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English billiards is a form of billiards played on a 6' X 12' rectangular table with pockets in the four corners and in the middle of the long sides (see Snooker for markings and a diagram).
The game is for two players. Two cue balls (originally both white, but more recently one white, one yellow) and a red object ball are used. Each player or team uses a different cue ball; where both cue balls are white, one has a distinguishing mark (usually one or more black dots).
Points are awarded as follows:
cannon (striking one's cue ball so that it hits the other cue ball and the red ball on the same shot) - 2 points
winning hazard on the red (striking the red ball with one's cue ball so that it enters a pocket) - 3 points
lozing hazard or in off (striking one's cue ball so that it hits another ball and then enters a pocket) - 3 points if the red ball was hit first, 2 points of the other cue ball was hit first.
Combinations of the above may all be scored on the same shot. The most number of points from the one stroke are therefore 10 - the red and other cue ball are both potted and a cannon was scored and a losing hazard off the red.
If the red is potted it is respotted on the 'spot' which equates to the black spot in snooker. After the red has been spotted twice off the spot it is respotted on the middle spot. If the opponent's cue ball is potted that stays off the table.
After an in-off the play continues by playing from hand from within the D behind the baulk line. When playing by hand the player must touch a ball or cushion outside of baulk before striking any ball in baulk with the cue ball.
If a foul occurs, two points are awarded to the opposing player and he has the choice of playing from where the balls lie or he can respot the balls... i.e. the red goes on the spot, the opponent's white goes on the middle spot (the blue spot in snooker) and he plays from hand.
See also
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