English Billiards

At the start of game play, a fixed set of points or a fixed amount of time is set. The winner is either the first one to this fixed point value, or the player with the most points during the time allotted. 300 points is a fairly standard amount of maximum score in English billiards, while a time limit of 1:20 minutes or 80 minutes is standard.

Unlike many billiards games, there are different ways to score in English billiards. This keeps the game fresh when compared to many similar games.

Stringing

To begin a game of English billiards, both players "string". To string is to hit the cue ball the length of the billiard table, hitting that ball off the cushion and returning the ball to the balk. The balkline is the first 1/4th of the table, so stringing is essentially the same as lagging in eight-ball.

Scoring in English Billiards

There are four ways to score in English billiards: cannon, losing hazard, winning hazard on the white or winning hazard on the red.

Cannon

Cannon is the act of striking the cue ball so that it hits both the other player's cue ball and the red object ball in the same shot. If this happens, the players scores two points.

Winning Hazard on the Red

If a player strikes his or her cue ball into the red ball and pockets the ball, this is worth three points.

Winning Hazard on the White

If a player hits the cue ball into the opponent's cue ball and pockets the opponent's cue ball in doing so, this is worth 2 points.

Losing Hazard

Losing hazard happens when a player strike his or her cue ball into another ball and the cue ball is pocketed. If the cue ball hits the red object ball first, then losing hazard is worth 3 points. If the cue ball hits the opponent's cue ball first, then losing hazard is worth 2 points.

Scoring Limits

A player can score more than one kind of score on any one shot. For instance, if a player strikes the red ball and pockets it, but at the same time pockets his cue ball, then that player scores for winning hazard on the red and for losing hazard. This would be worth 3 points apiece, for a total of six points.

If a player completes all four types of shots on one strike of the cue ball, that player scores 10 points. Therefore, 10 is the highest score one can make on any one turn in English Billiards.

Scoring a ten would require a player's cue ball to strike both the red object ball and the opponent's cue ball. At this point, both cue balls and the red ball would need to find a pocket for a ten to be scored.

Fouls in Three-Cushion

Fouls in three-cushion come with penalty points. If a foul is committed in three-cushion, the opponent receives 2 points. Here is a list of common fouls.

Striking the opponent's cue ball instead of one's own cue ball is a foul. Double hitting the cue ball or pushing the cue ball instead of striking it is a foul.

Causing any ball to fly off the table is a foul. Missing the object ball is a foul. Also, jumping the object ball with the cue ball and striking it from the opposite side is a foul in three-cushion billiards.

Missing a Shot

If you have the cue ball, you strike from behind the balk line. If the other two balls are in baulk, then a player has the option of a miss shot.

The miss shot is where you have your cue ball in hand and the object ball and other cue ball are behind the balk line. If you choose to hit the cue ball to a safe spot on the table, the ball is not respotted. The opponent does get 2 points added to his or her total, but does not have the additional advantage of respotting. That's because this would require that player to shoot from behind the balk line, as well.

The miss shot is used in end game scenarios, when a player needs a few points to score and can give up a few points, as well. This minimizes the damage which might occur from fouling.

Rules Specific to Three-Cushion

When the red object ball is pocketed, then it is reentered into play by being placed on the spot. If a player is able to pocket it twice from this spot, the object ball is then spotted on the middle spot.

If a player's cue ball is touching one of the two object balls after a made shot, then the object ball is respotted. The red ball goes to the spot, while your opponent's cue ball is placed on the middle spot.

If the opponent's cue ball is pocketed, it remains off the table for the remainder of the player's turn or inning.

Hazard Rules

Player may only play 15 hazard shots in a row. At this point, a shooter must score a cannon shot to proceed with scoring. If the opponent's cue ball is off the table when the 15 hazard maximum is reached, then a player may call for the cue ball to be placed on the table on the brown spot.