Rules of Sinuquinha Mata-Mata

Published:
16 March 2026
Original:
15 July 2006

Brazilian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker. Brasília, July 2006

These rules constitute a simplified form of the rules of the game “Eight Ball”, a discipline of pool. They are unofficial, and their practice shows significant variations, although they also form part of the family of billiard games. The provisions that follow represent a first step towards standardisation and possible future official recognition.

TITLE I — EQUIPMENT AND PLAY

Article 1 – Identified as the longitudinal line, an imaginary line at the centre of the table along its length divides the playing area into right and left, in the direction of the opening break. Lines between the side cushions at right angles to the longitudinal line are identified as transverse lines.

Article 2 – An imaginary line transverse to the longitudinal line and coinciding with the centre of the table along its length divides the playing area into a lower section, on the side used for the opening break, and an upper section on the opposite side.

Article 3 – The cushions delimiting the length of the playing area are identified as the lower and upper cushions, corresponding to their respective sections. The lateral cushions are identified as right and left according to the adjacent section.

Article 4 – Exactly at the centre of the upper playing area a point is marked and identified as the upper spot, indicating the position of the balls at the start of play. At the exact centre of the lower playing area another point is identified as the cue-ball spot.

Article 5 – The game is played with one white ball, identified as the cue ball, and fourteen coloured balls divided into two groups: one numbered from 2 to 8 with solid colours, also called solids, and another numbered from 9 to 15 with striped colours, identified as the groups of “solids” and “stripes”, or another preferred designation. Ball sets in which the two groups are distinguished only by two different colours may also be used.

Article 6 – By technical procedure the two groups of balls are assigned for the individual control of the players, and:

except on the opening break, each player must aim at a ball from his own group;
the intended ball and pocket must be identified by a prior call:

any deflection of the cue ball by use of a cushion before striking a ball from the player’s group must be declared beforehand, without the need to specify the number of contacts;
a called shot that pockets a ball from the player’s own group is valid even if, between the intended ball and the pocketed ball, motion is transferred through a ball belonging to the opponent’s group or the player’s own group.

Article 7 – An obvious ball and/or pocket exempts the player from making a prior call, and:

a shot is considered obvious only when it aims at a single ball, clearly directed, and when there are no other balls nearby on the same alignment that could be targeted;
if a shot is not called and there is doubt regarding whether it was obvious, the player in action may be asked to clarify his intention;
a shot is not considered obvious when a cushion is used to deflect the cue ball before striking the intended ball.

Article 7 – The frame is won by the player who first pockets all the balls of the group under his control. The match is won by the player who first completes a predetermined number of frame victories.

TITLE II — THE BREAK

Article 8 – For the opening break the numbered balls are arranged randomly in a triangular formation, with the “base” facing the upper cushion and the vertex, without a ball, positioned on the upper spot. The cue ball is placed on its spot and the shot requires no prior call.

Article 9 – The break in the first frame is decided by lot, and the winner chooses who plays, or may pass the break to the opponent without the right of refusal. In subsequent frames the winner of the previous frame breaks, or may pass the break to the opponent, also without the right of refusal.

Article 10 – A ball potted on the break determines the group controlled by the player in action, the other group being assigned to the opponent.

Article 11 – If, on the break, two or more balls from different groups are potted, the player in action chooses his group before the next shot. None of the balls are returned to play and the opponent takes the other group.

Article 12 – If no ball is potted on the break shot, the opponent may choose the group under his control, declaring this choice before the next shot, which is played from the resulting positions.

Article 13 – If the cue ball is potted on the break it returns to play on its spot, even if other balls are potted simultaneously. The turn passes to the opponent, who plays with the balls in their resulting positions after first choosing and identifying the group under his control. Any numbered balls of the group assigned to the opponent that were potted are returned to play.

TITLE III — PLAY

Article 14 – Potting a ball legally entitles the player to continue his turn. The player loses the right to continue and the turn passes to the opponent when he:

fails to pot a ball;
pots a ball that was not called;
pots a ball from the opponent’s group; or
commits any foul.

