Bar billiards
A table game with holes instead of pockets, originating in 1930s UK.
Unlike pocket-based billiards, bar billiards scores points by sinking balls into holes set into the tabletop. Originating from a Russian game via France, its modern version emerged in 1930s Britain. Today, leagues exist across twelve English counties and the Channel Islands, with the world championships held annually in Guernsey and Jersey.
Quick Facts
- First
- 1930s
- Category
- Cue sport
- Equipment
- Cue
- Billiard balls
- Skittles
Facts from the source article.
History
Bar billiards originated from the French billard, which in the fifteenth century was played only by the French monarchy and the very rich due to expensive tables. During the 16th century, the game evolved into billard russe (Russian billiards) for the Russian Tsars, and also derived from a form of Bagatelle played by French royalty. The game was first brought to the UK in the early 1930s when an Englishman named David Gill saw billard russe being played in Belgium and persuaded the Jelkes company of Holloway Road in London to produce a similar table. Other manufacturers included Sams, Riley, Burroughs & Watts, and Clare. Early versions used wooden mushrooms instead of pegs, placed in front of the 50 and 200 holes, and sometimes a fourth mushroom in front of the 100 hole; this variant was often called Russian billiards. Some leagues in East Anglia, particularly in the Norwich and Sudbury areas, still play this older version.
Gameplay
Bar billiards is played on a table with nine holes in the playing surface, each assigned point values from 10 to 200, and no side or corner pockets. There are eight balls: seven white and one red. Potting the red ball in any hole scores double the points of that hole. Three pegs, mushrooms, or skittles are placed on the playfield: two white pegs on either side of the 100 hole and one black peg in front of the 200 hole. Knocking over a white peg is a foul, ending the player's break and discarding all score from that break. Knocking over the black peg ends the break and zeros the player's overall score. If both a white and black peg are knocked over, the first peg struck counts. All shots are played from the front end of the table, making it suitable for small bars. At the start, or when no balls remain, a white ball is placed on the D spot and the red ball on a spot in front. The break shot may be used up to three times; if both balls are potted, one ball must remain on the table (the 1-up), or it is a foul. The next shot is the split shot, often potting the object ball in the 50 hole and the cue ball in the 100 hole, though variants exist. Players take alternate breaks, playing from where the opponent left off. If a player fails to pot a ball, the break ends. Play is time-limited, typically around 17 minutes per coin, after which a bar drops inside the table to stop potted balls from returning. The last ball can only be potted into the 100 or 200 hole after being played off either side cushion.
More in English Inventions
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced