22—Will you please say what is the state of the law as regards the hours or days when billiards may be played in other than private houses and clubs?
In licensed hotels and public-houses (which do not require special billiard licences) billiards may not be played during closing time, nor on Sundays, Christmas Day, or Good Friday. In beerhouses and public rooms (where billiards can only be played under special licence), the game may be played in beerhouses during all open hours and at any time if the room be shut off from the beer-selling department. In public licensed billiard-rooms there is no restriction or condition whatever.
23.—Should inter-club matches of, say, six a side be decided on total score or on the number of individual games won or lost?
The above query was submitted to the Billiards Association and Control Council quite recently. Some leagues prefer one method and some the other, and they are entitled to do so. The Council, however, considers it more satisfactory to decide such matches on the aggregate number of points scored. Another satisfactory method is to play "relay" matches—the second pair of players taking up the scores as left by their predecessors, and so on.
24.—If the cue ball is miscued on to the rail, but runs on to the table again and makes a cannon or pocket, is it a score?
Yes, this a perfectly legitimate stroke, since the ball has not, technically, been forced off the table. "A ball is ' forced off the table ' which comes to rest otherwise than on the bed of the table, or in a pocket" (Rule 4).
25.—If I am on a red at snooker pool, hit it, and put the yellow down, do I lose two or four points? My opponent relies on the rule which says "any other penalty four points," as though one cannot lose less than four. But surely if all the reds are off the table and I run in off the yellow (which I am on) I only lose two points.
The penalty for pocketing the yellow when "on" a red is two points, and also for running in-off the yellow, two points.
26.—The following takes place every week=end in a billiard league in our neighbourhood, and is evidently intended as an attempt to make profit out of the fact that an opponent is not allowed to give two consecutive misses:—"A" commences the game by playing out of, and then back into, baulk in the usual way. "B" plays his ball from baulk in a middle pocket. "A," it is contended (and I have never seen it disputed), must now play at the red, when he almost invariably leaves one or both balls in play for "B," who is in hand.
The above is quite correct. "A" must then play at the red.
27.—Is a player a professional who plays for a wager?
Playing for a wager, provided that no "added money" is involved (i.e., that each player is merely backing himself to win), does not injure an amateur's status. It is not permissible for the money to be staked.
28.—Can a professional be reinstated as an amateur?
The Billiards Association and Control Council retains the right, previously exercised by the Committee of the late Billiard Association, to grant applications for re-instatement as an amateur, from players who have forfeited their amateur status. Such an application, however, would not be entertained from any recognized professional player.
29.—There was a discussion recently in our Club as to the circumstances under which the late John Roberts emerged from his retirement and commenced playing again. Can you kindly state these and the date?
He played matches in September, 1907, at the National Sporting Club, with F. Weiss on the then new oval table, and he also remained before the public in the ordinary way of matches. After his world-touring arrangements with George Gray broke down (for which he was awarded damages in the Courts), he went with Newman to Canada, and it was there that he had the physical warnings which induced him to relinquish public play altogether.
30;—Are the rules of billiards and snooker to be had in a handbook form? If so, what is the price and where can they be bought?
A green cloth-covered handbook, containing the revised Rules of Billiards, Pool, Pyramids, Snooker, Volunteer Snooker, and Russian Pool, can be obtained from all the leading firms of billiard table makers, or direct from the office of The Billiard Player, 14, Cross Street, Finsbury, E.C.2. The Rules of Billiards only are also published in small book form, paper covered, price 2s. per copy.
31.—Does the spin of a cue ball with side impart side to the object ball?
We do not think so. At the same time the contrary view is held by many great players. The question was recently put to W. Smith, the ex-champion, and his reply was: "Tons of side." Our own belief is that the altered direction given to an object ball by the use of side arises from the fact that check side works the cue ball more into the object ball, whilst running side runs it off. When an object ball is manifestly seen to carry side—which certainly does occur—it is, we believe, the result of a squeeze (similar to that which can be given to it with the fingers) either against a cushion or between two balls. But let a ball be spun as much as possible, even with the fingers, against a stationary object ball, and the latter will take no reciprocal side from it whatever.
32.—If Reece made a break of 499,135 with the anchor stroke, why does Cook, who made 42,746 by this method, hold the record?
Cook holds the certificate of the Billiards Association of those days. The decision of the Committee of the Association with regard to Reece's performance was: "That without impugning the bona fides of Mr. Reece or of any of those who witnessed the break of 499,135, the Committee are of opinion that, as many thousands of the points were scored at times when neither the public nor members of the Press could reasonably be expected to be present, they cannot grant a certificate." The writer of this reply remembers entering the hall at Thurston's on one occasion whilst Reece was engaged on his break, and there were only two others present, but they were both standing close to Reece (who was operating at the top right corner of the table) and keenly watching each stroke. If relays of two competent and impartial witnesses had been officially provided for, the certificate could have been given in due course.