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European Billiards & Snooker
Referees Association
RULES
The Rules have been
translated by several EBSRA Member Countries into more
languages.
EBSRA is very
grateful to the work done and for permission to reproduce
the translations
PYRAMIDS
1. General provisions
(omitted )
2. Rules of "Pyramid"
2.1 Purpose of Game
Whoever is first in scoring 8 pocketed balls - wins.
2.2 Balls
The game is played with 16 balls; each of these can be used
as a cue ball or as an object ball.
2.3 Playing a Game
A player may pocket any object ball with a cue ball or may
pocket a cue ball after it hits one or several object balls.
Balls and pockets do not have to be indicated or called. If
a stroke is legal, i.e. performed correctly, each pocketed
ball is considered to be won by the player.
2.4 Playing Cue Ball
Cue balls are to be hit only with the cue tip along the
longitudinal axis of the cue and the player must have at
least one foot in contact with the floor when striking a
ball.
Cue tip must not strike the cue ball twice on the same
stroke.
Push shots and pressing strokes are forbidden.
Push shot is a stroke when a player delays contact of the
cue tip with the ball and pushes both the cue ball and the
object ball simultaneously.
Pressing stroke is a stroke made when two balls lying close
to each other or in contact with each other get "squeezed"
into the pocket by a pressing movement of the cue, or roll
over to another position under the pressing action of the
cue.
A cue ball which is in contact with the object ball should
be hit with the cue tip at an angle of 45° or more to the
straight line connecting the two ball centres.
A cue ball lying close to an object ball is to be hit with
the cue in the usual way and at any desired angle to the
straight line between the ball centres, but without a push
shot or a pressing stroke.
2.5 Positioning Balls and Starting Game
At the beginning of the game the 15 numbered object balls
are racked close to each other at one end of the table in a
triangular pyramid pattern, using a triangle, with the front
apex ball on the foot spot (i.e. with its lowest point lying
at the so-called 3rd point) and the base of the formed ball
pyramid being parallel to the foot rail.
The sixteenth (numberless) ball is used as a cue ball and is
positioned in the head (between the head string and head end
rail).
A ball positioned on the head string is considered to be out
of the head zone.
The game starts after a referee sets all the balls for
making the opening break shot.
2.6 Lagging for Break Shot
The players stand on the opposite sides of the long string
of the table and take one ball each. At the referee's
command they put the balls on the table and shoot them from
behind the head string to the cushion of the foot rail. The
right to make the opening break shot is gained by a player
whose ball rebounds from the foot cushion and stops nearest
to the cushion of the head rail. A player is considered to
have lost the lag for break if his/her ball:
1) hasn't contacted the foot cushion;
2) has fallen into a pocket or jumped out over a cushion;
3) has contacted the cushion of a side rail or entered
opponent's side of the table.
The lag for break starts again if both the opponents have
lost it or if both the balls have stopped at the same
distance from the head cushion.
The winner of the lag for break gets the right either to
make the opening break shot himself (herself) or to concede
it to his/her opponent.
In subsequent games the players alternate in performing the
opening break till the end of the match.
2.7 Opening Break Shot
A player may perform the opening break shot from inside the
head but is not allowed to cross the head string.
The cue ball is considered committed into the game if it has
been hit by a cue tip.
The opening break shot should be made in such way that at
least one of the following conditions is met: after
contacting of the cue ball with any of the
object balls:
- any of the balls would be sent into a pocket;
- any of the balls would touch two rails.
All balls pocketed during the opening break shot are
considered scored by a player making opening break shot and
the scored ball (balls) are considered sufficient condition
for continuation of the game by him/her.
If none of the requirements of the opening break shot is
met, then the opponent has the right:
- to accept position of the balls on the table and continue
the game;
- to position the balls in a triangular pyramid pattern and
make opening break shot himself/ herself;
- to make an opponent perform an opening break shot again.
2.8 Starting and Completing a Shot
A shot starts the instant the cue tip touches the cue ball
and terminates after all balls on the bed of the table come
to complete rest. A ball spinning on the spot shall be
considered mobile.
2.9 Opponent Entering the Game
The opponent of the previous shooter enters the game after
the previous shooter has missed, i.e. failed to pocket a
ball, or has committed an infraction of the rules.
If the offending shooter is penalized, his/her opponent has
the right to assess the position of the balls and demand
that the punished player continues the game.
2.10 Rule for Making a Rearranging Shot
A rearranging stroke is a deliberate non-scoring stroke
rendering opponent's chances to score a ball with his next
stroke to minimum.