TITLE IV — RETURN OF BALLS

Article 15 – If potted during play, knocked off the table, or removed from the game irregularly, the cue ball returns to its spot.

Article 16 – Numbered balls potted or removed irregularly from play remain out of play when belonging to the opponent’s group, but return to the table when belonging to the penalised player, being replaced:

placed against the central point of the cushion adjacent to the pocket used, or as close to it as possible without touching other balls, to the right of the player placing them, or to the left when placement on the right is prevented by obstruction from other balls.

Article 17 – Balls knocked off the table are returned placed together at the central position of the upper cushion, joined together if more than one.

Article 18 – A ball potted but returning to the playing field through the force of the shot is considered not to have been potted.

Article 19 – Balls moved as a result of a technical foul remain in their new positions.

Article 20 – Balls moved inadvertently by the referee or by third parties, or by involuntary vibrations of the table, are restored to their original positions and play continues normally. If it is impossible to restore the previous situation of play, the frame is declared void and a new frame is started, without penalties.

TITLE V — FOULS AND PENALTIES

Article 21 – The following are considered:

technical foul: any foul that contravenes the rules without intent;
disciplinary foul: a deliberate foul or intentional and/or irresponsible disregard for the rules and regulations when it does not result in severe aggravating circumstances;
serious disciplinary foul: open disrespect and/or physical or verbal aggression against persons, authorities, organisations or property.

Article 22 – When committed without intent, the following are technical fouls:

potting a ball from the opponent’s group;
potting the cue ball (“suicide”);
pushing the cue ball (“carretão”);
striking the cue ball more than once (“bitoque”);
accidentally knocking a ball off the table;
accidentally causing a ball to jump;
striking the ball with any part of the cue other than the tip;
playing directly at a ball from the opponent’s group;
improperly touching any ball;
playing without contact with the floor;
playing while a ball is in motion or being replaced on the table;
playing with the cue ball outside its spot on the break or when being returned to play;
using a numbered ball to make the shot;
any other unintentional contravention of the rules.

Article 23 – When any foul occurs:

the lowest-value ball from the group controlled by the benefiting opponent is removed (or chosen by the benefiting player when balls are unnumbered), and the benefiting player is granted the following options:
a. play normally; or
b. pass the turn to the opponent, without the right of refusal; and
c. when the intended ball is missed without contact with any other ball and/or when the cue ball is potted, the benefiting player may choose to play with the cue ball on its spot; and,
d. in the case of a foul by “double hit” (“bitoque”) or by pushing the cue ball (“condução”), one of the penalised player’s balls, chosen by the benefiting player, is additionally placed against the central point of the upper cushion.

Article 24 – No foul is committed when a ball touching the cue ball moves unintentionally due to a defect in the table or cloth.

Article 25 – In the case of a probable foul without prejudice to the opponent, the referee may, at his discretion, issue an informal warning without applying any penalty.

Article 26 – It is prohibited to make or use foreign marks on the table or playing area.

Article 27 – It is prohibited to use objects and/or balls for measuring or calculations on the table or playing area.

Article 28 – Even when extinguished, the use or possession of cigarettes during play is prohibited. Chalk and other materials must not remain on the table after the completion of play.

TITLE VI — END OF FRAME AND MATCH

Article 29 – The frame ends when:

the last ball of one of the groups is legally potted, determining victory for the player in action;
one of the players has only one ball of his group remaining and the opponent commits a foul, thereby losing the frame; or,
one of the players concedes the frame.

Article 30 – The match ends when:

the predetermined number of frame victories is reached;
one of the players commits a second disciplinary foul or a serious disciplinary foul; or,
one of the players concedes the match.

Brasília, July 2006

Courtesy of the

Brazilian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker

The original rules in Brazilian Portuguese are available for download in PDF format at the following link:

Regras da Sinuquinha Mata Mata 2006

The English translation of the rules is available for download in PDF format at the following link:

Rules of Sinuquinha Mata-Mata 2006