Rules of the Game

Official rules of the disciplines played in our tournaments

Black Ball (English billiards) is a popular variant in the UK and Belgium. Played with 15 coloured balls (7 yellow, 7 red, 1 black) and British rules.
1

Rack

15 balls in a triangle. Black ball in the second row from the bottom, center position.

2

Groups

The group is assigned on the first ball legally pocketed after the break. Yellow balls (one group) or red balls (the other group).

3

Legal shot

The player must always contact a ball of their own group first. If a ball is pocketed, the player continues. Otherwise the turn passes.

4

Deliberate snooker

A player may deliberately snooker (hide) their opponent behind their own balls to make the shot more difficult.

5

Fouls

• Cue ball pocketed → opponent: ball-in-hand in their own half
• Touching the black before clearing all own balls → immediate loss
• Ball off the table → replaced on the black ball spot

6

Winning

Legally pocket the black ball after all own coloured balls are pocketed. In some competition formats, the black must be called.