Billiards has been around for more than 1000 years. Billiards was first played indoors in Europe during 15th-century. There are many variations of billiards. The aim of most billiards is to get a higher score than your opponent before it runs out. There are many different games and each has its own rules.
There are four main billiards games: pool, English billiards and carom billiards. In each of these, players use different cues and balls to earn points. Fouling will reduce players' points.
Pool is a very popular game both in the United States and elsewhere in the UK. Each game requires a table, cues, and balls. The rectangular table is usually made from polished slate or woolen cloth. There are six pockets on a table. Sometimes, there are seven or eight. Each pocket is number with the goal of storing a ball in numerical order.
One of the first billiards games was One-Pocket. This game was initially played on a one-pocket table. Players occupied the left and right sides of the pocket, and they used a curved wooden mace on the other side of the table. It was not the official beginning of billiards but it is believed this is the place where it all began.
Pocket billiards is very popular in Canada and the United States. Pocket billiards is a game where you make a combination shot by placing the balls in numerical order. Some of the more complex versions of the game have very tight pockets.
Carom billiards can also be played all over the world. In this type of billiards, players attempt to carom off the cue ball of their opponent. The table is usually at least 7ft long and heated.
English billiards combines the best of both pocket and carom. Most often, the game is played on one table. You can make the cue from wood, fiberglass or plastic. To win, the cue must be closest to the cushion.
In the United States, two of the most popular billiards games are pool and snooker. Pool is a game where you play with two other balls and a red object. Players pocket the red ball to gain points. They may be allowed to foul depending on the game. For example, if the cue ball hits a cushion, the player must make a lag. If the player fails to pocket a ball, the opponent can choose to place the ball back in the original spot.
Among the more difficult billiards games is 18.2 balkline. Balkline is a tough game and is often played in billiards tournaments. Instead of straight pool where you only use the cue ball, Balkline requires the ball to be struck either on the right or left side.