Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there are plenty of different types of billiard games to play and keep you entertained. From the classic game of 8-ball to the more challenging game of 9-ball, there’s a billiard game for everyone.
What Is Billiards?
In sport, billiards refers to a family of games played on a table with a stick, known as a cue. The origin of billiards is somewhat obscure. Most likely it developed from one of the outdoor stick-and-ball games brought indoors during the Renaissance. Billiard tables were first made of wood and later covered with cloth or felt. Many of its terms and customs were adopted by the English in the 17th century when they began playing the game.
The popularity of billiards in England declined in the late 18th century when it was supplanted by other indoor games such as cards and chess. In the United States, billiards remained popular until the early 20th century, when it was replaced by such indoor sports as baseball and basketball.
What Are The Different Types Of Billiard Games?
Billiard games can be played through different gameplays. The most popular game is eight-ball, but there are also nine-ball, ten-ball, and straight pool. Each game has its own set of rules, and they can vary slightly depending on where you play.
The top 5 most popular ones include:
- 8 ball
- 9 ball
- Straight pool
- One pocket
- Carom billiards
You can use its set of rules and strategies to gain an edge over your opponent. Learning the ins and outs of each game is essential if you want to become a successful player.
8-Ball
One of the most popular pool games played today is the 8-ball game.
8-ball is played with a cue ball and 15 numbered balls. The object of the game is to pocket all of the balls in your assigned group (solids or stripes), and then to pocket the 8-ball to win. One or two players can play the game.
The straight pool shot is the basic play. The player attempts to pocket the target ball when the cue ball is hit directly into another ball. It is the most commonly used shot in 8-ball.
When playing 8-ball, it is important to remember that you must call your shots. This means that you must indicate which ball you are aiming to pocket before taking your shot. You will be required to place the cue ball back on the table wherever the referee deems appropriate if you do not call your shot and miss.
9-Ball
9-ball is a popular pool game. You can play the game with nine balls, numbered one through nine. One ball is placed on the foot spot, and the other balls are placed in a diamond formation around it. The player must hit the lowest numbered ball first. If the player pockets the ball, they continue shooting until they miss. If they pocket the 9-ball, they automatically win the game. When they scratch (pocket the cue ball), their opponent can place the cue ball anywhere on the table and take their turn.
Straight Pool
Straight pool, also known as 14.1 Continuous, is a type of pool game played with fifteen balls and a cue ball. The goal is to pocket all of the balls in order, starting with one ball and ending with the cue ball. If the player pockets the cue ball, they are penalized one point and must shoot again.
- Two people or teams can play the game, either competing against each other or playing cooperatively. The table is typically set up so that the first player or team starts at the headrail and the second player or team starts at the foot rail.
- Who gets the ball in hand after the break shot determines the break.
- The balls are racked in a triangle with one ball at the front, two balls in the second row, and so on. Anywhere behind the head string is where the cue ball is placed.
- After the break shot, players must shoot from within the confines of the rack. If a player pockets a ball outside of the rack, they must place that ball back in its original position and continue playing.
- Scoring is based on the number of balls pocketed. You can get one point for each ball pocketed, except the cue ball which scores two points. The first player or team to reach a score of 21 (or more) wins the game. One can consider it a draw if both players or teams reach a score of 21 at the same time, then the game is considered a draw.
One Pocket
One pocket is a pool game played on a table with six pockets in which the cue ball is struck into one of the corner pockets. It is also called “straight rail”, “corner pocket” or “side pocket billiards”. One pocket generally requires more precision shot-making than other pool games.
The game can be played by two people, three people, or four people. A player shoots until he fails to make a legal shot, at which point his opponent takes over. The first player to reach a pre-determined score wins the game.
One pocket is usually played with call shot rules, meaning that each shot must be announced before it is taken. This allows for tactical play and forces players to think about their shots before they take them.
Carom Billiards
Carom billiards or carambola billiards is a cue sport in which players use cues to hit billiard balls and score points. The game is played on a billiard table with six pockets, and the object of the game is to score as many points as possible.
There are two types of carom billiards: straight rail and three-cushion. Straight rail is the simpler of the two games, and it is played with two cue balls and a single object ball.
Carom billiards is a relatively simple game to learn, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The game is also easy to set up, and it does not require any special equipment. All you need is a billiard table, a set of billiard balls, and two cue sticks. Carom billiards can be played by two people or by four people. If you are playing with four people, you will need sets of billiard balls and cue sticks for each player.
The object of the game is to score points by pocketing balls. Points are scored by pocketing the object ball, by hitting two object balls with one shot (called a carom), or by causing the cue ball to bounce off one object ball and into another (called a combo). The first player or team to reach a predetermined score wins the game.
