The Rules of the Game of Four Jolly Snookers
Field, Saturday 19 October 1889
SNOOKER.
Sir,—Will you inform me where l can obtain a copy of the rules of “Snooker”- P.
The rules of Snooker were published in The Field, of June 8, 1889 A correspondent has furnished another version, which we print below.—
The Rules of the Game of Four Jolly Snookers, introduced in the Cercle Mohamed Aly, Alexandria, by Lieut.-Col. Spencer, of the Essex Regiment (Pompadours).
1. The pyramid balls are placed on the table as for pyramids.
Four pool balls are placed as follows:
One on the top spot;
One at the apex of the pyramid;
One on the centre spot;
One on the bottom spot.
2. All the players play with the white ball.
3. The value of the balls is as follows:
A red ball counts as one life.
The pool ball on the top spot – two lives
The pool ball at the apex – three lives
The pool ball on the centre spot – four lives
The pool ball on the bottom spot – five lives
The last red ball – two lives
4. The players must first play on a red bail; if this is taken, they must then play on a pool ball.
5. It a player takes a ball, each of the other players pays him the value of the ball he has taken.
6. If a player runs into a pocket, or makes a miss, he forfeits the value of the ball he played on to each player.
7. No red ball is ever replaced on the table, except when forced off the table.
8. If a player force a red ball off the table, he does not count it.
9. If a player force the white ball off the table, he forfeits the value of the ball he played on.
10. If a pool ball is taken, it is replaced on its original spot (except when after all the red balls have been taken), ride Rule 20.
11. No ball can be taken up.
12. If a player play with any ball except the white one, he forfeits the value of the ball he plays with.
Playing at a Red Ball.
13. If a player misses the ball be played on, and does not strike another red ball, he forfeits one life. If he strikes a red ball other than the one he played on, it does not count against him.
14. If a player strikes a pool ball first, or runs into a pocket off it, he forfeits one life.
15. If a player pockets a pool ball he forfeits the value of that ball, and if at the same time he pockets the red ball he played on, he cannot count it.
16. The player who takes the last red ball can play on any pool ball he chooses, which is replaced on the table if taken.
When playing at a pool Ball
17. If a player strikes a red ball first, he forfeits the value of the pool ball he played on, but if, having missed the ball he played on, he strikes another pool ball, he forfeits nothing.
18. If a player pockets the ball he played on and another pool ball, or another without taking the one he played on, he receives the value of both or of any one he may take. The above rule is only in force as long as there are any red balls on the table.
19. If a player pockets a red ball, he forfeits one life, and cannot count the pool ball should he take it.
After all the Red Balls have been taken
20. The pool balls are played on in succession, commencing with the one of least value, when taken they are not replaced (except as in Rules 21 and 22), and when the last is taken the game ends.
21. If a player pockets the ball he played on and another by the same stroke, he forfeits the value of the ball other than the one he played on, which is replaced on the table. He does not receive the value of the ball he played on.
22. It a player pocket a pool ball other than the one he played on it is replaced on the table and he forfeits its value.
23. If a player pockets the ball he played on and by the same stroke runs into a pocket, he forfeits the value of the ball he played on, which is not replaced.