Snooker

Snooker is a billiards sport that is played on a large (12' X 6') baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long cushions. It is played using a cue, one white ball (the cue ball), 15 red balls and 6 colours: a yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black ball worth from two to seven points. A player wins a frame of snooker by scoring more points than his opponent, through using the cue ball to pot all the red and coloured balls. A match consists of an agreed number of frames. Snooker is particularly popular in English-speaking countries (Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, India and South Africa), and there has recently been a surge of interest in East Asia, with players from Thailand, Hong Kong and China entering the rankings.

Snooker equipment

• chalk: The tip of the cue is 'chalked' to ensure good contact between cue and ball.
• cue: The wooden stick, which is used to strike the cue ball.
• extension: A shorter stick that fits over the back end of the cue, effectively lengthening the cue. Used to facilitate shots where the cue ball is a long distance from the player.
• rest: A stick with an X-shaped head that is used to support the cue when the player's arm is too short.
• hook rest: Identical to the normal rest, yet with a hooked metal end. It is used to set the rest around another ball. The hook rest is the most recent invention in snooker. For a review of the 'Hookrest' goto Http://www.jesterssnooker.co.uk/snooker/hook_rest.htm or check out their website at http://www.thehookrest.com/
• spider: Similar to the rest but has an arch-shaped head; it is used to elevate (and support) the tip of the cue above the height of the cue ball.
• swan: Rarely used - the swan has an single extended neck with a fork-like prong at the end to give extra distance over larger obstructions.
• triangle: The piece of equipment used for gathering the balls into the formation required by the game being played. Also known as a rack.