This is my third favourite snooker tournament of the year after the World Championships and the UK Championships. Still, it’s a great 8 days of snooker!
June asked a question on the forums and I thought it would make a perfect post. Sorry for the derailment of my post a day this month. Hand problems fouled things up. Epic post is in the works. Stay tuned.
I have a couple of Snooker Rules I need to find out about:
1) If you are shooting at a Red and miss the ball, does something happen with points and does the cue ball stay where it stops?
2) My understanding is if you scratch, you need to put the cue ball in the 1/2 circle and shoot it from there. If the last Red is behind the 1/2 circle, can you shoot directly at it from the 1/2 circle?
3) Can any combination shots be made with Reds?
4) Can any combination shots be made with a Red and Colored ball?
5) If you are shooting at a Colored ball and scratch, what happens with points and the cue ball?
I think that there are more things that came up last night, but I can’t remember right now so I might have to ask again later. It would probably help if I watched the game, but I haven’t had a chance to.
Oh June, thanks so much for asking. I’ll do my best to type quick and accurate answers before I go to bed. I’ve got to get up at 6:25am for what could be a great match: [color=#BF0000]Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. Judd Trump. Naughty snooker indeed![/color]
1. If the referee deems that the shooter didn’t make an all out attempt at making a good hit on a red, he may be called on “A foul and a miss.” Example, a simple one rail hit on one red is possible, but the shooter hits a lag speed three rail kick towards a red that will be safe. (not a sell out like the one rail kick) The minimum penalty is 4 points awarded to the non-shooter. If the blue, pink, or black is contacted the penalty is the value of that colour. The incoming player can ask for the balls to be restored in the case of a miss and the shooter must make another attempt. At world class levels, players have replayed a shot 5, 6, or more times. It is better on occasion to give up 20 or 30 points in fouls rather than sell out and give up 50+ and the frame on the incoming player’s next break. (Break is what a run is called in snooker.)
2. If the white drops in a pocket, the incoming player must shoot from the D. At any time, they can shoot at a red that is in baulk, or the lowest colour available if all the reds have been potted.
3. Plants (combination shots) can be played on reds at any time and are legal. Plants cannot be played on colours. i.e. If you pot a red and shoot the pink, the cue ball must hit the pink first and it is the only ball that can be potted. If a red or other colour flukes in, it is a foul stroke.
4. See # 3.
5. See # 3 and here’s more info. Colours are always spotted on their own spot immediately after being potted whether a foul stroke or not. They are spotted on the highest value spot if their own spot is occupied or obstructed. Referee’s ball markers used when cleaning the white also can be used as a measuring device to ascertain availability of said spot. If the colour is potted and the cue ball scratches, the ball is spotted and the cue ball is in hand by the incoming shooter in the D. Penalty is awarded to the non-shooter for the value of the ball during the foul stroke or 4 points, whichever is larger.
Cheers,
Mike
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