How To Play Snooker

Snooker is a game played on a table much like billiards. In many ways, snooker resembles billiards because of the table, the cues, and the use of a white cue ball and many colored balls. However, snooker is played much differently than other billiard games. It is very much a game of strategy and skill; some would say even more so than traditional billiards.

1. Snooker is a game of points, with each object ball worth a different amount of points. Red balls are worth one point each, yellow two, green three, brown four, blue five, pink six, and black seven. A player (or team) wins by scoring the most points in a game.

2. Step 1: Get Ready

   Make sure you have all your equipment, plus a scorecard or chalkboard for tallying points.

3. Step 2: Set Up

   Set up the table. There are more balls in play in the game: one cue ball (white), and the object balls which are fifteen red balls and six balls of different colors (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black). Each ball has a specific place.

4. Step 3: Flip a Coin

   Filip a coin or perform a lag in order to determine while player or team goes first.

5. Step 4: Break

   The first player strikes the cue ball and has to hit a red ball first. If a red ball is hit, the player continues. If a red ball is missed or is not struck first, the second player steps up.

6. Step 5: Play

   The first player who hits a red ball first continues on and attempts to pocket a colored balls. The balls are to be pocketed in order or point value. If a ball is missed, the second player steps up and attempts to do the same as the first player.

7. Step 6: Play On

   The game goes on until all the red balls are off the table and all other object balls are potted.

8. Step 7: Tally Your Score

   Tally your score according to the point-value of each ball potted. The winner is the player or team with the most points.

9. The approach is important. Before striking the cue ball, visualize the shot you wish to make and how best to make it.

10. Your stance and grip are also important. Be sure to keep your body balanced and do not hold the cue too tightly or loosely.

11. If you cannot make a shot, try to hit a ball in a way that it stops in a place where the next player will have trouble making the shot. Done correctly, this can make or break your game. Interestingly enough, this strategy is called 'snookering', which you may have heard in other contexts. The phrase 'he had me snookered' comes from this game.

12. Whether you're playing snooker for enjoyment of the game itself or to sharpen your billiard skills, it can be rewarding and entertaining. Hopefully once you learn to play, you'll find you enjoy the game immensely.