BILLIARDS 



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BILLIARDS 



BILLIARDS , bil ' yardz, a popular indoor 

 game usually played on a rectangular table 

 with three ivory balls, which are driven against 

 one another by means of a rod called a cue. 

 Billiards, as now played, is a scientific game, 



The Table and the Cues. Billiard tables are 

 made in many sizes, but the size generally 

 used is four feet six inches wide and nine feet 

 long. In championship games between pro- 

 fessionals, a table five feet wide and ten feet 



IN THE GAME OF BILLIARDS 

 (a) Position of left or right hand, showing bridge; (6) cushion and ball 



requiring much skill and practice, and like 

 many other games has won the attention of 

 enthusiasts who have become professional play- 

 ers. So skilful are many of them that special 

 rules have been devised as handicaps. The 

 average amateur, however, finds ordinary bil- 

 liards sufficiently difficult and interesting. 



Before the game begins, the players bank 

 for the lead; this is done by driving the balls 

 against the end cushion so that they rebound 

 toward the other end. The player whose ball 

 approaches nearer to the head cushion on the 

 rebound has the choice of playing first or of 

 allowing his opponent to play first. He may also 

 pick out one of the three balls as his cue ball, 

 this being the one which he drives with his 

 cue against the other two. One of the balls 

 is red and two are white, but one of the white 

 is distinguished by a black spot. The two 

 cue balls are used in rotation throughout the 

 game. If any player uses the wrong ball he 

 is usually penalized by the loss of his turn. 



To begin the game the red ball and one of 

 the white balls must be placed on the two 

 spots near the ends of the table. The red ball 

 is placed on the spot at the foot of the table, 

 and one of the white balls at the head. The 

 first player places his cue ball anywhere on 

 the table back of or to the side of the white 

 ball of his opponent. He then tries to hit 

 the red ball at the other end of the table in 

 such a way that his cue ball will rebound and 

 hit the third ball. If he succeeds he makes 

 a carom, or billiard, and scores one point. He 

 may then drive his ball at either of the others, 

 and may continue to play until he misses a 

 carom. Then his opponent, driving his own 

 ball at either of the others, plays until he 

 misses. The players shoot alternately until 

 the game is ended. Any number of points 

 may be agreed upon as constituting a game. 



long is sometimes used. The bed of the table 

 is a tablet of slate or marble, covered with a 

 fine green broadcloth. At the sides and ends 

 of the table are cloth-covered rubber cushions, 

 from which the balls rebound. Billiards may 



A BILLIARD TABLE 



also be played on tables with pockets at the 

 corners and at the middle of the sides, but this 

 style is usually reserved for pool (which see). 



A good billiard cue, made of ash or maple, 

 should weigh about a pound, though the heavier 

 cues run to twenty or twenty-two ounces. The 

 handle, or butt end, is about an inch and one- 

 half in diameter, and the cue tapers down to 

 a tip from one-fourth to one-half inch in 

 thickness. Glued to the small end is a button 

 or tip, made of two pieces of leather; the un- 

 der piece is hard and flat, while the upper or 

 outer piece is springy and spongy, thus giving 

 a "jump" to the ball. 



Billiard Balls. The best billiard balls are 

 made of solid ivory, but cheaper ones are of 

 various imitations. When an ivory tusk reaches 

 the manufacturer it is carefully examined for 

 flaws. If it is perfect it is then sawed into 

 blocks two and one-half to three inches square. 

 The blocks are then cut into a rough spherical 

 shape, and laid aside for six months to dry. 

 When the ivory is perfectly dry it is chiseled 

 smooth and spherical. Lastly it is polished by 

 machinery which gives it a rubbing with chalk, 

 chamois skin and soft leather. See IVOBY. 



