Into these holes ivory balls are driven by a leather pointed cue. The player stands at the lower end of the table; and his object is to hole the balls successively into the several cups. Nine balls are used, eight white and one red; or seven white with two coloured balls. The red is placed on a spot just in front of the 1 hole; and the game is played according to the following:
2578. Rules
- Any number of persons may play, whether singly or on sides.
- Each player strings for lead, and he whose ball falls into the highest hole begins.
- The winner of the lead plays the nine balls successively up the table from baulk, first striking at the red ball on the spot.
- The red ball counts double when holed, and each white ball scores towards game a number corresponding to that marked in the hole (when two coloured balls are used, each counts double).
- The red ball must be first struck; and the rest of the balls are played up to the holes, the sum total of all the holes filled being the striker's score.
- Any number of rounds agreed on may be played, and the highest aggregate total by a player or by partners wins the game.
- A ball rebounding beyond the baulk line, or forced off the table, is put aside and not re-used in that round.