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