Rules

📋 General 🎱 Pool 🔺 Pyramid 🟢 Snooker 🔧 Equipment

Code of Conduct

• All players must demonstrate sportsmanship and respect towards opponents, referees, and spectators
• Players must arrive at their designated table at the scheduled time
• Mobile phones must be silenced during play
• Coaching during matches is not permitted unless specified by tournament format
• Disputes should be directed to the referee or tournament director

Tournament Regulations

• All participants must have a valid GNBF membership or event registration
• Bracket seedings are determined by current ranking points
• Match formats (race-to lengths) are set by the tournament committee
• Late arrivals of more than 15 minutes will result in forfeiture
• Official GNBF ranking points are awarded based on tournament placement

Foul Rules (General)

• Cue ball scratch (pocketed) results in ball-in-hand for the opponent
• Failure to contact a legal object ball is a foul
• Touching any ball with hand, clothing, or cue shaft is a foul
• Shooting while any ball is still in motion is a foul
• Three consecutive fouls may result in loss of game (discipline specific)

8-Ball

8-Ball is played with 15 object balls numbered 1-15 and a cue ball.

• One player must pocket balls 1-7 (solids), while the other pockets 9-15 (stripes)
• The group is determined by the first ball legally pocketed after the break
• After clearing their group, the player must pocket the 8-ball to win
• Pocketing the 8-ball early or scratching on the 8-ball results in a loss
• On the break, at least 4 balls must contact a cushion or a ball must be pocketed

9-Ball

9-Ball is played with balls numbered 1-9. Players must always contact the lowest numbered ball first.

• The cue ball must first contact the lowest numbered ball on the table
• The game is won by legally pocketing the 9-ball at any time during the game
• Push-out rule applies on the shot after the break
• Three consecutive fouls result in loss of game
• Combination shots are legal if the lowest ball is contacted first

10-Ball

10-Ball is a professional discipline using balls 1-10. Similar to 9-Ball but requires all shots to be called.

• All shots must be called (ball and pocket)
• Must contact the lowest numbered ball first
• The 10-ball must be pocketed by a called shot to win
• Three consecutive fouls result in loss of game
• Non-called pocketed balls are spotted at the end of the turn

Free Pyramid (Свободная пирамида)

Played with 15 white numbered balls and 1 yellow cue ball on a 12-foot table.

• Any ball can be used as the cue ball (including the designated cue ball)
• Any ball can be pocketed, whether it's an object ball or the cue ball itself
• First player to pocket 8 balls wins the game
• The table uses very tight pockets, making it one of the most challenging cue sports
• Balls used are larger and heavier than standard pool balls (68mm, 280g)

Combined Pyramid (Комбинированная пирамида)

A variation that combines elements of Free Pyramid with specific targeting rules.

• Must announce target ball and target pocket before each shot
• Only the designated cue ball can be used to strike
• First player to pocket 8 balls wins the game
• Fouls result in the opponent receiving ball-in-hand
• Standard Pyramid table dimensions (3600mm × 1800mm) apply

Full-Frame Snooker

Snooker is played with 15 red balls (1 point each) and 6 colored balls.

• Players must alternately pot reds and colors
• Color values: Yellow(2), Green(3), Brown(4), Blue(5), Pink(6), Black(7)
• After all reds are potted, colors are potted in ascending order of value
• The player with the highest score at the end of the frame wins
• Fouls award a minimum of 4 points to the opponent
• Maximum possible break: 147 (15 reds + 15 blacks + all colors)

6-Red Snooker

A shorter format of snooker with only 6 red balls, popular in GNBF local tournaments.

• Same rules as full snooker but with only 6 reds
• Faster-paced games suitable for tournament play
• Maximum break: 75 (6 reds + 6 blacks + all colors)
• Ideal for time-limited events and development-level players