The Corner Pocket
Rules & Guides
Quick, clear rules for pub games, league-style blackball, and snooker — so everyone knows what counts before the first break.
Choose Your Rule Set
Whether you’re playing casually or settling a proper dispute, start here.
Casual / House Rules
Blackball Pub Rules
A simple, bar-friendly version of blackball rules for social games at The Corner Pocket.
🎱 The Goal
Pot all your colour group first, then legally pot the black to win the frame.
🟢 Keep It Fair
Pub rules are meant to keep games moving, friendly, and easy to understand.
⚫ Call The Black
Before potting the black, clearly nominate the pocket you are playing for.
1. Object of the Game
Each player is assigned a group of balls. Pot your full group, then pot the black ball legally to win.
2. Breaking
A legal break should either pot a ball or send enough balls into open play. If the break is poor or unclear, players may agree to re-rack or continue from where the balls lie.
3. Choosing Colours
Colours are normally decided by the first legally potted ball after the break. If both colours are potted or the table is unclear, the table remains open until a legal colour is chosen.
4. Normal Play
You must aim to hit one of your own balls first. If you pot one of your own balls legally, you continue your visit.
5. Fouls
Common fouls include potting the white, missing your own ball, hitting your opponent’s ball first, knocking a ball off the table, or touching balls by hand or clothing.
6. After a Foul
After a foul, the incoming player receives the agreed house-rule advantage. For casual pub play, this is usually one free shot, or ball-in-hand if both players agree before the game.
7. Playing the Black
You may only play the black once all your colour balls are gone. The pocket for the black must be clearly nominated before the shot.
8. Losing the Frame
You lose the frame if you pot the black too early, pot the black in the wrong pocket, pot the white while potting the black, or deliberately foul to gain an unfair advantage.
9. Disputes
If there is a disagreement, settle it before the next shot. For tournaments or league play, use the official competition rules instead of casual pub rules.
Not Sure About a Rule?
Ask staff before the game starts. Agreeing on the rules early avoids arguments later.
Contact The BarCompetition / League Play
Blackball League Rules
A cleaner rule guide for competitive games, league nights, and tournaments at The Corner Pocket.
🎱 Fair Break
A legal break should pot a ball or meet the required movement rule for the match format.
⚠️ Free Shot
After a standard foul, the incoming player receives a free shot before their normal visit.
⚫ Black Ball
The black may only be potted when it is legally “on”, unless a specific free-shot situation applies.
1. Object of the Game
Each player must pot all balls from their own group, then legally pot the black ball to win the frame.
2. The Break
The break must be a fair attempt to open the rack. In formal blackball rules, the break is judged by whether a ball is potted or enough object balls pass the required table line.
3. Open Table & Choosing Groups
After the break, the table remains open until a player legally pots a ball and establishes their group. Balls potted on the break do not always automatically decide colours, depending on the competition format.
4. Legal Shot
On a normal visit, the cue ball must first contact a ball that is “on”. After contact, a ball must be potted or a ball must contact a cushion, unless the local competition format states otherwise.
5. Continuing Your Visit
If you legally pot one or more balls from your group, your visit continues. If no legal ball is potted and no foul is committed, your visit ends.
6. Standard Fouls
Standard fouls include potting the cue ball, failing to hit an “on” ball first, failing to make a legal shot, potting an opponent’s ball illegally, touching balls by hand or clothing, or knocking a ball off the table.
7. Free Shot After a Foul
After a standard foul, the incoming player receives a free shot. On a free shot, the player may legally play onto any object ball, but must still complete a legal shot.
8. Snookers
If a player believes they are fully snookered, they should call it before playing. The referee or opponent should confirm the situation before the shot is taken.
9. Playing the Black
The black becomes “on” once a player has legally cleared all balls from their group. In league play, the black must be potted legally according to the match rules.
10. Loss of Frame
Loss of frame can occur for serious offences such as potting the black too early, deliberately fouling to gain an advantage, or potting the black illegally.
11. Referee / Disputes
In league or tournament games, the organiser or referee has the final decision. Any dispute should be raised before the next shot is played.
League Night Tip
Confirm the rule set before the first break. Pub rules and league rules are not always the same.
View TournamentsSnooker Guide
Snooker Rules
A simple guide to ball values, order of play, fouls, and frame basics.
🔴 Reds First
Players alternate potting reds and colours while reds remain on the table.
🎨 Colour Values
Yellow 2, Green 3, Brown 4, Blue 5, Pink 6, Black 7.
🏁 Highest Score Wins
The player with the most points at the end of the frame wins.
1. Object of the Game
Score more points than your opponent by potting balls legally and forcing fouls. A frame ends when all balls are cleared or when a player concedes.
2. Ball Values
Red balls are worth 1 point each. The colours are worth: Yellow 2, Green 3, Brown 4, Blue 5, Pink 6, and Black 7.
3. Order of Play
While reds are still on the table, the player must first play a red, then a colour, then a red, then a colour. This continues until all reds are gone.
4. Colours After Reds
Once all reds have been potted, the colours must be potted in order of value: Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink, then Black.
5. Re-spotting Colours
When a colour is potted while reds remain, it is placed back on its spot before the next shot. Once all reds are gone and colours are cleared in order, they stay down.
6. Fouls
Common fouls include missing the ball “on”, potting the cue ball, hitting the wrong ball first, potting the wrong ball, or touching any ball illegally. A foul gives penalty points to the opponent.
7. Foul Points
The usual minimum foul penalty is 4 points. The penalty may be higher depending on the value of the ball involved, up to 7 points when the black is involved.
8. Snookers
A player is snookered when they cannot directly hit both sides of any ball that is “on”. Players often use snookers to force fouls and gain points.
9. Free Ball
After a foul, if the incoming player is snookered on the ball “on”, they may be awarded a free ball. They can then nominate another ball as the ball “on” for that shot.
10. Winning the Frame
The player with the highest score after the balls are cleared wins the frame. A player may also concede if they need too many snookers to realistically win.
11. Etiquette
Stand still during shots, keep quiet while a player is down on the shot, call your own fouls, and avoid distracting your opponent.
Playing Snooker Tonight?
Ask staff if you need help with ball values, fouls, or table setup before the frame starts.
Contact The Bar