The Game of “Canadian Snooker” Pool

‘A History and Description of Billiards.’ By Samuel May. 1909

“Canadian Snooker” is an elaboration of the English game of “Snooker,” and is played on an English billiard table, with fifteen pyramid balls, five “Pool” balls, and a white cue-ball.

In the English game it is obligatory to play first on a red ball, then on any pool ball, then again on a red, and so on, in regular alternation until the player tails to score. The variation in “Canadian Snooker” gives the player the option of playing on any ball, at any period of the game, except on the “break” shot; but if he fails to pocket a ball played on out of its regular order he forfeits the value of that ball.

POSITION OF THE BALLS

The fifteen red pyramid balls are placed in their ordinary form at the pyramid spot; the black ball on the English billiard spot; the blue ball in centre of table; the yellow ball on left hand baulk spot; the brown ball on right hand baulk spot; the green ball on centre baulk spot.

SCORING

The game is counted by points-the red balls count one point; the yellow ball counts two points; the green ball counts three points; the brown ball counts four points; the blue ball counts five points; the black ball If a counts six points.

If a player terminates a “break” with a forfeit, the amount of the forfeit is deducted from the “break” the difference is scored to the credit of each of the other players.

Where more than two players are in the game the following method of scoring will be found useful:—

A	1, 6, 18, 4, 28, 9, 2, 11	79 x 4	316 + 37
B	3, 8, 2, 42, 6,1	62 x 4	248 – 31
C	6, 6, 14, 11, 2, 18, 9, 36	102 x 4	408 + 129
D	2, 4, 1, 27, 1, 1	36 x 4	144 + 135
		279 x 4	1116

A and C are winners by 37 and 129 points respectively. B and D lose 31 and 135 points respectively. Multiply each score by the number of players (4) and deduct from the total number of points (279) scored in the game.

RULES

1. The opening shot of the game must be played on a red ball.
2. After having pocketed a red ball, player can play for any pool ball without incurring a forfeit if he fails to hole it. If he succeeds in pocketing the pool ball be can continue to play on red balls and pool balls alternately until he fails, and so long as he keeps to this regular alternation he incurs no forfeit, but gets the benefit of bis entire “break”
3. It is at the option of the player to play on any ball, red or pool, at any time (except on the opening shot of the game); but if such ball is not in the proper order of the game, as stated in Rule No. 2, and player fails to pocket it, he forfeits its value.
4. When a red ball is played on, any red ball that is pocketed on that shot counts, though the actual red ball played on is not pocketed; and the break continues.
5. If any ball played on is pocketed, all balls, pool or red, that are driven in by the same shot, count.
6. If any pool ball, played on is not pocketed, all balls driven in by the same shot forfeit their value; and if the ball played on was not in its regular order (see Rule No. 2) it also forfeits its value.
7. If a ball played on is missed altogether, or if the cue-ball runs into a pocket off the object-ball, or off any other ball, or without striking any ball, the value of the ball played at or on is forfeited.
8. If a player gives a deliberate “miss” for safety he forfeits six points.
9. If a player makes a foul shot by touching any ball with his cue, person, or clothing, when preparing to strike or in the act of striking, or after the stroke before the object-ball has stopped rolling, he loses his shot and cannot count if the object-ball is pocketed.
10. If a player is “Snookered,” that is to say, if his object-ball, in its proper order, is covered by another ball, or if his cue-ball is angled at a pocket so as to prevent his playing directly on his proper object-ball, he must take a cushion, unless he elects to play upon some other ball and take the risk of a forfeit.
11. When a player pockets the rue-ball he forfeits the value of the ball played on, and also all other balls pocketed by the same shot.
12. If a ball is played on out of its proper order and not pocketed, and the cue-ball runs into a pocket on the same shot, the forfeit is twice the value of the ball played on; but if the ball is in its proper order, only the single forfeit is exacted.
13. When all the fifteen red balls have been pocketed, the pool balls are to be taken in the following order:—Yellow, green, brown, blue, black; but the player retains the option of playing on any of them out of order under penalty of forfeiting its value if he fails to pocket it.
14. When only the five pool balls remain on the table, each one is withdrawn from the game when pocketed in its pre per order.
15. A red ball driven over the rail, or into a pocket, is not, under any circumstances, replaced on the table.
16. Pool balls, so long as there are any red balls remaining on the table, are replaced on their proper spots after being pocketed. But if the proper spot of such ball is covered, the ball is kept “in hand” until spot is vacated.
17. When white ball is “in hand” any ball in or out of baulk is playable.
18. It is no foul to touch the white ball when playing “in hand.”
19. The object-ball must, in every case, be the first ball struck.
20. After taking the last red ball on the table, player may play on any pool ball, before commencing the regular order of the pool balls.