Rules of Russian billiards

We draw your attention to the fact that Russian billiards (pyramid) is a kind of collective concept that unites a large number of games played according to certain common rules. It includes such variants as:

• Free pyramid (also called pyramid or americana)
• Combined pyramid (Moscow pyramid or sibirka)
• Dynamic pyramid (Nevskaya pyramid)
• Classic pyramid (Russian pyramid or 71 points)

Table and balls

Without a table, billiards is certainly impossible. Russian billiards can be played on tables of 8, 9, 10 or 12 feet. However, only 12-foot tables are used at official competitions. The playing table is covered with green cloth on which standard markings are applied, which we will mention below.

The diameter of balls used for Russian billiards is not much smaller than the pocket sizes — inexperienced players find it quite difficult to pocket a ball at first. With a ball diameter of 68 mm, the middle pocket width is 82–83 mm, and the corner pocket 72–73 mm.

A total of 16 balls participate in the game. 15 of them are object balls and have the same colour. Each ball has a unique number from 1 to 15 on its surface. At the start of the game, these balls are arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle so that its base is parallel to the short cushion and the apex is at a special marking point on the table (the back spot). This is done using a triangle. The 16th ball is placed in the "kitchen" and is called the cue ball. The kitchen is the area bounded by the baulk line (the line through the head spot), the two long cushions and the nearest short cushion. The baulk line runs parallel to the short cushion and is ¼ of the playing surface length from it.

Right to break

The right to make the first shot goes to the player who wins the lag. The essence of it is as follows. The opponents stand at the short cushion of the table and each player uses their half, to the left or right of the longitudinal axis of the table, for the shot. The players then shoot from hand from the kitchen. The player whose ball, having rebounded from the back cushion, rolls as close as possible to the head cushion wins. The lag is considered lost if the ball:

• did not touch the back cushion;
• touched a side cushion;
• rolled onto the opponent's half;
• fell into a pocket;
• jumped off the table.

In case of mutual violation of the lag conditions, it is repeated. A repeat lag is also necessary if the balls ended up equally close to the head cushion. Important: if you win the lag, you yourself decide who gets the right to the first shot (you can keep it for yourself or give it to the second player). In subsequent games, the right to the first shot alternates between the players.

Start of game

The opening shot is made with the cue ball from any point in the kitchen; shooting from the baulk line itself is not allowed, as a ball on the baulk line is considered "out of the kitchen". The cue ball is considered in play after it has been struck with the cue tip.

The opening shot is considered successful if one of the following conditions is met:

• an object ball was pocketed;
• three object balls touched a cushion;
• two object balls touched cushions, and one ball crossed the centre line.

If the player failed to meet one of these conditions, the opponent has the right to:

• simply continue the game (either by making the next shot themselves or by conceding it to the opponent);
• return the balls to their initial position and make the opening shot themselves;
• return the balls to their initial position and give the player another chance to make the shot.

All balls pocketed as a result of a successful shot are credited to the shooting player.

Striking the ball

If the cue ball is pocketed on the first shot, further actions are taken according to the rules of the specific game. If the cue ball is pocketed during play, it is spotted according to the rules of one of the Russian billiard variants being played.

The next shot at the cue ball may only be made after all balls have completely stopped. A player is penalised for making a shot while even one ball is moving (spinning in place also counts as movement).

All shots must be executed cleanly, without pushing or multiple hits on the cue ball. If on a shot the cue ball did not touch any object ball (directly or by rebounding from a cushion), a penalty is imposed and the turn passes to the opponent.

A shot at a closely positioned object ball, at a distance of less than ½ ball radius, is made at a 45-degree angle to the axis through the centres of the balls, so that the cue ball stops in place or rolls back after contact, without crossing the penalty zone.

An object ball is considered pocketed if it goes into a pocket on the shot and no rules were violated. If no ball was pocketed on the shot or a rules violation occurred, the turn passes to the opponent.

Jumped ball

If during play a ball leaves the playing surface, it is considered jumped if:

• the ball stopped off the playing surface (including on the table cushion);
• the ball returned to the playing area after rebounding from any object (player's clothing, cue, billiard lamp, etc.).

However, the ball will still be considered in play if, having jumped onto the top surface of the cushion, it returns to the playing area on its own. Jumped balls are spotted back on the table according to the rules of the Russian billiard variant being played.

Penalty

A penalty is imposed on the player if:

• when placing the cue ball behind the baulk line on the opening shot;
• the cue ball did not hit any object ball;
• on an incorrect shot at a closely positioned ball;
• neither of the player's feet touched the floor during the shot;
• during the shot the player touches any ball with hand, clothing, cue shaft or other foreign objects;
• not all balls had stopped on the table when making the next shot;
• a ball jumped off the table;
• on a double hit.

Russian billiard variants

As already mentioned, there is more than one game played according to Russian billiard rules. But they all differ either in the objective of the game or in some of their rules.

Thus, in "Classic (Russian) pyramid" the winner is the first to score 71 or more points from the sum of numbers on pocketed balls. But you must call which ball and into which pocket you intend to pocket. A player who violates the rules loses 5 points to the opponent.

In "Combined (Moscow) pyramid" you must be the first to pocket 8 object balls using only the cue ball (both balls pocketed by your own shot and balls received for opponent's rule violations count).

In "Free pyramid" you must be the first to pocket the same 8 balls of any kind, but any ball can be used as the cue ball (for opponent's rule violations, as in Moscow pyramid, the player may remove any ball from the table to their advantage).

"Dynamic (Nevskaya) pyramid" is similar to "Moscow" but has differences. In this variant of Russian billiards you must pocket 8 balls using only the cue ball. One important difference of dynamic pyramid is that after an opponent's rule violation you are given a choice:

• either take the penalty ball to your advantage and continue the game with another shot;
• or, refusing the ball, place the cue ball anywhere on the table convenient for you and also continue the game.

If you wish to play one of the types of Russian billiards, you will need to familiarise yourself in more detail with the rules of each. For a start, the main thing is to study and remember the provisions common to all.

Etiquette

It is perhaps no less important to know some rules of etiquette when playing billiards. Be polite and in no way hinder your opponent. It is not even recommended to stand near the pocket into which your opponent is about to pocket the next ball. If you are walking around the table, for example to assess the situation and ball positions, and at this time your opponent is making a shot — wait until the opponent completes their turn, and only then pass by.

Respect your opponents!