SNOOKER QUESTIONS FOR OCTOBER 2010
1. BALL IN HAND
The player commits a foul when he has the ball in hand by accidentally touching the Yellow ball with his hand or his cue, the Referee calls a foul but does the next player have the cue-ball in hand or should he play the cue-ball from where it has been left on the table.
ANSWER
If the cue-ball is on the table it is in play and must be played from that position, if the cue-ball is picked up or moved it is a foul as the ball was in play. Section 2. 9.In-hand (b) ii
2. JUMP SHOT.
The cue-ball comes to rest touching a red ball (the ball on) and there is a red ball over a corner pocket with the Pink and Black balls next to each other in the line of the shot, can the player without moving the red jump over these balls and pot the red ball.
ANSWER
No. It is a foul. The rule clearly says that the cue-ball must first strike one object ball before it jumps over another ball and as it was touching the ball on, playing away means it did not strike the ball. Section 2. 19. Jump Shot (a)
3. ANGLED BALL
The player has just committed a foul and left the cue-ball in the angle of the middle pocket with the last red ball along the cushion and cannot be seen by the cue-ball. If you were the Referee would you call a free ball and if the cue-ball was played across the table and failed to hit the Red on two attempts would you warn him that if he failed to hit the red ball on his next attempt he would lose the frame.
ANSWER It is not a free ball as the rule clearly says the cue-ball cannot be snookered by a cushion.
You cannot warn the striker as he cannot see the full face of a ball on. Section 1. 16. (e)
4. WRONG PLAYER BREAKING OFF.
What would you do if the wrong player breaks off in a frame of snooker even if he has been told by the Referee that it was his turn to break.
ANSWER
If there has only been the opening stroke played then the frame would restart with the correct striker playing. If more than the opening stroke has been played then the game must continue and the order would be put right when the next frame was started (meaning that the same player would have started 3 frames) Section 3. 3. (b)
5. BALL MARKER MOVED.
The striker asked the Referee to clean the ball, so he uses his ball marker to mark the position of that ball, but whilst he is cleaning the ball the player touches and moves the ball marker. What would you do if you were the Referee.
ANSWER The rule says that the device used to mark the position of a ball being cleaned shall be regarded as and acquire the value of the ball until such time as the ball has been cleaned and replaced. If any player other than the striker should touch or disturb the device, he shall be penalised as if he were the striker, without effecting the order of play. The Referee shall return the device or ball being cleaned to its position, if necessary, to his satisfaction, even if it was picked up. Section 3. 2. (b) (ii)
6. YELLOW NOT SPOTTED.
The player comes to the table and is 29 points behind with one red left on the table, which means he can still win if he pots that red with any colour and clears the remaining six colours. The player pots the red followed by the Yellow and the Referee forgets to spot the Yellow back onto the table and the player does not notice it either and he carries on potting the Green, Brown and the Blue, his break is 15 and he realises that he is 14 points behind with only the Pink and Black left. After a short discussion with the Referee they realise what had happened. What would you do if you were the Referee.
ANSWER
The yellow has to be spotted on its own spot or if not available on the highest value spot available and the frame to continue with the balls being potted in the ascending order of their value. Section 3. 7. (c) (i)
7. RED SPOTTED INSTEAD OF COLOUR.
The player pots the Brown Ball but accidentally a red ball is spotted on the Brown spot instead of the Brown. What happens when it is realised that the Brown Ball is not on the table.
ANSWER
If the error is noticed when the Red is still on the Brown spot, or if has moved but can be positively identified, it is removed and the Brown is spotted. If it has been pocketed as a Red, or if it has been moved and cannot be positively identified (as mixed with other Reds) then the Brown is spotted and the frame continues as a 16 Red frame. No penalty to the player. Section 3. 7 (c)
8. MISS RULE/SNOOKERS NEEDED.
Can the Referee call Misses when there are snookers required.
ANSWER
Yes. If the striker makes no effort to hit the ball on and snookers are required a Foul and Miss can be called. Section 14. (b)
9. IMPOSSIBLE TO HIT THE BALL ON.
The cue-ball comes to rest nearly in the Black pocket and surrounded by the Black, Pink and Green balls and the ball on is a red, with the last red ball in line with the Black along the top of the table. If the player played the cue-ball into the pocket would you if you were the Referee allow this, if not what are his options.
ANSWER
A Foul and a Miss for not attempting to play at a ball on. In this situation it must be assumed the striker is
attempting to hit the ball on provided that he plays, directly or indirectly with sufficient strength, in the referee’s opinion, to have reached the ball on but for the obstructing ball or balls. Section 3 14
10. CUE BALL STOPPED FROM ENTERING A POCKET
The striker with his hand or cue stops the cue-ball from entering a pocket. What would you do if you were the referee.
ANSWER
It is a foul. If the cue-ball has not been picked up it is still in play and should be played from that position and the cue-ball is not in hand. If the referee was sure the cue-ball was going into the pocket than as the sole judge of fair play, he may pick the cue-ball up and allow the cue-ball to be played from in hand and warn the player that was
ungentlemanly and any further bad conduct could lose him the frame. Section 5 (a) (i)
Derek Budde October 2010
1. BALL IN HAND
The player commits a foul when he has the ball in hand by accidentally touching the Yellow ball with his hand or his cue, the Referee calls a foul but does the next player have the cue-ball in hand or should he play the cue-ball from where it has been left on the table.
