Billiards Essay, Research Paper

Billiards

Billiards is a game played on a rectangular table half as wide as it is long. There are several games that can be played with a variation of three to twenty-one balls. Tables may also have either no pockets or up to six pockets.

1) The definition of billiards is any of various games played on a rectangular table with a designated number of small balls and a long stick called a cue. (http://www.britannica.com)

2) Pool originated in the 14th century from a croquet like game played on grass. It was later moved onto a wooden table with green cloth to represent grass. A wall was put around the edges to prevent the balls from flying off of the table. (Unknown 745-746)

3) The original game of Billiards was played on a table with six pockets, two balls, a hoop and a target stick. Eventually throughout the 18th century the stick and hoop vanished. (http://www.bca-pool.com)

4) Different forms of the game include carom billiards, English billiards, pocket billiards (pool), and snooker. Carom billiards is primarily played France, English billiards in Britain, pocket billiards in America and Japan, and the British and the Americas play snooker. (Menke 151-154)

5) The most popular game, Eight-Ball is played with 15 balls, 1 through 15 and a cue ball. One of the players has to make all of the solid balls (1-7) in the pockets while the other player has to pocket the stripes (9-15). Who ever pockets their group of balls first and then pockets the 8-ball wins the game. (Encarta)