Snooker rules and refereeing
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    • AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF SNOOKER AND BILLIARDS TO TAKE EFFECT ON AUGUST 12TH 2014
    • Snooker Rule Changes (2010) Explained by Referee Andy Yates
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    • EASB Snooker referee quiz: (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Snooker referee quiz: (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: October 2010 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: October 2010 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: November 2010 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: November 2010 (questions with answers)
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      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: December 2010 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: January 2011 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: January 2011 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: February 2011 (questions without answers) >
      • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: February 2011 (questions with answers)
    • EASB Referees “Rules” Quiz: March 2011 (questions without answers) >
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  • Rules you must understand as a player
    • The Break
    • Frame, Game or Match?
    • Who takes the top scorer
    • Keeping score
    • When is the Frame over?
    • Understanding the 'Miss'
    • Understanding the 'Three Miss Rule'
    • Angled Ball (Pocket hook)
    • Seven Point Fouls
  • How do I .....
    • Rack the balls
    • Respot the colour balls
    • Re-spot the cueball after a Miss
    • Use the Ball Marker
    • Handle the rests and other furniture
    • Organise a tournament
  • So you don't like the call; now what?
  • Some information on the Equipment
    • The cue
    • The Balls
    • The Chalk
    • Videos about the table
    • The Cloth >
      • "Double Shaved"
    • The Spots
    • Scoring Software
    • Pocket Templates circa 1996
  • Guides for the Referee
    • Referees Best Practice by English Association of Snooker and Billiards
    • Referee’s Guide to Positioning by Steve Fletcher
    • Referees Guide to What to Say, and When to Say it by Clive A Brown, January 2012
    • Calling the score
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Picture

The colours should all be on their spots, and the triangle should be as close to, but not touching, the pink as possible.
The centre line of reds should be in line with the pink/blue/brown
Realise that there is no requirement in the rules for ensuring that all reds are touching in the triangle. In fact, you shouldn't try to make them all touch, because when you do, you force the reds down into the cloth creating impressions that could later cause kicks or other errors.

The first player plays from in-hand, the frame commencing when the cue-ball has been placed on the table and contacted by the tip of the cue either:   
    (i) as a stroke is made; or   
    (ii) while addressing the cue-ball.

This seems clear, but is sometimes misunderstood so:

a) plays from in-hand
        The first player has the ball in his hand, and places it in the "D".
b) places in the "D"
        The cue ball is placed in the  "D"  such that the centre line of the cue ball is either within or sitting directly on the lines defining the "D"
c) a stroke is made
        the player plays a stroke. He does not foul if he positions the cue ball with his cue, even the cue tip, because he is not playing a stroke. He does not foul if he knocks another ball whilst placing the cue ball, because he is not playing a stroke.
d) while addressing the cue ball
        If he has placed the cue ball and is addressing and accidentally touches it, he has fouled
e) fails to contact a Red
        If he fails to first contact a Red ball on his stroke, he has fouled

If he has fouled, the table is not reset and the frame is not restarted; play simply continues from the resulting position of his foul.

Note: If there are fewer that 15 Red balls in the triangle, then from any spot in the "D", you are snookered on all Red balls.