Know the game: what smart fans need to know about Snooker

Playing a sport in a waistcoat and bow tie?

Surely not?

Yes, snooker’s “sportswear” is just that.

Unlike pool, where you need to pot all the balls, in snooker, there are rules as to which balls you must pot first and in the correct sequence, and why is that table so big? Let’s take a look at your geek’s guide to snooker.

Introduction to snooker

Snooker is a cue sport that combines precision, strategy, and nerve, played on a full-size snooker table with six pockets. Each game is a battle of wits and skill, as players use the white cue ball to strike object balls—most notably the fifteen red balls and six colored balls—scoring points by potting balls in a specific sequence.

The aim?

To outscore your opponent and, for the truly ambitious, to achieve the maximum break of 147 points in a single visit to the table.

A standard game of snooker is played with 22 snooker balls: one white cue ball, 15 red balls, and six colored balls—yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black. The action begins with the break-off, where the first player must strike a red ball. From there, players alternate turns, potting balls in the correct order and racking up points. The game is played on a full-size snooker table, and with six pockets to aim for, every shot demands accuracy and foresight.

Snooker is played at the highest level in professional competition, with the World Snooker Championship standing as the sport’s most prestigious event. The world’s best compete for the title of world champion, making every frame a showcase of skill, nerve, and tactical brilliance. Whether you’re watching a local match or the world snooker championship, the thrill comes from seeing players attempt to outmaneuver each other, potting balls and building breaks, all in pursuit of a higher score.

Snooker table and equipment

Snooker tables are enormous, measuring 3.6 metres by 1.8 metres, significantly larger than pool tables. The six pockets located in the corners and one on either side are also smaller than those on pool tables.

A key feature of the snooker table is the baulk line, which runs across the width of the table within the semi-circular area known as the ‘D.’ The baulk line serves as a reference point for cue ball placement at the start of certain shots and during gameplay, forming a boundary that influences shot positioning and aiming.

Snooker tables are covered in a green cloth called “baize” allowing the balls to glide across the table when struck by a snooker cue. For reaching across tables, players can use a cue extension with a “rest” at the end to place their cues on.

The balls in Snooker

Snooker is a sport where players win by accumulating more points than their opponent. Unlike pool, where the winner is the player who pots all their balls, snooker is about accumulating more points than your opponent. Players do this by scoring more points in a “frame” by potting coloured object balls with different values.

There are three different types of balls in snooker:

• The white ball (x1)
• The red balls (x15)
• The coloured balls (x6)

Excluding the white ball, which is the cue ball, each object ball, when pocketed, provides the players with a specific amount of points:

• Red – 1 pt (one point)
• Yellow – 2 pts (two points)
• Green – 3pts
• Brown – 4 pts
• Blue – 5 pts
• Pink – 6 pts
• Black – 7 pts (seven points)

The red balls are bunched together in a triangle at the end of the table whilst the others are placed on specific points marked on the green cloth.

Critically (and for some hard to muster) players must pot a red object ball first, and once done, then must pot a coloured object ball. Players must continue to pot a red-colour-red-colour sequence to maintain the opportunity to keep scoring points.

When the red ball is pocketed, it remains off the table. However, the coloured ball is returned to its original spot after it is pocketed. This continues until all red balls have been pocketed; then, players must pot the coloured balls in the following sequence: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black.

Once the black ball has been pocketed, whoever has the most points wins the frame. Players typically play between 11 and 15 frames, with the player who wins the most winning the match.

Scoring in snooker

Each frame begins with a player “breaking off” by hitting the white cue ball from a line at one end of the table into the red balls.

Unlike pool, where the first strike is to ‘shatter’ the balls and send them flying across the table, in snooker, this would move the coloured balls into ‘unpottable’ positions. Thus, players gently nudge the triangularly packed red balls, aiming to leave their opponent with a long and challenging shot when it is their turn to play. Throughout the frame, players take a series of shots, alternating between potting balls and playing safe, with each shot contributing to the game’s flow.

Now this can get confusing, but an example of the points scored is as follows:

1. Player A pots a red, followed by a black, followed by red, blue, red, and then misses the next shot at a colour. Player A is awarded 1 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 1 = 15 points. Player A’s turn ends after missing the colour.
2. Player B now steps up and must target a red ball. Player B pots red, pink, red, green, and then commits a six-point foul on the pink ball. Player B is awarded 1 + 6 + 1 + 3 = 11 points. Because Player B committed a foul against the pink ball, Player A is awarded an additional six points. Player B’s turn ends due to the foul.
3. At this stage of the frame, Player A is leading 21 points to 11, with ten reds and the six colours remaining on the table. The points remaining are important for both players to assess whether a comeback is possible.
4. Player A then continues until they are unable to pot a ball and then player B resumes. Each time a player fails to pot a ball or commits a foul, the player’s turn ends and the other player takes over. Whoever finishes with the most points will win the frame. Suppose the scores remain tied after all of the balls have been potted. In that case, the frame is decided by re-spotting the final black ball only, with the player who pots the black winning (or a player committing a foul on the final black automatically losing).

