Ive played in every serious pool hall in the L.A., O.C. area, and there aren't any tables, and most people would look at me like I was crazy for asking where one might be. A vast knowledgeable crowd here might know more than the average joe. So anybody play it in the states? Where at? Was it fun?
Ever played Russian Billiards?
- Thread starter RunoutalloverU
- Start date
BPG24
Banned
RunoutalloverU said:
Is this game played on a 12ft Snooker table? I was in St Petersburg about 10 years ago and saw a game being played there that I had never seen before... It was not Snooker, the balls were different and I don't think any of them were numbered... I only got to watch briefly so i can't remember much about it, but have always wondered what it was....
RunoutalloverU said:
Heh, beat me to it.
While surfing YouTube, I came across the game. Looks very difficult. How 'bout the ball to pocket size ratio
Looks fun, though. I also it think it would be fun to play on a 9 footer. Additionally, it would be great practice for your carom/billiard game - good way to burn tangent lines into your head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKq5VE8oKwM
BPG24
Banned
As you can see, the "nice" shots, are just ordinary simple shots in normal pool. The pocket is just big enough to fit the ball into it. And they have to hit it hard to force it through. But yeah I don't know what the exact ratio is on ball size to pocket size, but the balls are big and heavy, you get one point for any ball that goes off of any other ball, and luck counts. Evgeny Stalev plays it professionally, and he happens to be one of my favorite players. So that is how I came across it on you tube. But no it isn't played on a snooker table. Its played on its own unique table, one being specifically made for russian billiards. If I had the room and an extra few grand to throw around id get one.
BPG24 said:
Great stuff.
That is what the pockets always look like to me... even when they are 5 inches wide.
RunoutalloverU said:
I understand that Evgeny is nearly a household name in Russia for his skill at Pyramid, or Russian Billiards. I don't know of any poolrooms that have this table in the US. If you find someone who's got one in LA or OC, let me know and we can play.
Vahmurka said:a ball is 68 mm in diameter, a corner pocket is 70 mm. It's tough enough
70mm is 2.756, or about 2 3/4 of an inch.
That is 1 3/4 less than the opening on a standard pool table corner pocket.
68mm is 2.677. That is about 7/16 inch larger than a standard (pocket billiard) pool ball.
The pockets on the table are only .079 larger than the ball diameter. That is about the thickness of an American nickel.
You're right. That is tough enough!
There are no authentic Russian Billiards tables in my area (Bay Area, California), but I have a friend/co-worker that is Russian and he can get a Russian Billiards table from Russia (12 ft X 6 ft). The problem is we wouldn't have anywhere we could put it. I talked to a pool hall owner in the area, and he said if there were enough people willing to play it, then we might replace one of his snooker tables with the Russian Billiards table. I did a poll on the local APA website, and asked around...but the only people interested are a few Russian players in the area.
Most people will just play the Russian billiards game on a snooker table, but it is not the same. I have heard that some people play on a 10ft X 5ft table, but in Russia, they usually play on the larger tables.
Most people will just play the Russian billiards game on a snooker table, but it is not the same. I have heard that some people play on a 10ft X 5ft table, but in Russia, they usually play on the larger tables.
Pyramid Billiards
There is a room in Glendale, Ca. that has around 3 Pyramid tables. It is called the Green Room 4006 San Fernando Rd. Glendale, CA 91204, (818) 548-0739.
Steve
There is a room in Glendale, Ca. that has around 3 Pyramid tables. It is called the Green Room 4006 San Fernando Rd. Glendale, CA 91204, (818) 548-0739.
Steve
that's only if you play a game which requires to shoot object balls only. Otherwise you can always play an in-off, i.e. a caromCreeDo said:
Or play safe, with so many dead spots on the table where a ball can not be pocketed from it is not that hard - unless you play a world champ.
Vahmurka said:that's only if you play a game which requires to shoot object balls only. Otherwise you can always play an in-off, i.e. a carom
How do you play this game? Not that I will ever find a table to play but it would be interesting to know.
The pockets in the picture actually look as though they get somewhat narrower toward the points. The tips of the points are thread bare as though the ball gets forced through the opening a lot.
The ball probably wouldn't be able to rattle inside the pocket jaws becase there really aren't any pocket jaws.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_pyramid , it looks like the basic idea is to sink any 8 balls after a hard opening break. Sounds easy except the 12 foot tables are the standard and we've seen the pocket size.
An interesting twist is that you can just shoot the cue ball into a pocket and it counts as one of your 8 balls, but then you must take the cue ball behind the head string, and your opponent gets to pick one of the object balls off the table to keep you from shooting it.
An interesting twist is that you can just shoot the cue ball into a pocket and it counts as one of your 8 balls, but then you must take the cue ball behind the head string, and your opponent gets to pick one of the object balls off the table to keep you from shooting it.