The rules of French billiards
French billiards is characterised by the contrast between the simplicity of its rules and the necessary technicality and difficulty of the shots it involves. Aimed at both beginners and more experienced players, this marble game has a wide variety of rules and variations. Here is what you can play with your Stella Scipion pool table. While the official table dimensions are 2.80 x 1.40 metres, the Scipion is distinguished by its compact size of 1.60 metres by 90 centimetres, allowing it to fit into even the smallest of spaces.
What equipment do I need to play with my compact carom pool table?
To fully enjoy the game of French billiards, you will need a set of 3 balls, which normally consists of one red and two white balls, one of which is pointed. Your Aramith ball set delivered with your Scipion includes two white balls and one red ball, all three with a diameter of 50.8 mm.
How do you determine which player starts the game of pool?
If you decide to play with two people, you will have to decide who will start the game. To do this, both of you must hit your ball to the cushion opposite the starting point. The player whose ball is closest to the cushion behind the starting pin starts the game of pool.
How to prepare the pool table?
You have to place the cue balls on the starting flies (points). On the line where the three points are located, you must place the opponent's ball (the cue ball) in the middle, and your ball (the other cue ball) on the right or left side, depending on your preference. The red ball must be in the middle on the other side of the pool table.
What is the purpose of the game?
The rules of French billiards are extremely simple. After defining a number of points to reach, you have to carambolate, i.e. make contact with the other two balls, in one shot. You continue to play as long as you manage to hit both balls without making any mistakes.
However, there are six different game modes, which we will now describe in detail.
The free game, mainly for beginners, is the basic rule. Each successful shot (thanks to the collision of the two billiard balls) gives you a point.
The game with cushions makes the initial rule slightly more complex: you have to hit 1, 2 or 3 cushions (depending on what is defined at the beginning) before you reach the third ball. If you don't, you don't get a point.
The frame game consists of 9 squares, 3 on top of the pool table, 3 in the middle and 3 on the bottom. If the cue ball and the red ball are in the same area, then a maximum of 2 points can be awarded, which means that after two shots, if the ball is not out of the square, the opponent has to play.
The casin allows for a more complete training and is aimed at both professionals and individuals who want to improve their playing technique. At the beginning of the game, the players have to decide (individually and for themselves) how they want to make the points. Thus, they will have to follow their game plan for the moves to be counted as valid. For example, Player 1 may decide to make a free point, then a strip, then a left-handed point, etc.
Five Pin Bowling requires additional equipment to play. You will need 5 pins, which you arrange in a cross pattern in the centre of the pool table. The aim is to knock them down.
Artistic billiards is for the most experienced players, those for whom billiards has no secrets. The aim is to make shots that require a very high level of technical skill in order to reach 70 points.
What actions are sanctioned as faults?
There are many fouls that can be committed during a game of French billiards, which allow the opposing non-offending player to start playing and take over.
Firstly, a jumped ball is a foul. It must be replaced on the fly.
Second, if you hit the ball with anything other than the cue tip or twice in a row, you lose the point and the hand.
Third, playing with the opponent's ball is considered a foul.
Fourthly, if you have chosen frame play, staying in the same square after two shots will be counted as an irregularity.
Fifth, in competitions, there is a time limit of 45 seconds to play. If this is exceeded, it is a foul.
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