A rearranging stroke is considered legal if as a result of
it a cue ball hits an object ball and makes one of the balls
rebound from one cushion and touch another cushion or moves
any other ball until a direct contact with that other
cushion.
2.11 Special Cases of Sending a Ball to Side and Corner
Pocket
In all the cases of driving a ball to a side or corner
pocket without scoring a ball, when rearranging stroke
requirements have not been met and when the angle of hitting
the pocket is sufficient (to be determined by a referee),
the stroke is considered legal and a player is not subject
to penalty, if as a result of the cue ball contact with the
object ball, one of the balls:
- has contacted a pocket jaw;
- has contacted a cushion within the pocket zone of 68 mm
(ball diameter) from a pocket jaw along the cushion;
- has stopped within the scoring sector of the pocket at a
distance not exceeding two diameters of a ball (136 mm) from
the edge of the pocket
(measurement is to be made to the centre of the front
surface of the ball stopped at the pocket).
If angle for pocketing a ball is insufficient (non-scoring
zone, determined by a referee), a rearrangement stroke is
obligatory.
The shooter has a right to consult with the referee about
sufficiency of the angle at which the player intends to make
the stroke.
2.12 Scored and Hanging Balls
A ball is considered scored (pocketed) if as a result of a
legal stroke it drops into a pocket and remains there. A
ball rebounded from a pocket into the table bed is not
considered scored and shall remain in game.
If a ball stops (hangs) in the mouth of a pocket and then
drops into the pocket before the end of the stroke (stoppage
of all balls on the table), then such a ball shall be
considered scored and a player shall be entitled to the next
stroke.
If a ball stops (hangs) in the mouth of a pocket and then
drops into the pocket after all balls on the table bed have
come to rest, normally as a result of external force, such
ball shall be replaced to its original position in the mouth
of the pocket.
2.13 Intentional Running of Object Balls Along a Rail
Intentional running of object ball along a rail,
irrespective of the type of sending them this way, Ö
directly by a cue ball or by other object ball - is not
permitted. A ball pocketed as a result of intentional
running of it along a rail shall not be considered as scored
and shall be replaced to the game positioning it on the foot
spot, no penalty shall be applied for such pocketing.
2.14 Jumped Balls
Balls are considered to have jumped off the table, if they
have stopped outside the bed of the table. In addition,
balls are considered to have jumped off the table if they
hit any object (cue, chalk, clothes, etc.) outside
boundaries of the table and return to the bed of the table.
If a jumped off ball comes into contact with any object
(cue, chalk, clothes, etc.) belonging to the player or
his/her opponent outside boundaries of the table, such shot
shall not be considered a foul.
However, if a jumped off ball comes into contact with
anything belonging to the player or his/her opponent (cue,
chalk, hand, clothes, etc.) within the boundaries of the
table then such shot shall be considered a foul and
penalized.
A ball shall remain in game if a ball having hit any object
within the table boundaries (upper part of a rail, pocket's
rim, lighting fixture, etc.) returns to the table bed on its
own.
2.15 Slow Game
If a player is consistently slow in planning and executing a
shot and thus impeding the progress of the game, then a
referee (opponent) has the right to impose a one minute time
limit for that person between shots.
When this time limit procedure is imposed, a player is given
one minute for planning and performance of a shot. The
countdown time starts when all balls on the table come to
full rest and it is kept by a referee using stopwatch. 10
seconds before elapsing of the time a referee makes a
warning "ten seconds left".
If a player within one minute period fails to make a shot,
the referee gives a command "Stop" and assigns the next shot
to the opponent while position of the balls on the table
remains unchanged. An offending player is subject to
penalty.
2.16 Fair Play
A play is considered fair if players during the game
demonstrate not only excellent sportsmanship but a respect
toward their opponents and other people attending the
tournament.
During match a player is allowed to speak only to a referee.
Discussion of subjects not related to the situation on the
table, commenting on opponent's performance, reasonless
appeal to referees and spectators and any other behaviour
that impedes smooth and undisturbed course of the sport
event shall be considered conduct unbecoming a sportsman.
If a player having received a warning from the referee
proceeds with defiant neglect of the established rules, the
referee should bring up the matter of his/her
"unsportsmanlike conduct".
2.17 Non-Player Interference
Tournament managers and referees shall ensure certain
conditions that would exclude possibility of interference
with the games by non-players. If such situation occurs
tournament managers and referees should act immediately and
in compliance with the Rules.