In the case of a foul or a miss, the other player may be given the option to have the balls replaced to their original position and require the shot to be replayed.

Fouls in snooker

As mentioned above, players score additional points when their opponents commit fouls—a foul shot results in penalty points being awarded to the opponent. Players continue to play if they successfully pot balls within the permitted sequence. If a player commits a foul or the player fails to pot balls in a sequence, then their opponent will take over until they do the same.

Fouls carry a penalty of four points, awarded to the opposing player when a foul occurs. If a foul is committed against a higher-value coloured ball, then the awarding points are equal to the ball’s value (i.e. blue is a 5-point foul).

The main fouls committed in snooker are:

• If the white ball does not strike any ball on a shot
• If either the white ball or a ball is potted, that is out of sequence
• When a coloured ball is targeted and not potted, then a foul is committed
• When a shot is made, and both feet are off the ground (one must at least touch the floor)
• Balls are falling off the table because they have been struck hard
• When the white cue ball is “jumped” in the air
• Hitting a ball before all other balls have stopped moving
• If the same player pots two red balls in consecutive shots without potting a color in between, a foul is called

When a player commits a foul and the cue ball is left in a position where the incoming player cannot hit both sides of any ball on, the referee may call a free ball. This allows the incoming player to nominate any ball as red for their next shot.

Snooker as a global sport

Snooker is a game with elegant traditions, developed during the nineteenth century in the British Army. Players wear waistcoats and bow ties, referees wear white gloves and are dressed in black ties.

The world’s top players hail from the British Isles, where the biggest prize-winning tournaments are held. The exception is China, where the game is growing in popularity and Chinese players are competing with those from the UK as the world’s top players. Today, many players from around the world now compete at the highest levels, reflecting snooker’s increasing global reach and popularity.

The three most prestigious annual tournaments, known as snooker’s Triple Crown, are the World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters. Typically, competitions are played in a knockout format with each match being won by the player who wins a determined number of frames.

Major snooker tournaments

The world snooker championship is the sport’s ultimate prize, steeped in history since 1927 and widely regarded as the pinnacle of professional snooker. Every year, the world’s top players gather to compete for the title of world champion, with the event drawing global attention and offering the highest ranking points and prize money in the sport.

Alongside the world snooker championship, the UK Championship and the Masters complete snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown Series. These tournaments are broadcast by the BBC in the UK and across Europe on Eurosport, ensuring fans everywhere can follow the action. Each event brings its own unique challenges and traditions, making them must-watch moments in the snooker calendar.

The World Snooker Tour is the backbone of professional snooker, featuring a packed schedule of ranking tournaments and invitational events throughout the season. Players compete for world rankings points, aiming to climb the rankings and secure their place among the sport’s elite. The World Snooker Federation (WSF) is also working to raise the sport’s profile, advocating for snooker’s inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The sport has already featured at the World Games since 2001.

Other notable tournaments, such as the Shanghai Masters, the Players Series, and the fast-paced Snooker Shoot Out, add variety and excitement to the season. These events showcase different formats and bring fresh challenges for players and fans alike, ensuring that world snooker remains a dynamic and ever-evolving sport.

How to bet on snooker: know the game

Snooker, whilst appearing mind-boggling at first glance, is not as complex as it seems. Watching a few games after reading this guide will help you grasp the rhythm and tactics of play. Only then should you consider placing your first bet on this highly strategic and pressure-driven sport.

Popular snooker betting markets include:

• Match winner – Back the player you think will win the match.
• Correct score – Predict the exact frame score.
• Total frames (over/under) – Wager on how long the match will last.
• Highest break – Bet on the player who will score the highest single break.
• Frame betting – Bet on the outcome of individual frames.

What smart bettors consider:

• Current form – Recent tournament results often indicate player momentum.
• Head-to-head record – Some players have psychological edges over others.
• Break-building ability – Consistency in scoring heavily influences outcomes.
• Pressure tolerance – Mental strength is key in close, tactical battles.
• Match format – Longer formats tend to favour higher-ranked players.

Reading snooker odds accurately helps spot value, especially in close matchups. Odds also reflect frame formats, which vary across tournaments.

If you’re just starting out, explore betting tipsters who specialise in cue sports. Seasoned bettors can also benefit from using arbitrage betting software to identify the best available odds across sportsbooks.

Snooker is a game of angles, nerve, and calculated risk—offering plenty of intrigue for viewers and opportunity for well-informed bettors.