Buzz
Enter a bar or a private recreation room, and you'll likely spot a pool table, where players lean over a green-felt surface, using a cue stick to strike a white cue ball, aiming to sink the remaining balls into one of the six pockets. If you’re invited to join, most people will offer a game of pool, not billiards. But both names seem to refer to the same activity. So what’s the real difference?
According to the Billiard Congress of America, billiards evolved from a lawn game resembling croquet in the 15th century. When the game moved indoors, green tables were created to mimic grass. Initially, players used a mace with a large tip to hit the balls, and a setup akin to a croquet wicket was used. Over time, the game adapted, eventually incorporating pocketed tables and shot-calling for points, gaining widespread popularity in America during the 1920s. The word 'billiards' comes from the French terms 'billart' ('wooden stick') and 'bille' ('ball').
As billiards grew in popularity, billiard tables became common fixtures in gambling parlors, where bets were placed on horse races and other events. Since a collection of wagers is referred to as a 'pool,' pocket billiards began to be linked with this term. Even today, some professional pool players continue to use the term 'billiards' for what is commonly known as pool. Generally, 'billiards' can refer to any game involving a cue stick and cue ball on a table, while 'pool' specifically refers to games with pockets.
In the UK, 'billiards' may refer to English Billiards, a variation that uses only three balls. In this version, the player strikes the cue ball and a red striker ball to move the opponent's cue ball, with no pockets involved in the game.
You might be curious about snooker, a game that’s even more specialized. While it’s played with a cue and cue ball, making it technically billiards, snooker has a unique set of rules involving 22 balls, each with a specific point value. The game is played on a table 10 to 12 feet long, which is larger than a typical pool table (7 to 9 feet), and its pockets are an inch smaller in diameter.
So, what’s the takeaway? If you’re in a social setting and someone challenges you to billiards, it’s likely pool. In the UK, it might refer to the version without pockets. And if you’re invited to play snooker, be ready for an in-depth explanation of the rules.
