| I am of the age that when hearing the word | | | | or spotted - to score points. This was important, |
| billiards, I automatically think of a game played on | | | | because a decision was made which player used |
| a snooker table but with three balls, one red and | | | | which ball and if, for example, one of the players |
| two white. I will return later on in this article with | | | | used the dotted white ball instead of the plain |
| my interpretation of the rules. Nowadays, | | | | white ball as a cue ball, which was not his allocated |
| however, it appears that there are more than | | | | ball, he would be penalised.The game involved |
| one - or at least one - different definition of the | | | | potting the red ball for three points in any of the |
| word. Watching on television, we see the | | | | six pockets on the table. You could also go "in off" |
| advertising of the Worlds Billiards Championship. | | | | the red ball, meaning hitting the red ball and |
| Looking at the event, and expecting to see two | | | | sending your own ball into one of the six pockets |
| players, usually men, playing the game in white | | | | after hitting it. The third acceptable shot was the |
| shirts, bow ties and waistcoats, to my surprise, I | | | | "cannon" which meant that you had to hit your |
| see both sexes playing what appears to be a | | | | nominated ball then strike your opponent's white |
| version of American pool. It is somewhat | | | | ball and then strike the red ball. You call also hit |
| surprising and I guess I am not completely familiar | | | | the red ball then follow by striking your opponent's |
| with that sport, but I'm afraid I find it difficult to | | | | white ball. This was worth two points. I used the |
| even see the vaguest comparison with the billiards | | | | word "acceptable" in this paragraph, because my |
| I once knew. Now don't think that I am objecting | | | | understanding of the game was that it was |
| to the type of game they play, it is highly skilful. I | | | | considered unsporting to pocket your opponent's |
| do wonder, however, how the term billiards | | | | cue ball - as well as being to your disadvantage |
| applies to this game. I am thinking that popularity | | | | because when it was pocketed, you only had |
| may have waned for the original definition of the | | | | your own white ball and the red ball on the table |
| sport, and nowadays the terminology has moved | | | | so your chances of building up a good score were |
| in just a different direction.I seem to remember | | | | somewhat restricted.The game concluded when |
| that my understanding of billiards involved the use | | | | you reached a certain figure, usually 1000 points. |
| of the pre-mentioned two white and one red ball. | | | | This was also a very skilful and much admired |
| It's worth mentioning at this point, that one of the | | | | game as indeed is today's so-named billiards. It |
| white balls had a black spot on it. Both of these | | | | would be very interesting to find out how the |
| balls were in face "cue balls", which meant that | | | | second definition of the term billiards came into |
| both players had to strike their cue ball first - plain | | | | being. |