The Lead Color (Green, Brown, Yellow): These three balls sit in a straight line on the "D" (the semi-circle line). Looking from the bottom of the table left to right, the order is Green (left), Brown (middle), and Yellow (right).
The Blue Ball: This ball goes exactly in the center of the table, right on the middle spot.
The Pink Ball: This ball sits on the pyramid spot. It goes just in front of the point of the triangle of red balls, but it must not quite touch the front red ball.
The Black Ball: This ball goes on the spot at the very top of the table, centered behind the red balls with a small gap between them.
The Red Balls: Place either 10 or 15 red balls tightly inside the triangle tray.
Triangle Placement: Place the triangle of reds behind the Pink ball. The front red ball of the triangle should point toward the Pink ball and sit as close to it as possible without touching it.
The Cue Ball: The white cue ball starts inside the "D" semi-circle. The starting player can place it anywhere inside that line to make their first shot.
Alignment: All the spots (Brown, Blue, Pink, and Black) must form a perfectly straight line down the exact center length of the table.
Ball Clearness: No colored balls (Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink, Black) should touch any other ball when the setup is finished.
Tightly Packed Reds: Make sure the red balls inside the triangle are touching each other tightly so they scatter nicely when hit.
2. Break Rules
Where to place the White: The player taking the break must place the white cue ball completely inside the "D" semi-circle (or right on its lines) before shooting.
Hit a Red first: The white ball must hit a red ball first. If it misses the reds entirely or hits a colored ball first, it is a foul.
No potting colors: You cannot pocket (pot) a colored ball on the break shot. If a color goes in, it is a foul, and the opponent gets points.
Potting a Red is good: If you successfully pot a red ball on the break, you score 1 point, and you get to take another shot (aiming for a color next).
Safe break (No pot): If you don't pot a red, at least one ball (the white or a red) must hit a cushion after the white hits a red. This ensures it's a real shot and not just a gentle tap.
Don't lose the White: If the white cue ball goes into a pocket on the break, it is a foul. The opponent gets 4 penalty points, and they get to place the white back in the "D".
Balls off the table: If any ball flies off the snooker table during the break, it is a foul.
Stay on the floor: The player must have at least part of one foot touching the floor while striking the cue ball. Lifting both feet off the ground is a foul.
No double hits: You must hit the white ball cleanly with the tip of your cue. You cannot push the ball or hit it twice in one stroke.
After a safe break: If the break shot was legal but no red was potted, the turn changes. The second player must now play the white ball from wherever it stopped on the table, aiming to hit a red.
3. Play Rules
Red Then Color Order: You must always hit a Red ball first. If you pocket (pot) a red, you get 1 point and must choose a colored ball to hit on your next shot.
Keep Alternating: You keep alternating between a Red and a Color as long as you keep potting them. When you miss or make a mistake (foul), your turn ends.
Reds Stay In, Colors Come Back: Red balls stay in the pockets for the rest of the game. Colored balls get placed back on their starting spots immediately after being potted.
Blocked Spots: If a colored ball needs to go back on its spot but another ball is blocking it, put it on the highest value spot that is open. If all spots are full, put it as close to its own spot as possible.
The Final Stage: Once the last red ball is gone from the table, you must pot the remaining colored balls in a strict order from the lowest score to the highest score.
The Final Color Sequence: The exact order to pot the colors at the end is: Yellow (2 points), Green (3 points), Brown (4 points), Blue (5 points), Pink (6 points), and Black (7 points). At this stage, they stay in the pockets.
Hitting the Wrong Ball: You must always hit the ball you are supposed to aim for. Hitting a different ball first is a foul and ends your turn.
Foul Penalty Points: If you commit a foul, your opponent is awarded penalty points. A foul gives them at least 4 points, or the value of the ball involved if it is the Blue (5), Pink (6), or Black (7).
The "Snooker" Trap: If an opponent hides the ball you need to hit behind another ball, you are snookered. You must try your best to hit the correct ball by bouncing off the cushions; missing it completely is a foul.
Winning the Game: The player with the most points when all the balls are cleared wins. If you are too far behind in points and cannot catch up with the balls left on the table, you lose the frame.
4. Closing Rules
The Final Color Order: When the last red ball is cleared, you must pot the remaining colors in this exact order: Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink, and Black.
Colors Stay Down: Unlike earlier in the game, during the closing stage, potted colored balls stay in the pockets and are not placed back on the table.
One Shot at a Time: You only get one shot at each color in the closing sequence. If you miss, your turn ends, and the next player must aim for that same color.
Hitting Out of Order is a Foul: You must hit the lowest-value color left on the table. Hitting any other color first is a foul and awards points to your opponent.
The Seven-Point Penalty: If you foul while playing the final Black ball, your opponent is automatically awarded 7 points.
The Frame Ends on the Black: The game ends immediately the moment the Black ball is legally potted or when a foul happens while playing the Black.
Conceding the Game: If there are not enough balls left on the table for you to catch up to your opponent's score, you can choose to concede (give up) the frame.
No "Snookers Required" Rule: A player cannot physically win if they need more points than are available on the table unless they force their opponent into making fouls to earn penalty points.
Handling a Tie Score: If the score is exactly equal after the Black ball is potted, the Black is placed back on its original spot, and the players flip a coin to see who shoots first to break the tie.
Sudden Death on Tied Black: During a tie-breaker, the first person to pot the Black wins, and the first person to make a foul or pocket the white ball loses.
5. Foul Rules
Hitting the Wrong Ball First: You must always hit the "ball on" (the ball you are supposed to aim for, like a red or your chosen color) first. Hitting any other ball first is a foul.
Potting the White Ball: If the white cue ball falls into a pocket (also called "scratching"), it is a foul. Your opponent gets points, and they get to play from inside the "D."
Missing All Balls: The white ball must hit at least one legal ball on the table. Missing every single ball completely is a foul.
Potting the Wrong Ball: If you accidentally pocket a ball you were not supposed to aim for (like knocking a colored ball in when you were aiming for a red), it is a foul.
Balls Flying Off the Table: If any ball is hit so hard that it jumps off the bed of the table or hits the floor, it is a foul.
The Double Hit: You must strike the white ball cleanly with a single click. Hitting the white ball twice with your cue tip during the same swing is a foul.
Push Shots: You cannot push the white ball along with your cue tip. If the cue tip stays in contact with the white ball while it touches the target ball, it is a foul.
Jump Shots: You are not allowed to make the white ball intentionally jump over another ball to get to your target. This is a foul.
Feet Off the Floor: At least a part of one of your feet must be touching the ground when you hit the ball. Lifting both feet completely off the floor is a foul.
Touching Any Ball: You can only touch the white ball with the tip of your cue. Touching any ball with your fingers, your sleeves, the chalk, or the wooden part of your stick is a foul.
6. Miss Rules
The "Miss" Definition: If you miss the ball you are aiming for because your shot was too soft or poorly judged, the referee can declare a "foul and a miss." This happens if the referee feels you did not try your absolute best to hit the ball.
Opponent's Choice: When a miss is called, your opponent gets a choice. They can either play the balls from where they stopped, or they can force you to take the difficult shot again.
Putting Balls Back: If your opponent wants you to try the shot again, the referee will carefully pick up all the moving balls and put them back exactly where they were before you missed.
The Straight Line Rule: If you can see the target ball clearly in a straight line but you still miss it completely, a "miss" is automatically called. You cannot just tap the white ball safely if you have a direct path to the target.
Three Misses and You Lose: If you can see the target ball in a straight line and you miss it three times in a row from the exact same spot, you lose the entire frame (the game) automatically.