Precision Sports 🇮🇳India19th century

Snooker

Cue sport played on a 12×6 ft green baize table with 15 red balls, 6 coloured balls, and 1 white cue ball — pot reds and colours in strict alternation to score, break of 147 is the maximum.

📐snooker table⏱~180 min🌤indoor

Photo · Wikipedia

What is Snooker?

Snooker is a cue sport played on a 12 ft × 6 ft (365 × 183 cm) baize-covered table with six pockets — one at each corner and one in the middle of each long side. Play uses 22 balls: 15 red (1 pt each), yellow (2), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6), black (7), and a white cue ball. Players alternately pot a red then a colour; potted reds stay off the table while colours are respotted after each pot until only 6 colours remain, which are then potted in order yellow to black. A break is a run of consecutive pots by one player. The maximum break is 147 (15 reds each followed by black + colours yellow-to-black). Snooker was invented in 1875 by British Army officers stationed in Jabalpur, India (credited to Sir Neville Chamberlain), and became professional in the UK in 1927 with the World Championship (Joe Davis champion 1927-46, 15× in a row). The modern era is dominated by Ronnie O'Sullivan (7× World Champion), Stephen Hendry (7×), and Ray Reardon / Steve Davis (6× each).

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Win each frame by scoring more points than opponent; win the match by winning majority of frames.

Match structure

Frame: alternate pot red (1pt) + colour (2-7pts, respotted); when reds gone, pot colours in order yellow→black. Match = best of N frames (5, 7, 11, 17, 19, 25, 33, 35 depending on tournament).

Rules

Basic rules

Red then colour
Player pots red (1pt), then nominates and pots any colour (2-7 pts, respotted); alternate.
Order at end of reds
After all 15 reds potted, pot colours in order yellow(2)-green(3)-brown(4)-blue(5)-pink(6)-black(7).
Foul = penalty
Fouls give opponent 4-7 points (minimum 4, or value of ball fouled if higher).
Common fouls
Miss ball on, pot wrong ball, cue ball in-off, hit ball on with wrong first contact, cue ball off table.
Break (run of pots)
Highest break in one visit is 147 (perfect break: 15 reds + 15 blacks + all colours).
Frame ends
When all balls off table or one player concedes; winner scores more points.

Advanced rules

Snooker (tactical)
Positioning cue ball so opponent cannot see legal ball — forces foul or safety.
Free ball
If snookered by opponent's foul, nominate any colour as free ball.
Miss rule
Referee calls 'miss' if player fails to hit ball on with reasonable attempt; opponent can request replay.
Break-building tactics
Position cue ball for next shot; aim to keep on high-value colours (blue/pink/black) for high breaks.
Safety play
Defensive shots leaving opponent snookered or with no easy pot.
Century break
Break of 100+ points — hallmark of top players; Ronnie O'Sullivan has 1,200+ centuries.

Scoring

Each ball has assigned point value 1-7; player with more points at end of frame wins.

Action	Points
Red	1
Yellow	2
Green	3
Brown	4
Blue	5
Pink	6
Black	7
Foul	4-7 to opponent (min 4, or value of highest ball involved)
Maximum break	147 (15 reds × 1 + 15 blacks × 7 + 27 for yellow-black)

Win condition · Win more frames than opponent (best of N).

Playing area

Called

snooker table

Dimensions

12 ft × 6 ft 1.5 in playing surface (365.7 × 187.3 cm); heated cloth on slate bed; 6 pockets.

Rectangular table with green baize cloth over slate. 6 pockets (4 corner + 2 middle side). Ideal room temperature 20°C.

Equipment

Snooker balls (22)
15 red (1 pt), 1 each of yellow (2), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6), black (7), plus white cue ball. 52.5mm diameter.
Cue
Wooden shaft (typically ash) 145-150 cm long; leather tip; personalised weight 17-19 oz.
Rest
Long-handled stick to support cue for hard-to-reach shots. Multiple types (spider, swan-neck).
Chalk
Blue chalk applied to cue tip for grip; Master Chalk or Taom.
Waistcoat + bow tie
Traditional dress code at pro events; sober attire.

Officiating

Referee announces score, calls fouls, respots colours. Silent tournament setting for concentration.

Referee (on table)
Scorer
Marker (score board)

Strategies

Prepare next shot
Position cue ball for easy next pot before playing current shot.
Chain colours efficiently
Keep on high-value pink/black between reds for maximum break potential.
Safety when no easy pot
Don't force low-percentage pots; play safety (defensive) instead.
Snooker opponent
When ball on is difficult, snooker opponent — hide cue ball behind other balls.
Manage cue ball speed
Screw (backspin) pulls cue ball back; follow (topspin) pushes forward; side gives angle.

