Welcome to this comprehensive guide on snooker rules. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced player seeking a refresher, this article will provide you with all the information you need to understand and enjoy the game of snooker. Snooker is a popular cue sport that requires skill, precision, and strategic thinking. By familiarizing yourself with the rules, you’ll be able to participate in the game confidently and appreciate its nuances.

Snooker Rules: Understanding the Basics
Snooker is played Snooker Rules on a rectangular table covered with a green baize cloth, featuring six pockets. The objective of the game is to score more points than your opponent by potting (pocketing) the balls using a cue stick. The game is typically played between two players, although variations such as doubles and team snooker also exist.
The Equipment
Before we delve into the specific rules of snooker, let’s first Snooker Rules familiarize ourselves with the equipment used in the game:
- Snooker Table: The standard snooker table measures 12 feet by 6 feet. It has six pockets, one at each corner and two in the middle of the long side cushions.
- Snooker Balls: A set of 21 snooker balls is used, including 15 red balls, one white cue ball, and six colored balls (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black).
- Cue Stick: Players use a cue stick to strike the cue ball and pot the other balls. The cue stick is typically made of wood and has a leather tip for Snooker Rules

The Objective
In snooker, the main objective is to score points by potting the balls in a specific order. The game begins with the opening break, where the player attempts to strike the red balls with the cue ball. Players alternate turns, aiming to pot red balls and then a colored ball. Each pot earns the player a certain number of points.
Game Progression
The game progresses as follows:
- Opening Break: The player who wins the lag (a preliminary shot to determine who plays first) takes the opening break. They aim to pot a red ball and score points.
- Potting Red Balls: After a red ball is potted, the player can then choose to pot any of the six colored balls, earning additional points.
- Re-spotting Balls: Once a colored ball is potted, it is re-spotted on its original position. However, red balls remain potted and are not re-spotted.
- Continued Play: The game continues with the players alternating turns, potting red balls followed by colored balls, until all red balls are off the table.
- The Final Phase: Once all the red balls are potted, the players must pot the remaining colored balls in ascending order of their value: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black.
- The Final Shot: The game concludes when all the balls are potted, or when a player concedes the frame.

Fouls and Penalties
Snooker has specific rules regarding fouls, which are actions that result in a penalty for the player committing the foul. Common fouls in snooker include:
- Miss: When a player fails to make contact with a ball “on” or first ball in a sequence, they are penalized by having their
- Snooker Rules: A Comprehensive Guide to the Game
- Introduction
- Welcome to this comprehensive guide on snooker rules. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced player seeking a refresher, this article will provide you with all the information you need to understand and enjoy the game of snooker. Snooker is a popular cue sport that requires skill, precision, and strategic thinking. By familiarizing yourself with the rules, you’ll be able to participate in the game confidently and appreciate its nuances.
- Snooker Rules: Understanding the Basics
- Snooker is played on a rectangular table covered with a green baize cloth, featuring six pockets. The objective of the game is to score more points than your opponent by potting (pocketing) the balls using a cue stick. The game is typically played between two players, although variations such as doubles and team snooker also exist.
- The Equipment
- Before we delve into the specific rules of snooker, let’s first familiarize ourselves with the equipment used in the game:
- Snooker Table: The standard snooker table measures 12 feet by 6 feet. It has six pockets, one at each corner and two in the middle of the long side cushions.
- Snooker Balls: A set of 21 snooker balls is used, including 15 red balls, one white cue ball, and six colored balls (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black).
- Cue Stick: Players use a cue stick to strike the cue ball and pot the other balls. The cue stick is typically made of wood and has a leather tip for better control.
- The Objective
- In snooker, the main objective is to score points by potting the balls in a specific order. The game begins with the opening break, where the player attempts to strike the red balls with the cue ball. Players alternate turns, aiming to pot red balls and then a colored ball. Each pot earns the player a certain number of points.
- Game Progression
- The game progresses as follows:
- Opening Break: The player who wins the lag (a preliminary shot to determine who plays first) takes the opening break. They aim to pot a red ball and score points.
- Potting Red Balls: After a red ball is potted, the player can then choose to pot any of the six colored balls, earning additional points.
- Re-spotting Balls: Once a colored ball is potted, it is re-spotted on its original position. However, red balls remain potted and are not re-spotted.
- Continued Play: The game continues with the players alternating turns, potting red balls followed by colored balls, until all red balls are off the table.
- The Final Phase: Once all the red balls are potted, the players must pot the remaining colored balls in ascending order of their value: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black.
- The Final Shot: The game concludes when all the balls are potted, or when a player concedes the frame.
- Fouls and Penalties
- Snooker has specific rules regarding fouls, which are actions that result in a penalty for the player committing the foul. Common fouls in snooker include:
- Miss: When a player fails to make contact with a ball “on” or the first ball in a sequence, they are penalized by having
