do so).
• A cue ball in hand may be played out of baulk from a cushion within baulk.
• A ball resting exactly on or within the line is in baulk and cannot be played on except by first playing out of baulk, but if more than half its diameter is outside the line any portion of it can be played upon direct from baulk.
• Two misses may not, under B.C.C. rules, be given by the same player without a score or double baulk intervening.
• A miss may not be given with the side of the cue, or in baulk when in hand.
• When a striker's ball is touching the red. the latter is spotted and the non-striker's ball, if in play, is placed on the centre spot. The same is done with the red and the nonstriker's ball if jammed in the jaws of a pocket.
• Consecutive ball to ball cannons are limited to 25, but a cannon made by striking a cushion intermediately re-starts the sequence.
• A non-striker may not (under B.C.C. rules) stand in the line of sight.
• When an in-off is made in conjunction with a cannon the ball first struck decides the in-off score.
• A ball knocked off the table counts two against the striker and three in conjunction with a miss.
• Under B.C.C. rules a ball which returns to the bed of the table after being temporarily forced off is not considered off the table, but if it comes to rest on the rail it is off.
• A ball may not be touched by the rest or involuntarily by the cue.
• To play out of turn or with the wrong ball is foul.
• A ball moved otherwise than by the striker is replaced by the marker or by mutual consent.
• A ball in play may be cleaned by mutual consent or by the marker.
• After all strokes made in contravention of the rules the balls are spotted.