Sinuca de Ficha. Regra Oficiosa
Translation into English by Cristiane B.
Edited by Lucas M.
Description:
“Sinuca de Ficha” —also known as Bar Snooker—is played on tables smaller than official snooker tables by two opponents (or four in “doubles”).
Each player has four object balls of the same color to pot using the cue ball (“white ball”).
1. The Table
The Sinuca de Ficha table is approximately one-quarter the size of a full‑size snooker table.
The dimensions given here refer to the tables commonly found in bars and pubs: 1.42 m in length by 0.81 m in width, measured on the playing surface between the cushions.
The table height follows standard snooker‑table specifications.
Pocketed balls drop into a drawer located on one side of the table, which is typically unlocked by inserting a coin‑shaped token into a slotted mechanism.
2. Game and Matches
2.1 A “game” may consist of one or more “frames.”
The number of frames to be played in a game is agreed upon by the players or set by the house rules of a championship. The number of frames must always be odd (e.g., 3, 5, etc.).
2.2 Each frame is contested by two players (or four in “doubles”), using one cue ball (white, or another color clearly distinguishable from the object balls) and eight object balls, divided into two groups of four balls each, one group per color.
2.3 The objective of a frame is to legally pocket all four balls of your assigned group, striking them with the cue ball using a cue.
2.4 The player who “breaks” (takes the opening shot) is determined by coin toss or mutual agreement. On the break, the player must contact one or more of their group‑balls with the cue ball; pocketing one or more of their balls scores as legal. All standard fouls (e.g. “push shot,” “suicide,” etc.) apply.
3. Initial Ball Placement
3.1 The cue ball is placed in the center of the table.
3.2 The remaining balls are racked into two groups on opposite sides of the table as follows:
3.2.1 Two balls of the group go on the bottom cushion (the cushion closest to the opponent), touching the cushion, equidistant from the table’s center. The distance between them must be at least 1 cm and no more than the diameter of the cue ball.
3.2.2 The other two balls of the group are placed, one on each of the side cushions, touching the cushion, at a distance of 15 cm to 25 cm from the center pocket. The ideal distance is 20 cm.
Balls on both side cushions must be at equal distances from the center pocket.
4. The Shot
4.1 A shot is not considered complete until all balls in motion come to rest.
4.2 Following a legal pot, only the last ball to drop is counted for continuation of play.
4.2.1 If the player pots a ball from their group, they will continue shooting until them fail to pot one of their balls or commit a foul.
4.2.2 If the player pots the cue ball at any time, they lose the frame (“suicide”).
4.2.3 If the player fouls by pocketing an opponent’s ball last, their turn ends, and their opponent plays next.
4.2.3.1 If only one ball from each group remains on the table, and the player strikes their ball first but pots their opponent’s ball before their own, they win the frame.
4.2.3.2 If the player opponent’s last ball is potted last—even if they also pot their final ball on the same shot—the opponent wins the frame.
4.2.3.3 If the player pots their last ball first and then pot an opponent’s ball while they still have balls on the table, the player continues shooting and may win by potting the remaining opponent’s balls under rule 4.2.1.
4.3 If the player last ball is “covered” (blocked) in a pocket by an opponent’s ball, the frame ends and the opponent is credited with the win.
4.4 It is never permitted to deliberately strike an opponent’s ball to “spread” the rack or escape a snooker; doing so is a foul.
4.4.1 If the cue ball is snookered (completely surrounded by the opponent’s balls) with no direct path to any object ball, the frame is awarded to the opponent.
4.4.2 If the cue ball is snookered but can hit a cushion first, you must play cushion‑first; standard penalties apply for fouls.
4.4.3 If the player last object ball is “covered” in a pocket by an opponent’s ball and there is absolutely no way to continue the shot without striking the opponent’s ball directly, the frame ends, and the opponent is awarded the win.
If there is space for the cue ball to pass and the player strikes the opponent’s ball indirectly, causing their object ball to be potted, the player loses the frame as a penalty.
4.5 If the cue ball is touching another ball (“frozen”), the player must avoid causing that ball to move. If it does move, the penalty is removal of one of the opponent’s balls.
5. Fouls and Penalties
5.1 Suicide – Pocketing the cue ball. Penalty: Loss of the frame.
5.2 Miss (“blind”) – Failing to strike any of the group balls or accidentally hitting an opponent’s ball first. Penalty: Removal of one ball from your opponent’s group.
5.3 Causing a ball to leave the table. Penalty: Removal of one ball from the opponent’s group. Turn passes to the opponent, even if one of the player balls was pocketed.
5.3.1 The cue ball is returned to its original position (center of the table). The other balls are re‑spotted against a cushion as directed by the referee; one or more cushions may be used depending on how many balls left the table.
5.3.2 If the center of the table is occupied by another ball, the referee shall place the cue ball directly above that ball at a distance of approximately 10 (ten) centimeters and release it, resuming play once all balls come to rest.
5.3.2.1 If the cue ball falls into a pocket during repositioning, it is returned to the table and the procedure is repeated.
5.4 Jump shot (causing the cue ball to jump over one or more balls) is prohibited. Penalty: Removal of one ball from the opponent’s group.
5.5 Touching the cue ball with any part of the body or cue other than the tip. Penalty: Removal of one ball from the opponent’s group.
5.6 Touching any object ball (other than the cue ball) at any time during the player turn, with any part of the body or cue. Penalty: Removal of one ball from the opponent’s group.
5.7 Hitting the cue ball twice in one stroke (“double hit”). Penalty: Removal of one ball from the opponent’s group.
5.8 Unsportsmanlike conduct, such as: distracting the opponent; placing objects on the table to interfere; touching the opponent’s cue while they are preparing for a shot; banging the cue on the table; playing with one hand only as a sign of disrespect; or any disciplinary offense under the Brazilian Snooker Regulations. Penalty: Warning; continued misconduct incurs removal of one ball from the opponent’s group, and repeated offenses result in the frame being ended with victory awarded to the opponent.
6. End of the Frame
6.1 A frame ends when a player legally pockets all four of their balls.
6.2 A frame ends immediately on “suicide.”
6.3 A frame also ends if a player concedes.
You can download the original article in Brazilian Portuguese at this link:
Sinuca de Ficha. Regra Oficiosa.
The English translation of the article is available to download at this link: