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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Billiards (9-Ball)

Object of the Game:
A player wins by being the first to pocket the 9-ball.

Procedure:

Nine balls are racked in a diamond shape with the 1-ball over the foot spot and the 9-ball in the center of the rack.

The 1-ball is the object ball for the break.  If the 1-ball is not pocketed on the break, the opponent takes over and plays the balls as they lie.

Object balls must be played in numerical order.  The cue ball must hit the lowest numbered ball on the table before touching any other balls.  If accomplished, any pocketed ball counts and the player continues to shoot.

After a foul occurs, the new shooter can place the cue ball anywhere on the table.

Balls are not spotted after a foul.

The first player to pocket the 9-ball legally wins.

Billiards (8-Ball)

Object of the Game:

A player wins by being the first to pocket the object balls and then the 8-ball.

Procedure:

Balls are racked with the 8-ball in the center of the rack, the rack is placed on the table with the first ball of the triangle placed over the foot spot.

A player must pocket a ball or send at least 4 object balls off a rail during the break shot.

In the event of an illegal break, the opponent may choose to play the balls as they lie or have the balls re-racked for a new break shot.

A foul occurs if there is a scratch on the break shot.  All balls pocketed are spotted, including the 8-ball.  The opponent takes over and shoots from behind the head string.

If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter may request to have the 8-ball spotted or a re-rack.  In some regional variations, a player wins automatically by pocketing the 8-ball on the break.  In other variations, the player automatically loses by pocketing the 8-ball on the break.

If any solid object ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter continues to play the solid balls (1-7, minus the 8).  If a striped ball is pocketed on the break, the shooter plays only the striped balls (9-15).  If no ball is pocketed on the break, the opponent becomes the shooter and can shoot at any striped or solid ball until a legal shot is made.

During play, a shooter must pocket an object ball or make any ball (including the cue ball) contact the rail.  If a player fails to pocket an object ball or hit a ball into a rail, it is a foul.

If an opponent's ball is pocketed by the shooter, it counts for the opponent.

A turn continues until a shooter fails to pocket an object ball.

All seven balls must be pocketed before the 8-ball.  The shooter must call the pocket for the 8-ball, and the 8-ball must be hit before any other ball remaining on the table.  If a shooter misses, play continues and the new shooter plays the balls as they lie.

A player loses a game if the 8-ball is pocketed before the other seven, the 8-ball is pocketed without being called, or if a player scratches while pocketing the 8-ball.

Billiards (Straight Pool)

Object of the Game:

A player wins by becoming the first to reach an agreed-upon score (such as 50, 100, 150, etc.).  Each legally-pocketed ball counts as one point.

Procedure:

Object balls are racked with the 15-ball at the front point, which is placed over the foot spot.  The 1-ball is set in the rear left corner of the rack, and the 5-ball at the right rear corner.  The high-numbered balls are placed inside the top of the triangle, the low balls are placed at the bottom of the triangle.

On the break, the player calls the number of the object ball as well as the pocket in which it will be played.  The shooter must use the cue ball to hit the called object ball into the designated pocket, or hit the called ball and another ball into a rail.

If shooter fails to do any of these, a foul occurs and the player loses 2 points.  The opponent may play the balls as they lie or ask for a new break.  This continues until a legal break is made.

A foul occurs if the cue ball is pocketed on a break shot.  The shooter loses 1 point and the opponent takes over from behind the head string.  The new shooter must play the balls as they lie.

Other fouls which result in the loss of a turn and point- hitting any balls which are moving, jumping the cue ball off the table, shooting with both feet off of the floor (one or both feet must be touching the ground while shooting).

A player may use a defensive move called a safety, in which the cue ball is hit to an area which makes scoring difficult for the opponent.  A safety shot ends a player's turn, and any balls pocketed on a safety shot are spotted on the foot spot.

After 14 balls have been pocketed, the 15th ball and the cue ball remain on the table as they lie.  The pocketed balls are re-racked with a space left at the front point.  The player who pocketed the 14th ball continues to play and may attempt to pocket the last object ball or shoot at the new rack of object balls.

A scratch occurs when the cue ball is pocketed.  A scratch results in a one-point deduction and ends a player's turn.  Three consecutive scratches by a player results in a 15-point penalty.

Billiards

History:

The game of billiards is believed to date back to ancient Persia, and flourished in the 12th century as an outdoor lawn game played by royalty and high society. It was a favorite game of Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Pockets were not added to the table until the 19th century.

In America, billiards became a game played by people of all social classes, from the upper class to the working class. As a result, billiards is one of the ten most-played games in the country, according to the Billiard Congress of America.

Object of the Game:

A player uses a cue stick to hit a white ball (the cue ball) against object balls, which are numbered and varied in color. The goal is to hit the object balls into the table's pockets.

Playing Field:



The table is rectangular, twice as long as it is wide. Tables are made in various sizes, but 4.5' x 9 feet is considered regulation size. The playing surface is 29 inches high and features cushions (rubber rails) on all sides. The playing surface is slate covered with felt. The table features 6 pockets, each one five inches in diameter. The pockets are located at each corner, and at the center of each side rail.

The cushion at one end of the table is known as the foot rail, the opposing end is known as the head rail.

The foot string is an imaginary line midway between the foot rail and the center of the table. Likewise, the head string is an imaginary line midway between the head rail and the center.

The head spot is a small circular point on the table located in the center of the head string. The foot spot is located in the center of the foot string.

Equipment:

Cue- a tapered wooden stick with a leather tip, no more than 60 inches in length, usually weighing between 18 and 20 ounces.

Balls- originally ivory, modern billiard balls are made of a hard plastic composite, 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 6 ounces in weight. The cue ball is white and unnumbered. The object balls have varying solid colors (balls 1-8), or colored stripes (balls 9-15).

Rack- a triangular frame used to set up the object balls at the start of a game.

Basic Rules:

These are general rules of billiards. For specific game rules, see straight pool, 9-ball, or 8-ball.

The opening shot is called the break shot. The first shooter is determined by lags, in which each player shoots the cue ball from behind the head string to rebound off the foot rail without the ball contacting the side rails. The player whose ball comes to rest closest to the head rail wins the option of shooting first.

Once the object balls are racked, the cue ball may be placed anywhere between the head string and the head rail.

Players may apply chalk to the tip of their cue at any time. Chalking the tip prevents the cue from slipping when it strikes the cue ball.

A stroke or turn begins when the player hits the cue ball and lasts until all balls on the table stop rolling.

The first player hits the cue ball from behind the head string toward the cluster of object balls. A legal break requires that at least one of the object balls are pocketed. If the break is illegal, the opponent can either play the balls as they lie or ask the opponent to repeat the break.

Each player's turn is an inning, lasting as long as a player continues to pocket object balls. Innings alternate between players.

The shooter must call the number of the ball to be pocketed. If the called ball drops into a pocket, any other balls pocketed on the same shot also count. If the called ball is not pocketed, any pocketed balls from that shot are spotted (put back on the table).

A ball is considered in hand when it has to be set on the table so that play can begin or resume.

A ball is spotted when the cue ball is pocketed (known as a scratch), the cue ball fails to hit the called object ball first before hitting other balls, or if the balls are knocked off of the playing surface.

If a single ball is to be spotted, it is placed on the foot spot. If multiple balls are spotted, they are placed one behind the other beginning with the lowest number.

An object ball is frozen if it lies against a rail or is touching the cue ball. The shooter must hit the frozen ball with the cue ball and pocket the frozen ball, or move it to another rail, or make the cue ball or another object ball touch a rail. A foul occurs if none of these are done.

See:

Straight Pool
8-Ball
9-Ball

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Dominoes (Auction Draw)

This game is for 2, 3, or 4 players.  Game uses a double six domino set, along with chips or coins.

Deal:

The size of the hand depends on the number of players:

    2 players get 7 tiles each
    3 players get 7 tiles each
    4 players get 6 tiles each

The remaining tiles stay in the boneyard.

Play:

All players put an equal stake into a pool (usually three chips) at the start of the round. Players draw for the lead and take turns placing tiles on either end of the train. Doubles are played across the line, but are not spinners.

If a player cannot make a play, he can pass or "buy" tiles from the boneyard. He can buy as many tiles as he wishes for one chip apiece. If the boneyard is reduced to two tiles, then nobody can buy any more.

Once the boneyard is down to two tiles, the player who follows the player who bought the tiles that reduced the boneyard to two tiles becomes the "auctioneer" and announces that the last two tiles are on auction.

Starting with the auctioneer, each player bids on the last two tiles. Bids go around the table twice, allowing each player to make two bids. The highest bid gets the last two tiles and has to place the amount of his bid into the pool. A bid can be for zero or more chips, but each bid must be larger than the bid before it.

If nobody bids on the last two tiles, the tiles remain in the boneyard and are not used in the round.

The hand stops when one player "dominoes" or when nobody can make a play. The lead passes to the next player in turn for the next round.

Scoring:

The player who dominoes wins the pool. If the game is blocked, then each player totals the number of pips in his hands. The player with the lowest total is the winner and collects the pool. If there is a tie, then the pool is divided equally among the winning players. Any remaining amount 9which cannot be equally split) is left in the pool for the next round.

Sink-Sink

This game is the same as agram except that each player is dealt five cards instead of six. Dealer deals a batch of three cards followed by a batch of two. The same 35 cards are used and the winner of the fifth and last trick wins the game.

Agram

History:

Agram is a popular card game in Africa, believed to have evolved from a similar card game brought to the continent by European slave traders.

Agram is played with 2 or more players, using 35 cards from a standard 52-card deck. The kings, queens, jacks and twos of all suits are removed from the deck, along with the ace of spades. The cards of each suit rank: A, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. Since the ace of spades is removed from the deck, the highest card in the spade suit is the 10 of spades.

The game is played counter-clockwise.

Deal:

Any player can deal first, the winner of previous game deals next.

The dealer shuffles, and the player on his right cuts the deck. The dealer deals three cards to each player in turn, and then deals again until every player has 6 cards.

Play:

The player to dealer's right plays any card, placing it face up in the middle of the playing area.

The other players, in turn, must play a card of the same suit if they can. Those who have no card of the suit play any card they choose. When all participants have played one card, the first "trick" is complete. Whoever played the highest card of the suit that the first player paced on the playing area is the winner of the trick.

The winner of the trick places down any card from his hand to begin the next trick, placing it face up on top of the pile. Once again the other players must each play a card: this must be the same suit as the card that was led, if possible, otherwise any card.

This process continues until 6 tricks have been played. The winner of the sixth and last trick wins the game.

(related games: sink-sink  http://gameandsportsrules.blogspot.com/search/label/sink-sink)