Snooker’s pool, or snookers

Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday 05 December 1903

Snooker’s pool, or snookers to give it its in euphonious title, is a new game which may be played either by few or many players. It has been described as a hybrid between pool and pyramids. We question if it is as good as either, though becoming very popular. The pyramid of balls is placed in position as usual, and the strikers play with the white ball in turn; but in addition, black, pink, blue, brown, green, and yellow are placed in various positions, with a descending value upon their heads. A red ball must be taken, as in blackpoll, before any one of these can be played on; if a red and a coloured ball he holed at the same stroke both are scored; but if playing at a red the striker hits one of the others instead, he pays the penalty of its value. Balls are not allowed to be taken up, and if a player has the misfortune to be angled, or covered from any red ball, he is said to be “snookered.” We have played the game, but admire it as little as we do its title. It is calculated to afford merriment to a mixed party of players, which is about all that can be said for it. With so many balls upon the table the best strokes are likely to be spoiled by unavoidable kissing; and there is consequently too great an element of luck in it for a really good game. It may obviously be made a very gambling one, which may account in some pleasure for its popularity.