ANSWER
If the cue-ball is on the table it is in play and must be played from that position, if the cue-ball is picked up or moved it is a foul as the ball was in play. Section 2. 9.In-hand (b) ii
2. JUMP SHOT.
The cue-ball comes to rest touching a red ball (the ball on) and there is a red ball over a corner pocket with the Pink and Black balls next to each other in the line of the shot, can the player without moving the red jump over these balls and pot the red ball.
ANSWER
No. It is a foul. The rule clearly says that the cue-ball must first strike one object ball before it jumps over another ball and as it was touching the ball on, playing away means it did not strike the ball. Section 2. 19. Jump Shot (a)
3. ANGLED BALL
The player has just committed a foul and left the cue-ball in the angle of the middle pocket with the last red ball along the cushion and cannot be seen by the cue-ball. If you were the Referee would you call a free ball and if the cue-ball was played across the table and failed to hit the Red on two attempts would you warn him that if he failed to hit the red ball on his next attempt he would lose the frame.
ANSWER It is not a free ball as the rule clearly says the cue-ball cannot be snookered by a cushion.
You cannot warn the striker as he cannot see the full face of a ball on. Section 1. 16. (e)
4. WRONG PLAYER BREAKING OFF.
What would you do if the wrong player breaks off in a frame of snooker even if he has been told by the Referee that it was his turn to break.
ANSWER
If there has only been the opening stroke played then the frame would restart with the correct striker playing. If more than the opening stroke has been played then the game must continue and the order would be put right when the next frame was started (meaning that the same player would have started 3 frames) Section 3. 3. (b)
5. BALL MARKER MOVED.
The striker asked the Referee to clean the ball, so he uses his ball marker to mark the position of that ball, but whilst he is cleaning the ball the player touches and moves the ball marker. What would you do if you were the Referee.
ANSWER The rule says that the device used to mark the position of a ball being cleaned shall be regarded as and acquire the value of the ball until such time as the ball has been cleaned and replaced. If any player other than the striker should touch or disturb the device, he shall be penalised as if he were the striker, without effecting the order of play. The Referee shall return the device or ball being cleaned to its position, if necessary, to his satisfaction, even if it was picked up. Section 3. 2. (b) (ii)
6. YELLOW NOT SPOTTED.
The player comes to the table and is 29 points behind with one red left on the table, which means he can still win if he pots that red with any colour and clears the remaining six colours. The player pots the red followed by the Yellow and the Referee forgets to spot the Yellow back onto the table and the player does not notice it either and he carries on potting the Green, Brown and the Blue, his break is 15 and he realises that he is 14 points behind with only the Pink and Black left. After a short discussion with the Referee they realise what had happened. What would you do if you were the Referee.
ANSWER
The yellow has to be spotted on its own spot or if not available on the highest value spot available and the frame to continue with the balls being potted in the ascending order of their value. Section 3. 7. (c) (i)
7. RED SPOTTED INSTEAD OF COLOUR.
The player pots the Brown Ball but accidentally a red ball is spotted on the Brown spot instead of the Brown. What happens when it is realised that the Brown Ball is not on the table.
ANSWER
If the error is noticed when the Red is still on the Brown spot, or if has moved but can be positively identified, it is removed and the Brown is spotted. If it has been pocketed as a Red, or if it has been moved and cannot be positively identified (as mixed with other Reds) then the Brown is spotted and the frame continues as a 16 Red frame. No penalty to the player. Section 3. 7 (c)
8. MISS RULE/SNOOKERS NEEDED.
Can the Referee call Misses when there are snookers required.
ANSWER
Yes. If the striker makes no effort to hit the ball on and snookers are required a Foul and Miss can be called. Section 14. (b)
9. IMPOSSIBLE TO HIT THE BALL ON.
The cue-ball comes to rest nearly in the Black pocket and surrounded by the Black, Pink and Green balls and the ball on is a red, with the last red ball in line with the Black along the top of the table. If the player played the cue-ball into the pocket would you if you were the Referee allow this, if not what are his options.
ANSWER
A Foul and a Miss for not attempting to play at a ball on. In this situation it must be assumed the striker is
attempting to hit the ball on provided that he plays, directly or indirectly with sufficient strength, in the referee’s opinion, to have reached the ball on but for the obstructing ball or balls. Section 3 14
10. CUE BALL STOPPED FROM ENTERING A POCKET
The striker with his hand or cue stops the cue-ball from entering a pocket. What would you do if you were the referee.
ANSWER
It is a foul. If the cue-ball has not been picked up it is still in play and should be played from that position and the cue-ball is not in hand. If the referee was sure the cue-ball was going into the pocket than as the sole judge of fair play, he may pick the cue-ball up and allow the cue-ball to be played from in hand and warn the player that was
ungentlemanly and any further bad conduct could lose him the frame. Section 5 (a) (i)
Derek Budde October 2010