Terminology

Break: Consecutive pots by one player in one visit; e.g. 'century break' = 100+ pts.
147: Maximum break: 15 reds × 1 + 15 blacks × 7 + colours yellow-black (2+3+4+5+6+7) = 147.
Snooker: Positioning cue ball so opponent has no direct sight of legal ball.
Foul: Illegal shot; opponent gets 4-7 penalty points.
Century: Break of 100+ points; hallmark of top players.
Clearance: Potting all remaining balls in one visit; e.g. century clearance.
Free ball: When snookered by opponent's foul, may nominate any colour as valid.
In-off: Cue ball pocketed — foul.
Screw / Follow / Side: Backspin / topspin / side-spin on cue ball for positional control.
Rest: Cue support for hard-to-reach shots (spider, swan, x-rest).
Baulk area: Zone behind baulk line where yellow, green, brown ('D' area) start each frame.
Respot: Placing colour back on original spot after being potted (during 15-red phase).
Miss: Referee call — opponent may request replay of shot.
Frame: Individual game within match; won by scoring more points that frame.

Major competitions

World Snooker Championship (Crucible)
annual (Apr-May) · Sheffield, UK · since 1927
UK Championship
annual · York, UK · since 1977
The Masters
annual · Alexandra Palace, London · since 1975
Triple Crown (Worlds + UK + Masters)
annual set · UK
Shanghai Masters
annual · China · since 2007
China Championship / Chinese events
multiple annually · China

Where it is played

Governing bodies

World Professional Billiards and Snooker AssociationWPBSA
Founded 1968 · Bristol, UK
Official site ↗
World Snooker Tour
Founded 1968 · Sheffield, UK
Official site ↗
International Billiards and Snooker FederationIBSF
Founded 1971 · New Delhi, India
Official site ↗

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Ronnie O'Sullivan (England) — 7× World Champion; 1,200+ centuries; fastest 147 (5:08); considered GOAT
Stephen Hendry (Scotland) — 7× World Champion; 11× UK; 1990s dominant
Steve Davis (England) — 6× World Champion; 1980s dominant
Ray Reardon (Wales) — 6× World Champion 1970s
Joe Davis (England) — 15× consecutive World Champion 1927-46 (retired undefeated)
John Higgins (Scotland) — 4× World Champion
Mark Selby (England) — 4× World Champion
Neil Robertson (Australia) — 2010 World Champion; only Aussie world champion
Ding Junhui (China) — 3× UK Champion; China's most successful
Judd Trump (England) — 2019 World Champion + multiple UK titles

Records

Most World Championships
Joe Davis (undefeated) / Stephen Hendry / Ronnie O'Sullivan — 15 (Davis) / 7 (Hendry, O'Sullivan) (2022)
Most career centuries
Ronnie O'Sullivan — 1,200+ (2024)
Fastest 147 maximum break
Ronnie O'Sullivan — 5 min 8 sec (World Championship 1997) (1997)
Most 147 maximum breaks in career
Ronnie O'Sullivan — 15+ (competitive; sole 147 record holder) (2024)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Find a snooker hall
Snooker clubs common in UK/Ireland/China; less in USA (pool more popular).
2
Learn cue action
Straight cue delivery is foundation; work on grip + bridge + follow-through.
3
Basic shots
Straight pot → angle pots → cushion shots (bank).
4
Play frames casually
Learn rules through play; 6-red or full 15-red.

intermediate

1
Coaching
PWBSA-certified coach; video analysis of cue action.
2
Break-building drills
Practice pattern shots to build 40-60 breaks consistently.
3
Amateur tournaments
IBSF amateur events, county/regional competitions.

advanced

1
Pro Tour qualifier (Q School)
WPBSA Q School — 2 events per year; ~120 amateurs compete for 12 tour cards.
2
WST Pro Tour
Top 128 world ranked — global tournament circuit.
3
World Championship qualification
Top 16 auto-qualify; others through Crucible qualifying event.

Frequently asked

What's the maximum break in snooker?+

147 — achieved by potting all 15 reds each followed by black, then colours yellow to black (2+3+4+5+6+7=27). Ronnie O'Sullivan has 15+ competitive maximums, more than anyone.

How long is a snooker frame?+

15-40 minutes typical; tactical frames can exceed an hour. Match length: World Championship final is best of 35 frames over 4 sessions across 2 days.

Who is the greatest snooker player?+

Ronnie O'Sullivan (7× World Champion, 1,200+ centuries, 15+ maximum breaks) is generally considered the greatest — 3× O'Sullivan tied Stephen Hendry's 7 world titles at Crucible 2022. Joe Davis (15 consecutive world titles 1927-46) was dominant in earliest era.

What's the difference between snooker and pool?+

Snooker: 12×6 ft table, 22 balls (15 red + 6 colour + cue), 6 pockets, small pockets require precision. Pool: smaller tables (7-9 ft), fewer balls (16), larger pockets, faster play. Snooker is technically harder and slower; pool is faster and more accessible.

Why is snooker so popular in China?+

Snooker exploded in China after Ding Junhui (b. 1987) won multiple UK Championships and reached World finals. Now 8+ ranking events held in China each season; ~60 million Chinese TV viewers per event.

What's the World Snooker Championship?+

Held annually at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, UK since 1977. 32 players; final is best of 35 frames over 2 days. Winner gets £500,000 (2024).

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Snooker— Wikipedia
World Snooker Tour— WST
WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association)— WPBSA

Last verified 2026-08-24.community