French and American billiards is played on a pocketless table, the only kind of table that is used in France, though the English table is occasionally to be found in America. Only cannons (called in America, "Caroms," and in French, "Caramboles,") are played. The three ball carom game is the recognised form of American billiards. Billiards can be divided into two main classifications - carom games and pocket games.
The standard table is 5 feet wide and 10 feet long. In the carom games balls of two-and-five-eighths inches diameter are used. In the pocket games, the balls are two-and-a-quarter inches in diameter and there are generally sixteen.
Both types of game are very clearly described in Walter Cochrane's, "Scientific Billiards." (1942) Cochrane was World Baulkline Champion.
A simple game of cannons, direct or indirect, ideal for beginners.
A device used to prevent experts from gathering the balls in a corner of a table and making points indefinitely.
Similar to straight-rail except that the cue ball must touch one or more cushions before completing the carom.
The cue ball must touch the cushion or cushions 3 different times before completing the carom.
Pocket billiard games are better known as Pool games. The term pool came into usage a long time ago and has persisted in spite of the recent trend back to the original, "Billiards." It used to be the practice for each player to put a stake into a common pool this to be taken by the winner, hence, "Pool."
There are many ways in which Pool or Pocket Billiards is played. The rules seem to differ in different localities. However, a good 95% of all competition is played as described:-
This game is played with 15 balls numbered from 1 to 15. The ball are placed on the spot in the form of an inverted triangle, with the No. 1.ball at the apex. The player opening shoots from the other end of the table with the cue ball which is thereafter played from where it stops. The object of the game is to pocket the balls in order, playing each time upon the remaining ball which has the smallest number. Any others falling into a pocket are credited to the striker and the player with the largest number of balls to his credit is declared the winner.
Much like rotation, except that the winner is determined by the total of the numbers on the balls he has pocketed. The number total 120 hence the player who first makes 61 is the winner.
(Also known as 14.1 continuous) The game is played with 15 balls, either numbered or of a solid red colour. The game is started as in other pocket billiard games, but on each shot the player must indicate the ball and the pocket into which he intends to send it. When 14 balls have been pocketed, the balls are again, "Framed," with the apex of the triangle left vacant, the striker plays on the last ball with the intention of pocketing it and at the same time opening up the, "Frame," so that his break might continue. Played until the agree number of points is reached. Thanks Norman.