Rules of Trilliards
The Billiard Monthly. November, 1912
An Anti-Fluke Game.
A. plays with plain white, and may score only by winning hazards. B., following A., plays with spot white, and may score only by losing hazards, and C, following B., plays with red, and may score only by cannons.
2.—If a player (1) makes a stroke which he is not entitled to make, or (2) gives a miss, or (3) forces a ball off the table, or (4) runs a coup, or (5) plays with the wrong ball, or (6) plays from a wrong position, each of the other players scores the point for each such error. For each legitimate stroke that a player makes (provided he plays with his proper ball and from the proper position), he scores two points, even if the stroke accomplished be a fluke. If by one and the same stroke a player makes a legitimate shot, and also commits one or more errors, his break ends; but he counts his points for the legitimate shot (except when he has played with the wrong ball or from the wrong position), the other players scoring for the error or errors. Example: A. pockets the red ball and the spot white, making a cannon in so doing. He counts two for each winning hazard, and B, and C. each score 1 for the cannon. A.’s break ends, and B. proceeds to play.
3.—The game is 25 up.
4.—Legitimate strokes score before penalties. Thus, the score being A. and B. 24 each, C. 23, C. plays and makes a cannon. C. wins the game, though his error brings the scores of A. and B. up to 25.
5.—The players determine by lot, as in pool, which is to play as A., B., and C.
6.—At the outset of the game the red ball is placed on the billiard spot, spot white on the centre spot, and plain white on the centre spot of the D.
7.—A player in hand must play from the centre spot of the D. If that is occupied, from the right-hand spot. If that also is occupied, from the left-hand spot.
8.—A player in hand must play out of baulk, the baulk being a protection, as in billiards. A ball lying half in and half out of baulk is reckoned in baulk. If a ball is more than half out of baulk, the player in hand may play at any part of such ball.
9.—If a ball is pocketed, and is not forthwith to be played from hand, it shall, if a white ball, be spotted on the centre spot. If that is occupied, on the pyramid spot. If that is occupied, on the billiard spot. If it is the red ball that is in question, it shall be spotted on the billiard spot. If that is occupied, on the pyramid spot. If that is occupied, on the centre spot.
10.—If, when a player is to play, the cue ball is touching another, the balls shall be taken up and spotted as follows: If it is A.’s or B.’s turn to play, player’s ball on the centre spot of the D., the other white ball on the centre spot, red on the billiard spot, and the player plays from the centre spot of the D. But if it is C.’s turn to play, the balls are spotted, as in rule 6, and C. plays from the billiard spot.
11.—If A. pockets a ball twice in consecutive strokes, in one and the same break, from any particular spot, that ball shall not be re-spotted on that spot for the next stroke. It shall be spotted instead on the nearest unoccupied spot. In this rule ” spot ” signifies only the centre, pyramid, and billiard spots.
12.—The penalty for playing with a wrong ball or from a wrong position may be claimed by either of the other players, but only before a player has played in succession to the player at fault.
13.—On the game being won, the two losers can continue to play till one of them reaches 25, the other paying for the table. If penalties accruing from the winner’s final stroke carry either or both of the losers to 25, the losers, if continuing to play under this rule, shall play as if such penalties had not accrued.—A.R.B. (Ratnagiri, India), in The Field.