http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)
History
-The dictionary term for pool is "any game or type of billiards that is for 2 or more players".
-To avoid confusion with poolrooms, where people bet on offtrack betting, the name was referred to as billiards.
-In the US, the first "pool" game was played on a pocketless carom billiards table, later on, it gianed popularity under the title pocket billiards.
-There are many variations of billiards, but the most well known are 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, straight pool and one-pocket
-There are also hybrid games that combine both the aspects of both carom billiards and regular pool, such as American four-ball billiards, cowboy pool and bottle pool.
Equipment
-Pool uses different equipment from carom billiards. Other than the table having pockets, the billiard balls for pool are smaller and range from 2.25 in in diamter to 2.375 in diameter. Carom billiard balls are usually 2 3/8'' X 2 7/16''
-Modern coin operated pool tables use 1 of 3 methods to distinguish and return the cue ball to the front of the table while numbered balls return to inaccessible area until paid for again; the cue ball is heavier than the other balls or is denser and heavier or has a magnetic core. Modern pool tables range in size, from 3.5' X7' to 4.5' X 9'. Modern cues are usually 58.5'' long for pool while cues prior to 1980 were designed for straight pool and were 57.5'' long. Carom billiards cues are generally shorter with longer tips, and snooker cues are longer with smaller tips.
Organizations
-Pool is governed internationally by the World Pool-Billiard Association(WPA), which is multi-national, has reginoal affiliates.
-Consisting of the All Africa Pool Association(AAPA), Asian Pocket Billiard Union(APBU), Billiard Congress of America(BCA), Confederate Panamerica of Billiards(CPB, Latin America, and Caribbean), European Pocket Billiard Federation(EPBF)
-Some of the other cue sports that fall under this include the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
Snooker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snooker
-Played on a large green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the 4 corners in the middle of each of the long side cushions.
-A regular size snooker table is usually 12 X 6 ft. It is played using a cue and snooker balls; one white cue ball and 15 red balls, each worth 1 point each, and six of different colors: yellow- 2 points, green- 3 points, brown- 4 points, blue- 5 points, pink- 6 points, black- 7 points.
-A player or team has a frame(individual game) of snooker by scoring more points than the opponent, using the cue ball to pocket the red and colored balls. A player wins a match when a certain number of frames have been won
-Snooker is regarded as being invented by India by British army officers. It's popular in many of the English speaking countries, with top professionals playing for multi million pound winnings. The reason for 'pound' is you have to realize this is in England and that's the currency there I think.
History
-Originated in the later half of the 19th century.
-Was thought to have been introduced into India by British Army officers while stationed there.
-The word snooker has a military origin, meaning a slang term for inexperienced personnel or first year cadets
-Snooker is basically what the British would call pool, or they could also call them Billiards as a more formal term.
The Game
-The main object of this game is to score more points than the opponent by potting object balls in a certain order. At the start of a frame(individual game), bals are positioned as shown in the picture and the players take turns to hit a shot in a single strike form the tip of their cue. Their aim is to pocket one of the red balls and score a point. When a red ball is pocketed, the player can go for one of the colored balls.
-Points can also be scored if the opponent gets a foul
-In the World Championship, there can be up to 35 frames(35 games), and sometimes it may last 2 days.
Governance and tournaments
-The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association(WPBSA) was founded in 1968 as the Professional Billiards Players Association, is the governing body for the professional level.
-Another version, World Snooker, is based out of Bristol, England. They organize the professional tour.
-The most important event in the professional snooker world is the World Tournament, which is held in Sheffield, England at the Crucible Theatre since 1977. It has been held annually since 1927 except during WWII and between 1958-1963.
Equipment
-Chalk: The tip of the cue is chalked to ensure good contact between the cue and the ball
-Cue: a stick, made of wood or fibreglass, the tip is used to strike the ball
-Extension: shorter baton that fits over or screws into the back end of the cue
-Rest: stick with X shaped head that is used to support the cue when the cue ball is out of reachat normal extension. In regular pool is called the crown.
-Rest head adaptor: attachment that slips onto a conventional rest head
-Hook rest: identical to normal rest, yet with a hooked end.
-Spider: similar to rest but with arch shaped head
-Swan: rest consisting of a single extended neck and fork like prong at end, is used to give extra cueing distance
-Triangle/Rack: used to gather the red balls into formation required for the break to start the game
-Extended Rest: hybrid of swan and spider rest
-Half butt: usually found underneath the side of the table.
-Ball marker: multi purpose instrument with a D shaped notch which a referee can palce next to a ball to mark the position of it.
Notable players
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snooker_players_by_number_of_ranking_titles
-Ronnie O'Sullivan
-American snooker: dating to 1925; mainly played on a 10 X 5 ft table with 2 1/8'' balls and a simpler rule similar to those of regular pool
-Power Snooker: variant with nine reds, and matches limited to 30 minutes
-Sinuca Brasileira: a Brazilian version with only red ball and divergent rules
-Six-red snooker: a variant played with only 6 red balls
-Snooker plus: a variant with additional balls
-Volunteer Snooker: a variant from the early 1900s
