Russian pool questions

Yesterday I spent a good couple hours contacting just about anybody I found on the net selling Vigma billiard balls and so far no luck... Quite a few suppliers still haven't responded but the ones that have pretty much gave me the "sorry we can't special order and we don't know where you can get them" answer. I'll keep trying at it. I wish Vigma would reply to my emails...
 
Okay, let's go for a new question under the same topic here.

Does anyone know where I can find a list of rules for various Russian pool games?

I don't speak a word of Russian so finding the rules of games and then finding them in English is going to be the real trick here.
 
Official rules from Pyramid federation:

http://www.fbsr.ru/?page=documents&id=2#pyramid_rules

Below are quick links to the same document but most popular and "official" games. Other I have hardly ever seen played at official tournaments.
http://www.fbsr.ru/?page=documents&id=2#game1
http://www.fbsr.ru/?page=documents&id=2#game2
http://www.fbsr.ru/?page=documents&id=2#game4
http://www.fbsr.ru/?page=documents&id=2#game3

Also there is another game
http://www.fbsu.info/sport/rulls_nevskiy_piramida.htm

Try to use Google Translate to get this, if there is anything confusing after that, PM me.
 
I'd love to open a pool hall with at least four pool tables, a carom table, 12ft Snooker table, and a 12ft Russian table, offering some forms of billiards that you don't ofter get a chance to play. My big kick lately has been Snooker and I woudl love to try out Russian pyramid. I think a setup like this would be costly though.
 
I think anything other than the original will be a far cry from what the game is really like... it would be hard to duplicate this:

Russian_billiards_ball_at_a_corner_.jpg



This isn't even close and would play nothing like a real Russian billiard table where you have to force the balls into the pocket via cushion compression:

ozonepark_2145_2264225.jpg
 
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No I've pretty much established that this on an 8ft table would be miles away from playing the real thing.

I found a set of Aramith PR balls in 2 1/4", thanks to Vahmurka. I think they would be fun to play other games with on a pool table. Totally unique from the standard sets. Great fun when playing things like Rotation. When playing 7-ball, they look cool with the striped 7 ball.

All this aside, I've been dreaming lately; I want to find a small place and setup billiard parlor. I was thinking like four 8ft tables, a 12ft Snooker table, Carom table, and a 12 Russian table. Offer some billiard tables out here that you don't get a chance to play. I don't know any places to play Snooker over here and as for Russian Pyramid, I'm sure in Seattle there are none. I enjoy Snooker as much as pool and I'm sure I'd enjoy RP too if I ever get a chance to play it.
 
Do you want to buy a riley pyramid table? 772 464-7665

scruffy1 said:
I do not think you are going to duplicate russian pyramid on a pool table. The ball size is much larger which requires a higher cushion to play correctly.
Pyramid is just totally different then a pool table. Pockets are not curved.
Photo below of one we just installed.
Click to expand...

The Russian balls won't work off the rails. I have a Russian table with the correct balls for sale. Call if you or anybody is interested. It is in Florida and you can go to my web site to see it. www.ultimate-billiards.com

We have a set of snooker balls that are 2-1/4 for the Russian table as well but they don't bounce right off the rails.

Just too let you know I have a valley bar box and with the russian balls on a soft roll you get major bounce off the rails

Contact me if interested Bill
 
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The Russian set of I have is the same size and weight as standard US billiard balls. So really they are just the American size in the Russian style. AI figured even if it won't be like playing pyramid the correct way, I can still use the set I have for standard billiard games.

A Snooker and a Russian table would be nice to have if I had a place for it. Maybe someday...
 
Anyone have some Russian billiard rules that could offer up? I only know 5 games and am working on getting them translated.
 
Table/Ball/Pocket Ratio

The second best option to buying a real 12' Russian table is to purchase an older 10' American snooker table and convert it to use the 57.15mm Russian set.

The standard Russian Pyramid ball is 68mm with the pro ball being 70mm. The proportions should be close (68mm / 12' = 5.67mm)(5.67mm x 10' = 56.7mm, which should actually be 56.66666mm). This would make the balls .48mm larger than actual scale size or approx 1/32' diameter larger.

