I am a 75 year old guy playing pool off and on for 65 years. I recently became interested in snooker the last 6 months. I find the game to be on the one hand a simple game to understand , yet a very complex one for game strategy. If you google the rules of snooker, be prepared for your afternoon nap. Watching on youtube I have learned a lot . Except for the rule of the first stroke or as we call it in pool the" break shot". As I believe the rule states that the cue ball must make contact with a red ball to be legal. Yet when I watch snooker matches on youtube they tend to break the rack with a force that sends the cue ball and red balls to the cushions. Similar to the rule of 14.1 straight pool where two balls must make contact with cushions. I have tried searching on this topic with either no matches found or 100's found, which do not even begin to answer my question. I believe that on the initial break a slow roll kiss on a red ball would be legal, but it would also be bad form to do so, that's why the pros break the rack similar to straight pool. Please enlighten me to my quest of knowledge on this matter.
Initial break rule of snooker
- Thread starter redwolf88
- Start date
The aspect you might not be thinking about with the break off is that you also try to put pressure on your opponent and have him make a mistake so you can get an opportunity to clear up. By spreading the balls a little and putting the cue ball back in baulk gives you a better chance if he doesn't execute.
The opposite break (splattering the balls all over the table) is considered poor sportmanship and disrespectful. It indicates that you have no faith that your opponent will clear up. A middle ground is when you are playing a weaker player, to break of the 2nd red, in the usual figure 8 pattern. This spreads the reds much more and allows you to make a deciding break when you get the chance.
Thank you for the prompt reply to my question. Your explanation and attached video clip has more than cleared up my earlier misconceptions.
I was reminded of days gone by, at the off the back cushion into the rack break. We had a guy who used that technic in straight pool (14.1) tournaments at the local philly pool halls in the 70's . I am impressed by the dress code of the pro snooker players . My father took me to a billiards match in the early 60 's to watch Willie Mosconi play in Philly . every one wore suits including the fans.
At 14.1 on the opening break shot the cue ball is required to contact a cushion after it contacts an object ball or you can be asked to rebreak.
Perhaps you were thinking about a later full-rack safety when it is sometimes an advantage to play a foul to the back of the rack.
Ideally in Snooker you would want to contact a red, send a red to the rail, and play the cue ball 3 rails back up table and behind either the 2, 3, or 4 to hinder access to reds.
Ideally, you would want the reds to be spread far and wide, while snookering your opponent so when they make a mistake you can clear the table. (and cannot simply just roll into the pack of one cushion)
You do have to factor in that if you do not snooker your opponent, they might have an opening to clear the table themselves.
The standard figure 8 break, maximizes the first while minimizes the latter.
Mark Williams decided that the latter weighed much higher on the probability as Trump and Robbo will make anything if you leave them just a sniff. So as you stated in the opening post, snooker can be very strategic! You have to judge the probability of your success, with what they can do next. Always think a couple moves ahead, not just when playing position, but also when playing safe...
You do have to factor in that if you do not snooker your opponent, they might have an opening to clear the table themselves.
The standard figure 8 break, maximizes the first while minimizes the latter.
Mark Williams decided that the latter weighed much higher on the probability as Trump and Robbo will make anything if you leave them just a sniff. So as you stated in the opening post, snooker can be very strategic! You have to judge the probability of your success, with what they can do next. Always think a couple moves ahead, not just when playing position, but also when playing safe...
You are absolutely correct on that . He was known for for a safety play like that on racks of 14 after the initial break.
telinoz
Registered
How is your Snooker game coming along?
In British snooker there is no rule that calls for hitting a rail when playing safe, or any other shot except the break out. You can simply roll the cue ball behind another ball without contacting anything if you like.