| I am of the age that when hearing the word | | | | spotted - to score points. This was |
| billiards, I automatically think of a game | | | | important, because a decision was made which |
| played on a snooker table but with three | | | | player used which ball and if, for example, |
| balls, one red and two white. I will return | | | | one of the players used the dotted white ball |
| later on in this article with my | | | | instead of the plain white ball as a cue |
| interpretation of the rules. Nowadays, | | | | ball, which was not his allocated ball, he |
| however, it appears that there are more than | | | | would be penalised.The game involved potting |
| one - or at least one - different definition | | | | the red ball for three points in any of the |
| of the word. Watching on television, we see | | | | six pockets on the table. You could also go |
| the advertising of the Worlds Billiards | | | | "in off" the red ball, meaning hitting the |
| Championship. Looking at the event, and | | | | red ball and sending your own ball into one |
| expecting to see two players, usually men, | | | | of the six pockets after hitting it. The |
| playing the game in white shirts, bow ties | | | | third acceptable shot was the "cannon" which |
| and waistcoats, to my surprise, I see both | | | | meant that you had to hit your nominated ball |
| sexes playing what appears to be a version of | | | | then strike your opponent's white ball and |
| American pool. It is somewhat surprising and | | | | then strike the red ball. You call also hit |
| I guess I am not completely familiar with | | | | the red ball then follow by striking your |
| that sport, but I'm afraid I find it | | | | opponent's white ball. This was worth two |
| difficult to even see the vaguest comparison | | | | points. I used the word "acceptable" in this |
| with the billiards I once knew. Now don't | | | | paragraph, because my understanding of the |
| think that I am objecting to the type of game | | | | game was that it was considered unsporting to |
| they play, it is highly skilful. I do | | | | pocket your opponent's cue ball - as well as |
| wonder, however, how the term billiards | | | | being to your disadvantage because when it |
| applies to this game. I am thinking that | | | | was pocketed, you only had your own white |
| popularity may have waned for the original | | | | ball and the red ball on the table so your |
| definition of the sport, and nowadays the | | | | chances of building up a good score were |
| terminology has moved in just a different | | | | somewhat restricted.The game concluded when |
| direction.I seem to remember that my | | | | you reached a certain figure, usually 1000 |
| understanding of billiards involved the use | | | | points. This was also a very skilful and |
| of the pre-mentioned two white and one red | | | | much admired game as indeed is today's |
| ball. It's worth mentioning at this point, | | | | so-named billiards. It would be very |
| that one of the white balls had a black spot | | | | interesting to find out how the second |
| on it. Both of these balls were in face "cue | | | | definition of the term billiards came into |
| balls", which meant that both players had to | | | | being. |
| strike their cue ball first - plain or | | | | |