The pocket openings should be approximately 61.15 mm to 62.15mm for the corner pockets (4mm to 5mm larger than the ball) and 71.15mm to 75.15mm for the side pockets (14mm to 18mm larger than the ball).

The balls for the Russian game are much heavier and the tables are longer, as a result the cues are also much heavier and are also longer. Using the American 57.15 balls would allow you to continue to utilize your standard cues without affecting the feel of the game.

The rail height for the snooker tables is close enough that the 57.15 size should play fine. If your really concerned about the rail being exact, the rail height or stike point should be 63.5% of the balls diameter. For a 57.15mm ball, the rail height should be .635 x 2.25 or 1.43" in height. The rails are typically set for 2 1/8 balls, the difference (.635 x 2.125 or 1.35") (1.43 - 1.35 = .08) 5/64". You can shim the rails with one piece of 8 point paper, or 12 point paper if you would like to account for the compression that occurs when you tighten the rail down.

The table could also be set to play with the 60.3mm balls, which are much easier to obtain. I would recommend setting the table to the 57.15mm balls and utilizing the 60.3mm balls like the pros use the 70mm balls. This should have to be taken into account prior to reducing the pockets, as the slightly larger tolerance would be advisable.
 
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Thanks for th advice james! Since opening this topic long ago, I've learned a lot about Russian Billiards. (Thanks to my buddy Mike in Russia!) If I ever had the room, I'd get a 12ft table. But that is a bit much for me. I can only do one table in my home. Lol if only... right? Ah well, a man can have his dreams.

PS I still gotta order those pins and book from you.
 
I have a full set of Russian Billiard balls for sale. Asking $7000.00 located in South Eastern Florida. Comes with rack, 11 foot bridge, and bridge stick, a set of snooker balls, and the 6x12 Riley Russian Billiard table. If you don't want it and you find someone who does or anybody finds a buyer for this table finders fee will be guaranteed upon sale.

To see this table go to www.ultimate-billiards.com or call Bill 772-464-7665
 
phretless said:
The standard Russian Pyramid ball is 68mm with the pro ball being 70mm.
Click to expand...
Not particularly correct today. Before the era of standardized rules for pyramid there used to be several varieties of balls size up to crazy 75 mm rocks! But now the standard is 68 mm (no matter pro or "amateur").

The pocket openings should be approximately 61.15 mm to 62.15mm for the corner pockets (4mm to 5mm larger than the ball) and 71.15mm to 75.15mm for the side pockets (14mm to 18mm larger than the ball).
Click to expand...
The corner pockets of a proper 12 ft pyramid table are 72-76 mm (sometimes 70, but that's a tough pocket. 76, on the other side, is considered a bucket :wink: 72 are normal). Side pockets should normally be 10 mm wider than the corners of that very table (corner 72 -> side 82, corner 76 -> side 86).

The balls for the Russian game are much heavier and the tables are longer, as a result the cues are also much heavier and are also longer.
Click to expand...
I think the common formula either for pool or pyramid is that a cue should weigh about 2-3 balls. Pyramid balls are heavier, hence cues are heavier too. The length maybe dictated by the longer stroke required to make those spheres move :)
 
If you eat lots of cabbage and f art quite a bit, you can create a part of playing Russian Billiards.

I remember one night in Moscow, I was playing Anna Boblichka. Her sister Olga was there also. Olga was the team captain for the Russian mens synchronized swim team. That was hard to fade let me tell you.
 
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BilliardTravel, thanks for the links. Will check out your blog, sure.
I was introduced to Kaisa last year by one of the strongest Finnish players. That's a very good game, the balls are not as heavy as in Russian pyramid, so it is easier to play position (which is Kaisa all about, just like pool).
Sort of carambola (or pins, the game has various names even here, some call it carom, the official name is Russian Pins) is played here too, with special pins which are the height of the ball diameter, center pin is bigger to be different from ordinary pins. I will post a link to the video if it is present online.
 
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