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.