Three-Player Snooker Rules ¶

Authors:: Tuomas Jäntti, Mikko Neuvonen, Jani Nikula
Copyright:: 2022 Jani Nikula <jani@nikula.org>
License:: Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 International (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Adaptation of the regular snooker rules for three players.

Introduction ¶

Snooker is a game for two players or sides. If you take snooker seriously, there’s nothing for you to see here. Please move along.

With that out of the way, occasionally you do have three players who want to spend time at the table, playing snooker against each other, having fun, instead of taking turns waiting for the other two to finish the frame. If that sounds like you, read on.

All three players play for themselves, have their own score, with normal scoring rules, and the player with the highest score wins. On fouls, penalty points will be awarded either to the preceding player, or both other players, depending on the case, as described later.

The main difference to other three-player snooker rules out there is that the order of play is not fixed. Instead, there are rounds of one turn per player. On every round, the order of play will be from the player with the least points scored to the player with most points.

Mode of Play ¶

The frame consists of rounds. Each player has one turn per round, except that a player may be asked by the next player to play again after any foul.

The players shall agree on the order of play for the first round.
For each subsequent round, the order of play shall be from the player with least points at the end of the previous round to the player with most points.
Players with equal points shall keep their respective order.
Changes in points or the order of gaining points during a round are irrelevant; only the score at the end of the round matters for determining the order of play.
If the last player of a round commits a foul, and is requested to play again (see Play Again) by the first player of the next round, the additional turn occurs at the beginning of the next round. Any points or penalty points of the additional turn(s) do not impact the order of play until the end of the new round.
It is possible that the points leader falls last during a round, i.e. from the last striker in the previous round to the first striker of the next round. This will result in the player having two turns consecutively, although in different rounds.
- If the first turn of the consecutive turns of the player ends in a foul, they can’t request themselves to play again on the second turn.
- If the second turn of the consecutive turns of the player begins in a foul, both non-offenders will receive the penalty points instead of the previous (i.e. the same) player alone.
If a player drops out (see End of Frame) or concedes (see Conceding), the order of play is no longer changed, and the two remaining players continue the frame according to regular snooker rules to determine their respective place.

Penalty Points ¶

Penalty points are awarded to the previous non-offending striker after these infringements:

Foul on the first stroke of a turn, except in cases described below.

Penalty points are awarded to both non-offending players after these infringements:

Foul on the first stroke of the frame.
Foul on the second and subsequent strokes of a turn.
Foul on any stroke of a turn where the player has been requested to play again after a foul.
Foul on any stroke of a turn that is the second consecutive turn of the offending player, due to a change in order of play.
Playing Out of Turn.
Penalties.

Play Again ¶

Once a player has been requested to play again after a foul, it will result in an additional turn. There may be an indefinite number of additional play again turns in a round.

If the first player of a round requests the offender (the last player of the previous round) to play again, the additional turn occurs at the beginning of the round, and does not impact the order of play of the current round.

Foul and a Miss ¶

There is no miss rule.

End of Frame ¶

When black is the only object ball remaining on the table, and the player in the last place is more than seven points behind the player in the second place, the player in the last place automatically drops out of the frame as the loser. If it is during their turn, they drop out after they’ve finished the turn.

When black is the only object ball remaining on the table, and the player in the first place is more than seven points ahead the player in the second place, the player in the first place automatically drops out of the frame as the winner. If it is during their turn, they drop out after they’ve finished the turn.

When the winner or loser has been determined, either by dropping out as described above or by concession (see Conceding), the remaining two players continue the frame according to regular snooker rules to determine their respective place.

In case of re-spotted black, only the players with equal scores participate.

Conceding ¶

The player in the last place may concede the frame, dropping out of the frame as the loser. This may not happen when it is their turn.

The players in the second and last places may together and unanimously concede the frame to the player in the first place, and continue to play for the second and last places. This may not happen during the turn of the player in the first place.

Concession may not happen during the impacted player’s turn, including before the first strike of their turn, to ensure each player knows who is going to play after them.

After concession, the remaining two players continue the frame according to regular snooker rules to determine their respective place (see End of Frame).

Playing Out of Turn ¶

Playing out of turn is a foul. Playing out of turn incurs seven penalty points to both the non-offending players.

Any ball(s) moved shall be replaced to their position prior to the infringement, and the striker’s turn will continue unaffected.

It is all players’ responsibility to ensure correct order of play is maintained, and to warn any player apparently about to play out of turn.

Rationale (Informative)¶

This section is not part of the rules, but describes some of the rationale behind the rules.

The idea with the order of play is to be able to lay snookers or play good safety shots to the player ahead of you.

Penalty points after a snooker or a safety shot are awarded to the player who laid the snooker or played the safety. This approximates “earning” those penalty points, although obviously the foul may also be an accident.

Strategy (Informative)¶

This section is not part of the rules, but describes some strategic ideas.

It is often better to err on the side of potting than on safety play. Safety typically benefits the player whose turn is before you (assuming the order does not change).

While laying a snooker is tempting, and may be required sometimes, a better safety shot might be one where the player after you is unable to pot, but is able to play a good safety shot.

If you’re last, and far behind the player in the first place, the goal should shift from trying to win to avoiding losing. Especially so if snookers are required to reach the first place, as you can only lay snookers to the player in the second place.