If interference of non-player results in movement of balls
on the table, the balls shall be replaced to the original
position and the game shall continue the usual way. Penalty
shall be affected on neither of the players. If restoration
of the original position of the balls is impossible then
score of the game that stands at the moment of game
disruption shall be registered and the remaining balls shall
be formed into pyramid pattern and the game shall be
continued with a cue ball in hand behind the head string
according to the rules of the opening break shot using one
of the remaining balls as a cue ball. Referees shall act the
same way in case of unforeseen emergencies (breakage, wind,
shaking of billiard table, etc.)
2.18 Opponent's Interference
Any action or word that has an effect on the character and
nature of the game shall be considered an interference with
the opponent's play. Referee shall resolutely clamp down on
any interference with the opponent's play.
If an opponent intentionally changes position of a ball
(balls) on the table, then the original position shall be
restored and the offending party shall be penalized. If it
is impossible to restore the original position of the balls
then score of the game that stands at the moment of game
disruption shall be registered and the remaining balls shall
be formed in the pyramid pattern and the game shall continue
with a cue ball in hand behind the head string according to
the rules of the opening break shot. Who is to make the
opening break shot shall be decided by the opponent of the
offending player.
If an opponent stops a ball heading to a pocket or
interferes with its movement, then such ball shall be
considered as pocketed and offending player shall be
penalized.
2.19 Spotting Balls
All illegally pocketed balls, balls jumped off the table and
balls taken from a player's shelf as a penalty, shall be
positioned on the foot spot. If this spot is occupied by
other ball, then the ball is to be put along the long string
between the foot spot and the foot rail as close as possible
to the interfering ball but not in direct contact with it.
It is allowed to hit and play with a ball that has been
spotted immediately after the spotting.
2.20 Foul Penalties
For each infraction of the rules a player gets the penalty
in a form of a ball taken from the fouling player's shelf
and replaced to the table.
If the player who has fouled, has no balls on his/her score,
the penalty will be affected after he/she pockets his/her
first ball.
If during one shot several rules are violated, the player
gets a single penalty (loses one of his/her won balls).
Balls pocketed through infraction of the rules are not to be
scored and shall be spotted in accordance with the game
Rules.
Penalties are applied in the following cases:
1) If the struck cue ball has contacted no object ball;
2) If the struck cue ball has jumped off the bed of the
table;
3) If any ball on the bed gets touched by or comes in
contact with clothing, mechanical bridge, chalk, etc.
4) If the cue ball is struck incorrectly;
5) If opening break shot is performed incorrectly;
6) If rearranging stroke is performed incorrectly;
7) If a player interferes with his opponent's play by
relocating a ball (balls);.
8) If a player shoots before the previous shot is completed;
9) If time limit assigned to a player by a referee for slow
play is exceeded.
Terms and Definitions
1. Head is a part of the table's bed stretching between the
head rail, head string, left side rail and right side rail.
Head is used during the opening break shot and when
committing the cue ball into the game.
2. Cue ball is a ball struck with a cue tip during a shot.
When a cue ball drops into a pocket after contacting object
ball, a term "svoi" or "svoyak" ("shooter's own ball") is
used. This term designates a cue ball that was pocketed as a
result of bouncing from the object ball.
3. Object ball is a ball hit with a cue ball. When an object
ball drops into a pocket as a result of hit by a cue ball a
term "chuzhoi" ("opponent's ball") is used.
4. Spotting string.
For return into the game of a ball replaced on the table
after a foul shot by one of the players, a foot spot on the
bed of the table is used which is also called a spotting
point. Sometimes this spot is occupied by other balls that
makes it impossible to place a returned ball on it. In this
case the replaced ball is to be put on the long string
between the foot spot and the foot rail. The ball is to be
put along this string on the non-occupied place closest to
the foot spot but not in direct contact with other object
balls. Similar approach shall be used when it is necessary
to put two or more balls on the long string. If space
between the foot spot and foot rail is not sufficient for
positioning of all balls being replaced then a part of the
long string advancing from the foot spot to the centre spot
shall be used.
These Rules may miss description of all possible situations
which can occur during a game. Situations that are not
covered by these Rules shall be arbitrated by the Main
Referee Panel and its decision is not subject to appeal to
higher authority.
1. Tables:
- Table bed size 3.55 x 1.87 m
- Height of the table bed from the floor level 820 mm
- Pocket size (width):
a) corner pockets 74 ± 0.5 mm
b) side pockets 83 ± 0.5 mm
- maximal allowance of bed tilt from horizontal plane:
a) longitudinal 0.5 mm
b) lateral 0.25 mm
2. Balls:
- Manufacturer Aramith
- Diameter 68 mm
Equipment and devices that were not mentioned above shall be
used without causing any damage to billiard tables and areas
billiard events are held in.
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