Billiards

Photo Credit: Corbis RF

Me and him and them and me
We'll show you what we can do
With a load of balls and a snooker cue"

So went the 1986 hit UK song by Chaz N' Dave. But how exactly do you play snooker?

The first thing you need is a snooker table, the dimensions of which are typically 12' x 6'. As with a pool table, there are pockets in each corner, and one in the middle on each side. Next are the balls, you'll need 15 red balls, and one each of white (cue ball), yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black.

To start the game the balls are placed in predetermined positions on the table. The yellow and green are placed at either end of the D (a semicircle at one end of the table), with the brown directly between them. The blue is positioned in the exact center of the table, directly across from the 2 middle pockets. At the other end of the table the 15 reds are placed in a triangle formation, with the pink ball in front of the tip of the triangle, and the black slightly behind the rear of the triangle. The initial position of the cue ball is anywhere within the D.

Each player takes turns to attempt to pot a red ball into a pocket, once they've done that they can then attempt to pot a colored ball. Should they succeed in potting a color, they then return to the task of attempting to pot another red. Should the player not manage to pot the color, then the next player takes control